Dr. Larry W. Leonard District Superintendent lwleonard@midsouthnaz.org 2017 Fall has come slowly this year with higher than normal temperatures and little or late change in the color of the leaves. However, it has not been slow among our district family! The months of October and November are extremely active on the MidSouth District. God has been blessing us in many and varied ways. I am happy to share with you some of the exciting ministry that has been and is taking place. DISTRICT RETIRED MINISTERS RETREAT: Each fall we sponsor a retreat for all our retired ministers and spouses at Camp Garner Creek. Dr. Talmadge Johnson, director of this gathering, provides capable leadership in selecting speakers and musicians for this event. This year Wally and Ginger Laxson provided the special music, and Dr. Steve Hoskins, professor at Trevecca Nazarene University, was the guest speaker. Dr. Hoskins walked us down the memory lane of life on a church camp ground and its effects on the history of the Church of the Nazarene. We had great laughs, inspiration, and challenge. We greatly appreciate the many years of service provided by our host of retired MidSouth pastors. NEWLY RENOVATED YOUTH CHAPEL AT CAMP GARNER CREEK: Throughout his tenure as ministry and facility director of Camp Garner Creek, Rev. Jeff Jackson has initiated many improvements, including our new climate controlled tabernacle, outdoor basketball courts, gazebo, new picnic pavilions, outdoor mountain Bible study pavilion, and dorm improvements. Most recently, a renovation of the youth chapel is almost complete. The new platform and new pulpit are constructed entirely from materials out of the old tabernacle. In addition to new LED lighting and fresh paint, a beautiful new wood burning fireplace has been added this intimate worship center will provide a wonderful place for people to meet in the presence of the Lord. Thank you, Jeff and Angie, for your wonderful work. PARTNERSHIP IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI: The Houston Fellowship, Houlka, and Bent Knee Churches of the Nazarene in northeast Mississippi have recently interacted with one another in fruitful partnership for increased effectiveness in ministry. The Houlka church and the Houston Fellowship church each voted to merge these two congregation into one for greater productivity. The District Advisory Board unanimously voted to approve their request to merge. The newly merged church, Houston Fellowship, also requested to donate the former Houlka church building to the Bent Knee church, a cowboy church plant approximately one year old, the District Advisory also approved this request unanimously. It is so exciting to see partnership in action to advance the Kingdom of God. SOUL CARE FOR PASTORS: Our MidSouth ministers are invited to attend the annual Pastor s Soul Care event November 13 and 14 at Camp Garner Creek. This special time is designed to strengthen the personal spiritual life of our pastors. This year Dr. Chris Adams and Dr. Rick Underwood, psychologists, will speak to our ministers regarding mental health and spiritual vitality. This event will strengthen each church as pastors receive encouragement and spiritual enrichment. District Christmas Dinner: Christmas is upon us! Hard to believe, but true. This year we will once again have our Christmas Dinner for Pastors, Elders, Deacons and Full-Time Paid Ministerial Associates and spouses. We are sponsoring two events this year. On Thursday, November 30, 6:00 PM, we invite all who wish to go to Mississippi, to meet at Table 100 (100 Ridge Way, Flowood, MS 39232.) On Friday, December 1, we invite all who wish to come to Camp Garner Creek (700 Sam Hollow Rd., Dickson, TN 37055) to join us at 5:00 PM for appetizers with the meal to begin at 6:00 PM. Each of these meals is free to you. We have made arrangements with Camp Garner Creek to have rooms available to those who wish to come on Friday and leave on Saturday. Please make your reservation to either of these locations by contacting Tina (tdiehl@midsouthnaz.org) or Sherri (sherri@midsouthnaz.org) in the DMRC.
Dr. Rondy Smith has been awarded the Mackey Leadership Award from Trevecca Nazarene University. Rondy Smith ( 85) has a long Trevecca history. After graduating from the University with her bachelor s degree, she worked as the assistant director of the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies degree completion program, the Bachelor of Arts in Management and Human Relations. After working in the corporate world for a number of years and completing a doctorate at Vanderbilt University, Smith returned to Trevecca in 1991, developing the curriculum for, and then serving as the founding director of Trevecca s master s program in organizational management. After about 10 years, Smith experienced a call into ministry. She served in her local congregation, Hermitage Church of the Nazarene, for 14 years. During that time, Smith founded Rest Stop Ministries, a long-term residential restoration program for women survivors of sex tracking. She left the church to become the first CEO of Rest Stop Ministries in 2015. Rev. Jason Underwood has been awarded the First Chapter Award from Trevecca Nazarene University. A 2003 graduate of Trevecca, Jason Underwood serves as the youth pastor at Gateway Community Church in Brentwood, TN, a position he has filled since 2007. Underwood and his wife, Stephanie, are both graduates of Trevecca. Since graduation, Underwood has devoted his life to training, equipping and encouraging others to make a lifelong commitment to Jesus Christ. In addition to his ministry at Gateway Community, Underwood currently serves as the district NYI President for MidSouth NYI and serves on the MidSouth SDMI council. From 2009-2015, he served as the director of TNT@ TNU. He has also directed summer camps for Tennessee, Florida and MidSouth NYI and led several mission trips both inside and outside the United States. He and Stephanie ( 01) have three daughters, Ashtyn, Avery and Addyson. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sunday School Make the Connection Rev. Michelle Lunsford SDMI Chairman michelle@thelunsfords.net People of Prayer Engaged in the Word Making Christlike Disciples midsouthnaz.org facebook.com/midsouthsdmi sdmiusacanada.org Do you know about The Discipleship Place? This resource is intended to equip lay persons for ministry in local settings such as church, community, family, and workplace. The Discipleship Place offers training for service in children, youth, and adult ministries, and for roles such as SDMI Superintendent. They offer a variety of training courses, as well as resources for studies designed for individuals, small groups, and congregations. Webinars are presented regularly, such as this upcoming session: The Real Story of Pornography s Impact on Youth, with Dr. David Blair and Pastor Dean Inserra, November 7 at 1:00 p.m. central time and November 16 at 7:00 p.m. central. Their Leadership Tools menu offers downloadable articles and handouts for various areas of ministry. You can also sign up to receive devotionals via email. SDMI: Sunday School Discipleship Ministries International The Discipleship Place offers many of their resources at no cost. The on-line format allows participants to engage according to what fits their schedule, working at their own pace. There is even an option for your church to receive a customizable, discipleship mobile app in partnership with Back to the Bible. I encourage you to visit The Discipleship Place, peruse what they offer, and prayerfully consider what of their tools and resources might benefit your local discipleship ministries. The Discipleship Place website: thediscipleshipplace.org Discipleship Place Facebook: facebook.com/thediscipleshipplace The MidSouth SDMI team will be working over the next several months on Improve Your Serve 2018. Watch this newsletter, as well as our Facebook page, for details about this event following the holidays. We appreciate your prayers for God s guidance as we plan for this day of equipping and encouraging in discipleship leadership. 2018 January 26-27: NazaTween (retreat for 4th-6th grade students) March 3: Improve Your Serve - equipping & encouraging in discipleship leadership April 2-5: Prime Time Retreat
Mrs. Mary Friedeman NMI President maryfriedeman@gmail.com Thank you for your speedy and generous response to the urgent call for more Crisis Care kits when one of our warehouses was completely emptied in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. I ve received reports of 150 boxes (900 CCK s) sent from churches across our district. If your church hasn t submitted a CCK tally, please email the number of boxes to maryfriedeman@gmail.com. Special thanks to MidSouth District NMI Vice-President Sonya Nixon Gotshall for organizing transport of boxes from a drop-off point at Nashville Donelson and to Kyle Laferriere, NMI president at Hendersonville COTN, who volunteered to drive a truck to the warehouse in MD. A total of 92 boxes were included in that truckload. Churches from the Clarksville, Columbia, Nashville North, and Nashville South mission areas contributed to this effort. WORLD EVANGELISM FUND THANK OFFERING NMI: Nazarene Missions International Please be planning now - personally and corporately - for the special Thanksgiving offering for the World Evangelism Fund. WEF provides support for global missionaries as they evangelize, plant churches, train local leaders, and minister through educational institutions and facilities. Our Nazarene presence in 162 world areas provides the infrastructure for programs like child sponsorship, Alabaster, and Work & Witness. When crises arise and churches and individuals send funds for specific needs and projects, WEF has already laid a foundation globally that enables quick response. It ensures that we have boots on the ground, people already in place, and resources at the ready. Generous giving to the World Evangelism Fund enables us to engage in partnership with our brothers and sisters around the world in faithfully fulfilling Jesus commission to every believer: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20
Rev. Jason Underwood NYI President jason@gccnaz.org #wearemidsouth It s officially fall in the mid-south! The smell of pumpkin spice can be found from coffee to cookies, the leaves will be changing soon, and before we know it the mornings will be crisp and cool. I spent most of my childhood growing up in Florida, I never truly had the chance to experience the changing of the seasons. When the temp dropped to 65 we broke out winter coats! After spending more than half of my life in the mid-south I still look forward to the changing of the seasons. The change in the weather serves as a reminder that we often experience seasons in our own lives as well as in ministry. No matter what season of life we find ourselves in we hold on to the hope that we serve a God that knows the future. MIDSOUTH MOMENTUM It is always a special time when the MidSouth family gathers together. On November 17th - 19th the NYI will come together for this years Momentum event. This event allows students to compete in arts and sports categories as they recognize their gifts are From God, For God. It s a powerful experience to see students from all over the MidSouth join together to celebrate as one family. NYI AT SOUL CARE This year we are offering a designated time for NYI leaders to gather during soul care we will meet on Sunday evening November 12 at 7:00 PM. To register for the NYI event please e-mail Jason@gccnaz.org. The Pastor s Soul Care event is Monday and Tuesday, November 13-14 at Camp Garner Creek. This year Dr. Rick Underwood and Dr. Chris Adams will be speaking to us about mental health, family, and church balance. You can register now by contacting the DMRC at (615) 255-2929. NYI: Nazarene Youth International I love you and there s nothing you can do about it! Instagram: midsouthnyi Facebook: midsouthnyi Web: midsouthnyi.com Twitter: midsouthnyi
Attendance Report for September Capitol Mission Area SS AM Bread of Life Community... 4...12 BridgePoint...NR... NR Brookhaven First...NR... NR Crystal Springs... 7...7 DaySpring Community... 290...318 Hazelhurst... 11...18 Hillside Community... 19...18 Meridian Fitkins Memorial... 150...270 Meridian Northside... 17...27 New Beginnings Christian...NR... NR New Vision... 38...68 Quitman...NR... NR Vicksburg First/Vicksburg Hisp... 40...51 Clarksville Mission Area Clarksville First... 167...290 Clarksville Grace... 160...332 Clarksville Hope Riders Biker... 14...37 Clarksville Korean... 55...95 Clarksville Park Lane... 100...127 Dickson Lighthouse... 42...60 Dover...NR... NR Erin... 184...263 Fulton... 20...38 Gray s Chapel... 42...54 Griffin s Chapel... 48...76.Jason Chapel... 80...141 Long Creek... 0...30 Paris... 36...38 Pine Hill... 47...79 Waverly... 183...279 Woodlawn Community... 83...124 Coastal Mission Area Crossroads... 114...190 Gloster... 37...25 Gulf Coast Family... 83...116 Gulfport... 0...10 Hattiesburg First... 29...49 Laurel Bresee... 13...16 Laurel First... 9...17 LifePointe Community... 21...23 Long Beach Community... 4...13 Magnolia... 16...28 Palabra de Vida...NR... NR Prentiss...NR... NR Victory Praise & Worship Ctr... 85...30 Waynesboro Trinity... 18...22 Columbia Mission Area Columbia First...NR... NR Columbia Grace... 503...556 Elmore... 40...65 Fly... 64...102 Harmony... 44...68 Jones Chapel...NR... NR Lewisburg First... 29...52 Mount Wesley-Akin... 22...36 Nashville New Life Korean... 12...15 Pleasant Point...NR... NR Savannah... 15...16 Spring Hill Restoration Comm... 85...165 Summertown... 17...19 Hills Mission Area Bent Knee Cowboy...NR... NR Clarksdale... 5...10 Cleveland First... 41...45.Columbus First...NR... NR Divine Grace Sunflower...NR... NR. SS AM Fellowship... 22...35 Grenada First... 23...22 New Albany... 6...8 Oxford/Oxford Hispanic... 95...70 Pearson Chapel... 49...71 Ripley Hispanic... 16...35 Rosebloom... 35...59 Sentobia N.O. Nabors...NR... NR Starkville Wesley Comm... 10...24 Tupelo...NR... NR Union... 15...23 Way of the Cross... 17...18 Memphis Mission Area Colonial Hills...NR... NR Covington... 16...24 Crossroads Community... 47...61 Dyersburg... 18...20 Iglesia Libertad en Cristo... 10...10 Memphis Calvary... 340...369 Memphis Eastside... 18...68 Memphis Emmanuel... 56...95 Memphis Faithful Believers...NR... NR Memphis Friendship... 46...80 Memphis Grace... 143...183 Memphis Holiness Tabernacle..NR... NR Memphis Hope Tabernacle... 24...27 Memphis New Hope... 34...52 Memphis Refreshing Springs...NR... NR Millington... 25...25 Nashville North Mission Area Ashland City Faith Comm... 58...91 Gallatin... 142...259 Gallatin Hispanic...NR... NR Goodlettsville... 289...506 Hendersonville...NR... NR Hermitage... 259...512 Highland... 18...23 Joelton... 19...22 Madison... 11...23 Madison Hispanic...NR... NR Nashville First (Bethel Campus)... 44...89 Nashville First (Main Campus)... 605...1029 Nashville Inglewood... 19...37 Nashville Whites Creek... 24...38 Old Hickory... 50...74 Portland... 97...181 Springfield...NR... NR Nashville South Mission Area Brentwood Concord Comm... 85...109 Franklin Comm of Faith... 62...156 Gateway Community... 215...310 Kingston Springs... 7...15 Nashville Bell Road... 26...67 Nashville Blakemore...NR... NR Nashville Christ... 30...63 Nashville Community Fellowship... 14...25 Nashville Donelson... 18...25 Nashville First Calvary Korean... 25...67 Nashville Glencliff Hispanic... 63...120 Nashville Grace... 244...328 Nashville Kaleo... 18...35 Nashville Trevecca Comm... 495...728 Nashville Trinity... 23...34 Nashville Westwind Comm... 12...12 TOTAL... 6743...10511
Attendance Report for October Capitol Mission Area SS AM Bread of Life Community... 0...6 BridgePoint... 15...36 Brookhaven First... 15...23 Crystal Springs... 8...8 DaySpring Community... 179...316 Hazelhurst... 11...13 Hillside Community... 17...19 Meridian Fitkins Memorial... 143...265 Meridian Northside... 15...29 New Beginnings Christian...NR... NR New Vision...NR... NR Quitman...NR... NR Vicksburg First/Vicksburg Hisp... 42...47 Clarksville Mission Area Clarksville First... 164...268 Clarksville Grace... 159...318 Clarksville Hope Riders Biker... 17...49 Clarksville Korean... 50...90 Clarksville Park Lane... 99...129 Dickson Lighthouse... 43...52 Dover...NR... NR Erin...NR... NR Fulton... 25...32 Gray s Chapel... 42...51 Griffin s Chapel... 39...96.Jason Chapel... 66...117 Long Creek... 0...19 Paris... 35...45 Pine Hill... 46...81 Waverly... 176...273 Woodlawn Community... 83...136 Coastal Mission Area Crossroads... 153...172 Gloster... 40...30 Gulf Coast Family... 76...113 Gulfport... 0...17 Hattiesburg First... 25...45 Laurel Bresee... 12...18 Laurel First... 8...17 LifePointe Community... 18...18 Magnolia... 15...28 Palabra de Vida...NR... NR Prentiss...NR... NR Victory Praise & Worship Ctr... 23...32 Waynesboro Trinity...NR... NR Columbia Mission Area Columbia First...NR... NR Columbia Grace... 479...569 Elmore... 39...63 Fly... 64...79 Harmony... 35...60 Jones Chapel...NR... NR Lewisburg First... 23...44 Mount Wesley-Akin...NR... NR Nashville New Life Korean... 13...15 Pleasant Point... 11...12 Savannah... 23...25 Spring Hill Restoration Comm... 70...160 Summertown... 13...16 Hills Mission Area Bent Knee Cowboy... 26...44 Clarksdale... 5...9 Cleveland First... 46...50.Columbus First...NR... NR Divine Grace Sunflower...NR... NR. SS AM Grenada First... 29...31 Houlka... 9...11 New Albany... 6...8 Oxford/Oxford Hispanic... 96...69 Pearson Chapel... 45...71 Ripley Hispanic... 16...27 Rosebloom... 36...60 Sentobia N.O. Nabors...NR... NR Starkville Wesley Comm... 8...23 Tupelo...NR... NR Union... 11...21 Way of the Cross... 15...15 Memphis Mission Area Colonial Hills...NR... NR Covington... 11...13 Crossroads Community... 40...70 Dyersburg... 18...22 Iglesia Libertad en Cristo... 14...14 Memphis Calvary... 355...370 Memphis Eastside... 33...68 Memphis Emmanuel... 55...96 Memphis Faithful Believers...NR... NR Memphis Friendship... 48...125 Memphis Grace... 165...192 Memphis Holiness Tabernacle... 25...65 Memphis Hope Tabernacle... 28...30 Memphis New Hope... 35...60 Memphis Refreshing Springs...NR... NR Millington... 25...25 Nashville North Mission Area Ashland City Faith Comm... 60...90 Gallatin... 119...251 Gallatin Hispanic...NR... NR Goodlettsville... 285...549 Hendersonville... 79...183 Hermitage... 230...558 Highland... 18...21 Joelton... 20...27 Madison... 10...23 Madison Hispanic... 74...108 Nashville First (Bethel Campus)... 52...87 Nashville First (Main Campus)... 607...1054 Nashville Inglewood... 21...38 Nashville Whites Creek... 23...48 Old Hickory...NR... NR Portland... 102...212 Springfield... 22...31 Nashville South Mission Area Brentwood Concord Comm...NR... NR Franklin Comm of Faith... 62...150 Gateway Community... 201...327 Kingston Springs... 10...19 Nashville Bell Road... 23...52 Nashville Blakemore... 16...34 Nashville Christ... 30...46 Nashville Community Fellowship... 21...31 Nashville Donelson... 19...34 Nashville First Calvary Korean... 29...67 Nashville Glencliff Hispanic... 56...153 Nashville Grace... 216...381 Nashville Kaleo... 18...37 Nashville Trevecca Comm... 406...688 Nashville Trinity... 26...39 Nashville Westwind Comm... 12...12 TOTAL... 7133...11407