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Rogers-Cunningham-Bowman Ministerial Institute

With cultural specificity and a collective commitment to search for new strategies to minister in Black communities, 38 Black leaders convened at the Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs to participate in the 5th gathering of the Black Church Leadership Symposium. RCBMI is sponsored by Mission Strategy USA/Canada, and is directed by Dr. Oliver R. Phillips.

Topics covered in the symposium were "The Making of the Pastor in the Black Community," "The Sacred Art of Preaching in the Black Community," and "Evangelism in the Black Community." Participants were engaged in challenging currencies of modalities that surveyed the ministry options that have been proven successful in other evangelical denominations.

Dr. Darryl Starnes, director of Evangelism in the 1.5 million-member African Methodist Episcopal Zion, shared his denomination's strategies to reach the Black community with the Wesleyan message of hope. Starnes said, "Evangelism cannot be merely a program of the local church or denomination. It must be the internalized mission of the converted who have been trained to become disciple makers with intentionality."

The work of the RCBMI is to merge the African American Nazarene presence and the institutions of higher learning in the Church of the Nazarene, as partners to study and research issues that are important to the equipping of students for leadership in predominantly African American churches and communities. Furthermore, said Phillips, "The fundamental mission of RCBMI is to enter partnership with the Black church and Nazarene educational institutions to reflect on the liberating features of African American religion. It serves as a facilitator to define a future for Black Nazarenes, shaped by the prophetic vision of God's justice on earth.

Visit the Black Ministries web page for more information on Black Nazarenes.

NDR Responds to Katrina

Major monitoring agencies gave NDR, a national corps of Nazarene Volunteers, high visibility and credit for its response to the Katrina disaster. Under the direction of National Director J. V. Morsch, NDR prepared teams days before Katrina in an effort to respond adequately to the worst storm in 100 years.

Within hours of Katrina striking the coastline of Louisiana, NDR coordinators began responding to the immediate emergency needs of the people worst affected. During the first five days, our trained corps of volunteers utilized every capacity and asset at their immediate disposal to assist bereaved and displaced families.

Simultaneously in our NCM office, Dan Soliday, coordinator, began re-structuring the management of the organization to speed up our internal decision making process. It also enhanced our ability to communicate and liaise with district superintendents, pastors, constituent inquiries, and other local agencies, who contacted NCM offering to assist the affected communities. The importance of coordination and communication with Heart to Heart International, NVOAD (National Organizations Active in Disaster), American Red Cross, and FEMA, and individuals was grasped early by NDR and we are committed to continuing to promote coordination and communication at the district, as well as national level.

What has been done?

• More than $2,431,567 has been generously donated by Nazarenes.
• Hundreds of Nazarene volunteers have given time to the recovery efforts.
• Scores of Nazarenes have opened their hearts and doors of homes and churches for the evacuees.
• Eight command centers have been set up in the Gulf Coast region in Nazarene churches.
• Rapid assessment of the damages and need have been conducted and funds have been disbursed to the needed areas.
• More than 100 Work & Witness teams have begun work on the rebuilding of churches, parsonages, and private homes.
• Food and clothing centers have been overwhelmed with the task of immediate relief.
• More than 100,000 crisis care kits have been transported from distribution centers to the Coast.
• Active collaboration has been sought with other agencies -- Heart to Heart International, NVOAD (National Organizations Active in Disaster), American Red Cross, Docs Who Care, RVER's, and FEMA.
• Centers of Compassion are being developed to respond to the needs of individuals and families not connected to the Church of the Nazarene.
• The Gulf Coast Response Oversight Team (GCROT) has been formed to develop strategies for coordinated response and disbursements of funds. They have a meeting planned for October 6, 2005 in Houston.
• One Nazarene center reports serving more than 2,000 meals per day.
• Crisis Care Counseling Center has been set up under the direction of Dr. Phil Budd and other Nazarene chaplains.
• Oliver Phillips and Fletcher Tink are working on the publication of a book, "Katrina: Faith, Family, and Friends." This is a compilation of stories and anecdotes as told by Nazarenes and others. This will be completed by NPH on November 1, 2005.
• A financial voucher system is being developed to assist needy families for Thanksgiving.
• A Chaplaincy Counseling Center is being developed with collaboration of Chaplaincy Services and denominational Chaplaincy Coordinator Dwight Jennings.
• Grief and Counseling radio spots are being explored for distribution as Public Service Announcements.

To help Nazarenes to minimize misunderstanding, Mission Strategy developed "Measures of Goodwill: Protocols for Hospitality

Katrina: Faith, Family, and Friends

Fletcher Tink, Professor of Urban Ministries at Nazarene Theological Seminary and Oliver R. Phillips, director of Mission Strategy USA/Canada have teamed to capture inspiring anecdotes from the Katrina and Gulf Coast Hurricanes, entitled Katrina: Faith, Family, and Friends. In discussing the project, Phillips said, "I am convinced that the survival of thousands of evacuees during the days and weeks following the tragedy depended largely on these three catalysts."

The story of Ron Nelson (below) and his congregation of compassion is only one of the many demonstrations of Spirit-led responses included in the booklet to be released in a couple weeks

Rev. Ron Nelsen is our pastor in Huntsville, Texas and his church is situated on a highway that runs through the town. As he prayed to God for what he should do he sensed that God would have him stand in front of the church alongside of the highway. Therefore, he obeyed the call to go, and within a few minutes God's plan began to unfold.

The cars on the highway were bumper to bumper. One car pulled up in front of Ron, and rolled down his window. The man asked, "Can you help me?" Pastor Ron said, "Sure. Come on in." As this car pulled into the parking lot several other cars followed him. Actually, the final count of everyone that passed through the doors of the church was 160. The man that Ron had talked to was traveling with his relatives, so this presented a challenging opportunity of ministry for our church in Huntsville.

Ron talked with his wife Lola and wondered how they would help these people. The immediate need was food. The people had been traveling all day, and were hungry. The story of the 5 loaves and 2 fish came to mind, and Ron knew the Lord would provide. Ron and Lola went to the freezer, and found some frozen fish left over from a Labor Day celebration, so they pulled it out. They fried up the fish and heated up some beans. Everyone went through the line, and the food never ran out. After dinner on Friday evening, Ron asked his Spanish pastor to organize a worship service, because 98% of the people were Spanish speakers. There were some that attended while others went to sleep. Unbelievably, the sanctuary that comfortably seats 100 people became a bedroom for 160. Everyone found a place to lay their head.

The next morning there was no electricity due to the affects of the storm, so Ron arranged to cook pancakes on a gas grill outside of the church. Once again, God provided enough pancakes for everyone to eat. The day unfolded to be very productive, and many continued on their journey to other places. For a 24-hour period our church in Huntsville made a big difference in many lives. Just think what would have happened if Pastor Ron had not obeyed God's call to stand in front of the church?

Katrina Reports from Nazarene Congregations

• New Life Community in the Tomball/Magnolia
• Lake Houston Church of the Nazarene
• Harbor Church of the Nazarene
• Crossing Church of the Nazarene
• Pasadena First Church
• Vidor Church of the Nazarene
• Orange Church of the Nazarene

Haitian Mission Report
By Pascal Permis
I had the privilege to attend the directors' training in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I learned a great deal about what my role is as mission director, and I am very excited with the opportunity to serve with a group of people who have desire to serve God, and who are enthusiastic about doing his work. read more

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