KYNAZ NEWS. Spring Protecting the Flock by Dr. Brian L. Powell

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1 KYNAZ NEWS Spring 2017 Kentucky District Church of the Nazarene P.O. Box 790 Hillview, KY Office: Fax: Dr. Brian Powell District Superintendent Sergio Monterroso New Start Director Michael Perkins Revitalization Strategist Bill McDaniel Treasurer Desmond Barrett NMI President Mike Justice SDMI Chairman James Curry NYI President Debby Sherrill District Office Protecting the Flock by Dr. Brian L. Powell The call to pastoral ministry is often depicted with the metaphor of Shepherd and Sheep. The shepherd is one who leads, serves, and protects the flock. In every church I ve pastored I have taken that call very seriously. I stress the word protect as it relates to the shepherd s staff. The staff was used to ward off predators and get the sheep out of dangerous places. Since coming into the role of District Pastor there have been times when I ve been very vocal about what I perceive as dangers lurking in the shadows. No differently than I would have confronted those dangers in the local church, I ve confronted them as they ve influenced the network of churches that I m currently called to serve. I suppose it s my shepherd s reflex responding to what I identify as threats. My concerns have largely been informed by developments in the United Methodist Church. Many people are heartbroken over the harm caused by the lack of accountability among their clergy. The unfaithfulness of some UMC pastors and bishops has caused damage that will be difficult to ever repair, which is why groups like the Wesleyan Covenant Association have been established. I am encouraged by such alliances. Revival is breaking out in many pockets of the UMC because of the faithfulness of a few. Remember, all it takes is a remnant. In the midst of my efforts to protect the flock, God recently reminded me that He doesn t need me to defend Him. He s shown me that making a statement and arguing a point are two very different things. So, while I ll never cease speaking out against perceived dangers (I m a preacher for goodness sake), I am going to stop arguing as if there s a fight to win. This battle isn t against flesh and blood, but against evil authorities in the heavenly realm and the powers of this dark world (Eph. 6). Volume isn t nearly as effective as simply handling matters in a way that isn t seen or heard beyond the boundaries of the people we ve been called to lead. Not debating these issues is difficult for some of us; it s how we process and learn. If I m honest, I love to debate. A good debate includes various voices arguing points in a way that is beneficial for the ones talking and the ones listening. In the end, those people leave with a deep sense of respect for one another. However, in the age of social media we lack the relational equity to have these difficult conversations without constantly offending those with whom we re engaging. I ve never been one to be easily offended; I actually appreciate it when people say what they mean and mean what they say. Jesus instructs us to let our yes mean yes, and our no mean no (Matt. 5:37). Yet we live in the most sensitive, thin-skinned, easily offended society in history. Entitlement rules the day and political correctness governs every aspect of our culture. Unfortunately, prophetic voices don t fair well on the stage of political correctness. In fact, prophets aren t typically memorialized until after they ve been killed. I m praying that God raise up more prophets that are willing to courageously speak truth in a culture that desperately needs it. Historically speaking, a lack of accountability in the church leads to drastic spiritual decline. In other words, when unfaithfulness is allowed to remain it undermines the efforts to bear good fruit. Remember, only those who are faithful with little can be trusted with much (Luke 10:16). This has always been the case, just read the history of Israel. Continued on page 7

2 KENTUCKY DISTRICT CALENDAR May 9 ~ District Advisory Board Meeting 13 ~ NYI Workshop Bowling Green First Church 26 ~ District NYI Lock In - Lexington Ice Palace June 4-6 ~ District Assembly 5 ~ NMI & NYI Conventions 6 ~ Ordination Service ~ General Assembly & Conventions July ~ Children s Camp ~ Teen Camp September 8 ~ TNU Celebration for Senior Adults ~ DCPI Event October 5-7 ~ Pastor & Spouse Retreat ~ The Awakening - Arlington, TX ~ NYI Breakaway, Camp Crestwood 28 ~ NMI Team Building Day 28 ~ NMI Team Day for Kids November 3-5 ~ District Layman s Retreat December 2 ~ District Pastors Family Christmas Party NEW PASTORS Robert McCabe - Jamestown Guadalupe Salinas - Iglesia Hispana de Glasgow Jorge Alemany - Communidad de Gracia PAC (Parent Affiliated Congregations) Reaching Beyond The Walls Colonial House - Shepherdsville Autumn Leaf Hickory Acres - Shepherdsville Park Place - Shepherdsville Morning Pointe - Lou, Calvary Beaumont - Lou. Grace Community Smyrna - Lou. Grace Community Smyrna Parkway - Lou. Grace Community Mt. Washington - Lou. Grace Community Valley Farms - Lou Grace Community...and it doesn t stop there. We already have several more works in process. District leaders if you have event dates to add to the district calendar please contact the district office. A Global Family Reunion June 21-30, 2017 Indianapolis, Indiana Housing is open to the general public. You must register to attend. Go to ga2017.com to register. Every four years, more than 20,000 Nazarenes from around the world gather for General Assembly and Conventions. This global family reunion includes times of worship, service, fellowship, training, and making important decisions that will affect future generations of Nazarenes. Activities like exploring the Exhibit Hall, attending workshops, meeting old and new friends at alumni events, and cheering on students in the World Quiz competition are just some of the many things to do at this memorable event!

3 Kentucky District Assembly & Conventions June 4-6, 2017 Sloan Convention Center Bowling Green, KY Dr. Porter & Dr. Powell Assembly 2016 District Assembly - June 4, 6:00 p.m. NYI Convention - June 5, 8:30 a.m. NMI Convention - June 5, 1:30 p.m. District Assembly - June 5, 7:00 p.m. District Assembly - June 6, 8:30 a.m. Ordination Service - June 6, 7:00 p.m. (all times listed are central time)

4 NMI District Convention is June 5, 2017 at Sloan Convention Center Bowling Green, KY MARK YOUR CALENDAR Celebrating Local NMI Councils and Churches that are fulfilling the Great Commission. for more info: Monthly Emphases May - Missionary Health Care The cost of providing insurance for Nazarene missionaries is quite high. In fact, the cost for health insurance alone for a year is approximately $1.9 million, and the costs continue to rise. Yet the Church of the Nazarene wants its missionaries to be able to serve and not worry about where they will scrape up the cost of the next premium. Nazarene Missions International has helped subsidize some of these funds since as early as Through your giving to the Memorial Roll, Distinguished Service Award, Gifts from the Heart, and Missionary Health Care plate offerings, you helped offset approximately 23 percent of those insurance costs. Thank you! June - World Mission Broadcast World Mission Broadcast (WMB) and Nazarene Missions International (NMI) have a long history of partnership and the annual offering for WMB remains as one of the offerings NMI officially supports. The offering provides resources that reach millions of people around the world with the Gospel. Deputation Schedule Fall Tour Lynn & Shearon Shmidt Aug. 20 Aug Spring Tour Stephen Phillips Feb. 18 Feb. 25 (He will need transportation to churches.) To schedule a service contact Andrea Melvin at andreamelvin1@gmail.com Suggested Arrangements for missionaries Service Cover the cost of... Suggested Offering Sun. A.M. Saturday night lodging, Sun. breakfast and lunch* $350-$450 Sun. P.M. Sunday night lodging, Mon. breakfast and lunch $200-$300 Mon. Dinner, lodging Tues. breakfast & lunch $175-$275 Tues. Dinner, lodging, Wed. breakfast & lunch $175-$275 Wed. Dinner, lodging Thurs. breakfast & lunch $175-$275 Thurs. Dinner, lodging, Fri. breakfast & lunch $175-$275 Fri. Dinner, lodging, Sat. breakfast & lunch $175-$275 Sat. Dinner, lodging, Sun breakfast & lunch* $175-$275 Although travel reimbursement is not required, churches are encouraged to assist with travel expenses. * May share cost with Sunday Morning or Saturday evening host church. NMI Local President's Report End of the year reports were mailed April 15, and the forms should be completed and returned by May 15. Included in the packet: Local NMI President's Report and instructions Goals, Statistics, Finances report form Delegates to District NMI Convention form Local NMI Council form Martha G. Bean Educational Scholarship form Please complete all forms and send to: LaVonne Mullins 3333 Smokey Mountain Drive Lexington, Ky District Mission Project Kudjip Hospital - Papua New Guinea Our district project has been raising funds for the Kudjip Hospital in Papua New Guinea. Our goal is not a monetary amount, but 100% participation. It's not too late to contribute! Thank you if you've already contributed!

5 July 17-21, 2017 Garner Creek, Dixon, TN Save the dates For more information on any of these go to IN Pastors & Sunday School Chairpersons: Please don t forget to report your stats each month to District SDMI Chairman Mike Justice at mjustice@gtownnaz.org. Please report Sunday School average, Morning Worship average and the number on your Responsibility List.

6 KENTUCKY DISTRICT NAZARENE YOUTH INTERNATIONAL THE CREEK July 17-21, 2017 Camp Speaker Jim McGinnis The Alabama Districts will be joining us for a great time together. Space is limited so do not delay in registering. Registration information is available at the district web site. Praise & Worship by Awaken NYI CONVENTION - JUNE 5 Sloan Convention Center, Bowling Green, KY Come and be a part. Convention begins at 8:30 a.m. (central time) GENERAL NYI CONVENTION - JUNE Indianapolis, IN NYI Convention 2016 Please pray for the delegation from our district! BREAKWAY - Oct Camp Crestwood, Crestwood, KY with Josh Brown - guest speaker & Well Worship - Praise & Worship Watch for details!

7 Revitalization Strategist Report It s hard to believe that we, my family and I, have been on the Kentucky District for nearly a year now. I remember vividly sitting in the Kentucky District Assembly last year, listening to Dr. Powell preach a message, calling us to take steps of faith and advance The Kingdom of God, and thinking to myself, Revival is about to come to Kentucky. Nearly a year later I believe that revival has come and is still coming. On January 22, I was asked to go to preach at Bowling Green First, which happened to be the first week of their pastoral transition. I shared on the need to ask for more of God and to be unified during this time. At the end of the message, nearly every person in attendance came forward to say that they were committed to unity and to seek God more than they ever had during the transition. It was a powerful time. Since then, I ve been back to preach at BG First two more times. Each time has been more powerful than the time previous. People were praying around the altars at various times during the services and responding to God s spoken Word. This is a great church, filled with great people, experiencing renewal even during a pastoral transition. It just goes to show what happens when we are hungry for more of God s presence! On April 4-7, Dr. Rob McCorkle from Columbus, Ohio toured our district and spoke at three REC sessions as well as a Wednesday night service at Mayfield and a Friday night service at River City Hope. Every session and service was filled with God s presence. We ve had reports of pastors being renewed and greatly encouraged. God is leading pastors and churches across the district to pray more together. Reports indicate that many people are being set free of guilt, shame, and condemnation. God really is doing a new thing on the Kentucky District! Michael Perkins, Revitalization Strategist Protecting the Flock (continued) The idea of faithfulness and fruitfulness brings me to another subject: ordination. I have a high view of Ordination. The Church has traditionally viewed ordained ministry as a sacrament (i.e. Holy Orders ). That means the covenants taken by ordained and licensed members of clergy matter greatly. Remaining faithful and striving for unity is a big part of the job for those who ve been entrusted to serve the flock. When I think of ordained ministry, and especially the call to preach, I m reminded of the sacred charge that many of us carry. Preaching is a form of public speaking unlike any other. The preacher is one who has answered a divine call to proclaim eternal truths from God s Word to a gathered group of listeners. There are serious implications involved with preaching, as we are accountable for shaping people s lives. The words we speak foster an ongoing Christian worldview among those we shepherd. This is an amazing honor, but an even greater responsibility. Unorthodox teachings are increasing in popularity, becoming more commonplace among clergy of all denominational backgrounds, infiltrating the classrooms of theological institutions, and becoming a growing influence in the church. Segments of the church seem to get sidetracked with these conversations. In turn, they spend a lot of time negotiating biblical truths in light of cultural shifts. For me, that s a waste of time; it s a distraction from the mission of making disciples. The Kingdom means too much to forfeit a single minute negotiating with unfaithful leaders attempting to steer the church down a road of biblical unfaithfulness. With all due respect, at times it seems like pastoring has become synonymous with being a nice person and not offending anyone. Pastors are called to represent a Kingdom that s not of this world, not get in line with the spirit of the age. While I believe pastors and Christian leaders should be the most graceful people in the world, I also believe they should be the most truthful. The time has come when it may be more important that we start taking a stand instead of going with the flow.

8 Local Church Stories Miracle-Working God There was a shooting that took place in Lexington, KY a few months ago. It involved a 22-year-old young lady connected to Lafayette Church. We have been working with her since she was a teenager. For many years she had been hooked on drugs, homeless for a time, mothered a child the state took away from her, and was now in critical care at UK Hospital. The church prayed for her and God touched her. She left the hospital only five days after having been shot four times in the abdomen and chest. God performs miracles! Beyond that miracle, this young lady also committed her life to Christ! After a few rough spots and a lot of love from her church family she was accepted into a rehab program where she continues to thrive and grow in the Lord. The father of her baby is now coming to church too! God is taking a broken situation and making it a testament to His ability to transform. God is a miracle worker! (submitted by Lafayette Church of the Nazarene) It s Never Too Late The sun had already set on the small southern Kentucky farmhouse. Cars were parked from the front door to the road as person after person entered the house. Members of the community knew the old farmer inside had been sick with cancer for a while, but they feared the worst when they saw all the cars. However, instead of a day of sorrow, this would be a day of exalting God. Inside the house more than sixty members from his church family visited the man as he lay in his recently placed hospital bed in the living room. This was a special gathering because the man was becoming an official member of the church that he had been active in for more than fifty years. You see, the old farmer use to grow and sell tobacco to support his family; he felt it would be wrong to become an official church member due to the church s stance against the use of tobacco. That s the type of integrity he had. However, his preacher was ready to take him into membership. The farmer was ready to officially be a part of the church, but he could not make it to church due to his current condition. It s never too late to join the church, the preacher said to the farmer. Surrounded by his family, his church family as he called them, and many friends in the house that the man had hand-built for his wife of sixty-one years, James H. Pharis officially became a member of Highway Church of the Nazarene by his pastor, Brother Bobby Grant. Amazing Grace never sounded sweeter than it did that night during the church service in the living room of a godly man that loved everyone he ever met. (submitted by Highway Church of the Nazarene) Christ Takes It All A letter from a visitor: Pastor, it was a joy being part of the service on Sunday. I have to tell you something because the Holy Spirit has been moving in my life strongly since Sunday. I was baptized when I was eleven; I m now twenty-four. My whole life I ve suffered from doubt, which turned to anxiety, which ultimately drove me away from Christ. I was feeling doubt and anxiety on Sunday and I felt the Holy Spirit move in me that day. Yesterday when the anxiety hit I kept reminding myself that Christ took everything from me. For the first time in my life I honestly believed it in my heart: Christ really did take my struggles upon Himself. At that moment I felt the overwhelming power of sin s defeat. All of my doubt is gone and I know for a fact I m saved. My sin is forever dead by the blood of Jesus Christ. I m not the same person anymore. (submitted by Louisville First Church of the Nazarene) The Lord Heard Us My birthday was in March and while unknown to me, my parents and wife planned for a surprise visit the weekend following my birthday. On Friday afternoon I was rushing out of the house and heading to my daughter s school to drop off items she left at home when my parents pulled up to the drive way! I was pleasantly surprised and we laughed at how well my wife kept this hidden from me. After a wonderful couple of days together, we awoke to Sunday morning. After a few congregational songs and giving our offerings, we began a brief fellowship time. That s when my Mom looked at me intensely and said, Doug, something s wrong with your Dad! He was gray, rigid, sweating profusely, with his eyes wide open and yet completely unresponsive.i placed my hand on his shoulder and the sweat soaked right through his shirt. I called out, There s something wrong with my Dad and the church gathered around him and immediately began crying out to God in Jesus name. I asked Dad if he could hear me and there was no response. We continued to pray. My mom was crying, my kids were crying, I was crying. The scene was very intense. We d pray and I d ask if Dad could hear me; this continued for several minutes. Then, slowly, he returned to us! We thanked Jesus for bringing my dad back! The EMS came and dad was transported to the hospital. After two EKG s, blood work to rule out heart attack, and an MRI, he left the ER without evidence of anything wrong. Later that week, one long time member said, Well, if you came to church that Sunday not believing in miracles, you certainly did by the time you left, wow! My parents returned home and dad shoved snow twice that week! I stand amazed in the presence, of Jesus the Nazarene! We cried out to the LORD and He heard us! We stood in agreement and God healed my dad in that moment! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be. Amen. (submitted by Nicholasville Grace Community Church of the Nazarene)

9 Kentucky District PROGRESS REPORT: HOW WE ARE DOING Education and District Stewardship Giving Discipleship/ Attendance CHURCH TNU District S.S. NMI NYI YTD S.S. M.W. R.L. ALBANY UNITED 3, , , BENTON 1, , , BOWLING GREEN FIRST , , BOWLING GREEN Chin Community X X X X X X X BOWLING GREEN International X X X X X X X BRANDENBURG , , X BRONSTON CROSSWALK X BUFFALO 1, , , CAMPBELLSVILLE 2, , , CENTERPOINT BURKESVILLE , , CHRISTO VIENE X X X X X X X COLUMBIA 2, , , COMUNIDAD DE GRACIA X X X X X X ~ ~ ~ COVENANT DANVILLE , , CREELSBORO , , CRESTWOOD COMMUNITY , , DELMER , ELIZABETHTOWN FIRST 2, , , ELKTON 1, , , FAUBUSH , FRANKFORT CORNERSTONE , , FRANKFORT FIRST 3, , , FRANKLIN 1, , , GEORGETOWN 5, , , GEORGETOWN NUEVA VIDA X X X X X X X GLASGOW FIRST 1, , , GLASGOW TRINITY 1, , , GLENS FORK 2, , , GREENSBURG 1, , , HENDERSON UNITED 3, , , HIGH BRIDGE X 4 12 HIGHWAY 1, , , HOPKINSVILLE , , JAMESTOWN 1, , , KING BEE LANCASTER 6, , , LEX CALVARY , LEX EASTLAND PARK 2, , , LEX EL CALVARIO , , LEX GETHSEMANE , , LEX LAFAYETTE 4, , , LEX LIFE BRIDGE International X X X X X X X 45 35

10 Kentucky District PROGRESS REPORT: HOW WE ARE DOING Education and District Stewardship Giving Discipleship/ Attendance CHURCH TNU District S.S. NMI NYI YTD S.S. M.W. R.L. LOU CALVARY , , LOU CAMINO DE SANTIDAD 1, , , LOU FARMDALE 4, , , LOU FIRST 8, , , JEHOVA NISSI X X X X X X LOU GRACE COMMUNITY 3, , , LOU VALLEY MADISONVILLE 2, , , MAYFIELD HISPANIC X X X X X X X MAYFIELD 5, , , MIDWAY , , MONTICELLO 6, , , MORGANTOWN , , NAOMI , , NICHOLASVILLE GRACE COMMUNITY 1, , , OWENSBORO AUDUBON 1, , , OWENSBORO FIRST 1, , , PADUCAH 3, , , RHBER , , RIVER CITY HOPE RUSSELL SPRINGS , , SCIENCE HILL 4, , , SCOTTSVILLE , , SHEPHERDSVILLE , , SOMERSET FIRST 2, , , SOMERSET LAKE CUMBERLAND 1, , , SOUTHERN HILLS 1, , , SPARKSVILLE 1, , , STANFORD 1, , , SUMMERSVILLE 2, , , VERSAILLES HUNTERTOWN 1, , , ZARZA ARDIENTE X TOTAL 124, , , , , * Discipleship/Attendance Statistics reflect an average over a three month period. * PAC (Parent Affiliated Congregations) are reflected in the statistics of the mother church in this report.