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From the District Superintendent : Doom and Gloom?
Doom and Gloom! Is there any good news these days? If it’s not the stock market or the unemployment numbers, it’s the mortgage crisis and the number of housing foreclosures that make the news headlines on a daily basis. It is very easy for us to get focused on the negative and have the sense that everything is falling apart. In fact with all of the negative going on around us, these are great days for Christ’s church. You may ask, “How can that be? We aren’t immune to the economy of our day.”. Absolutely we are not immune, but our hope is not in the dollar or any other currency of this world, but our currency is in Jesus Christ and it is in Him that we place our hope and trust. We are reminded that when life seems to be unraveling, God is busy doing a new work. You see, He deals in prayer, faith, and action all in His Spirit rather than the dollar and there is no shortage of these in God’s work.
God is using His church to bring people of all nations of this world to Him. There is a great revival going on in many parts of the globe that is not fueled by money but by His Spirit. Maybe this “global economic crisis” is just what we need to drive us to our knees and rediscover what really is the most important thing in the world. No one in the US has been hit harder than the Eastern Michigan area with the economy, but I believe this can be a great time for our people and churches.
It is reported that when the Apollo 13 space craft ran into difficulties that appeared to doom the mission and crew on their journey to the moon, NASA’s Mission Control Director, Chris Craft said to NASA Flight Director Gene Kranz: “This could be the worst disaster NASA's ever faced.” Gene replied “With all due respect, sir, I believe this is gonna be our finest hour.”
Let’s indeed make this Eastern Michigan’s finest hour.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:1-2 (KJV)
District Superintendent
Other News from Around the District
 One of our EMD Elders, Rev. Paul R. Dickinson, Sr. passed away in late February. Rev. Dickinson was a member of Warren Woods and served as a registered evangelist in the Church of the Nazarene and was well known for his beautiful singing voice.
Mr. Bob Prince, father of Rev. Fred and Rev. Rob Prince as well as uncle of Rev. Fred Hall passed away on the morning of March 9 at his home. His family was with him when he died. Bob had recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Visitation will be at the RG & GR Harris Funeral Home in Garden City on Wednesday, March 11 from 5-9 PM and the funeral service will be Thursday at 11 AM at the Plymouth Church of the Nazarene.
 Richfield Church has called Dr. Alan Duce as pastor. Alan and his wife Jan have been serving as professors at Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs. Prior to NBC, Alan pastored the Monroe Church on our district leading them in growth, planting the Dundee Church, and relocation to their present location. He will begin his ministry at Richfield on Sunday, March 29th.
JR Celebrate Life Information and Registration available online
We are soon approaching the date of our District Jr. Celebrate Life! It all happens on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at Richfield Church of the Nazarene. Doors will open at 9:30 AM, and we will begin together in the sanctuary at 10:00. All registrations must be postmarked by March 23rd. Once again this year, all information you will need can be found on the web at http://www.emdnaz.org/celebratelife/
District Assembly and NMI Convention
The 2009 NMI Convention and District Assembly will be held April 19-21 at Flint Central Church. NMI Convention will begin Sunday evening April 19 at 6 PM and conclude by 5 PM on Monday. District Assembly will begin at 7 PM on Monday, April 20 with Ordination Service and conclude by 5 PM on Tuesday, April 21st. Dr. James Diehl will be our presiding General Superintendent. More information about this year's assembly including hotel accomodation information can be found at http://www.emdnaz.org/event_district_assembly_20090421.php.
Campmeeting and Camps 2009
Here are the dates for this year's camps and campmeeting:
- Primary Camp - June 28 - July 1, 2009
- Sr High Camp - July 5 - 10, 2009
- Middler Camp - July 12 - 17, 2009
- Family Campmeeting - July 19 - 26, 2009
- Jr High Camp - July 26 - 31, 2009
- Preteen Camp - August 2 - 7, 2009
Look for more information on this year's camps coming soon!
Join Detroit Grace Church for
Revival
March 22nd-25th, 2009
The Guest preacher will be Dr. Charles Johnson, Pastor of Fitkins Memorial Church of the
Nazarene, Meridian, Mississippi.
Dr. Johnson has served as pastor of Fitkins Memorial Church of the Nazarene since 1961,
after graduating from the Nazarene Bible College in West Virginia. Over the years he has
continued to further his studies and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from
Trevecca Nazarene University.
Dr. Johnson has been an active participant in Civil Rights including founding the Meridian
Action Committee, a Civil Rights group. In addition to continuing his role as pastor, Dr.
Johnson continues to work closely with the Church of the Nazarene’s Multicultural Ministries.
General Assembly and Conventions 2009
The General Assembly Site Commission has selected the Orange County Convention center in Orlando, Florida, as the site for the 2009 General Conventions and Assembly. This adjustment in location commitment for 2009 became necessary due to planned demolition and construction projects of the convention center in Indianapolis. Several other cities inside and outside of the USA were researched for viability to host the quadrennial events. Consideration was given to criteria such as availability of event dates, demographics of Nazarene constituency, function space, accommodations and local infrastructure.
Orlando has committed over one million square feet of complimentary space to the Church of the Nazarene for the 2009 events. The area surrounding the convention center offers a wide range of hotel accommodations and food service opportunities.
Although this denominational gathering is being moved from the middle part of the USA in 2009, there are great opportunities for international delegate and visitor access in Orlando. The location also provides wonderful options for families to attend the quadrennial events and General assembly in one of the great destination cities of the world.
The dates for the 27th General Assembly and Conventions are June 24 - July 3, 2009
For more information, please visit http://web.nazarene.org/site/PageServer?pagename=General_Assembly_Home |
The annual Easter dinner is quickly approaching - Saturday, April 11. We need candy, baskets, fillers (small toys, pencils, etc. . . please, no grass!). We also will need hams for the dinner - spirals work great! We also need helpers to work in the clothing house where the baskets will be passed out. If you'd like to help with that, or at the dinner, please call Roger Lutze at: 810-767-5312.
NMI Convention:
Missionary Dana Harding, Dan and Cindy Wine with Michigan District NMI President Carol and Rev. William Baker enjoy an outstanding service at Fowlerville Church. Many churches where she spoke have reported that she was an outstanding speaker. She brought to life the work of God through the Nazarene Church in Swaziland, Africa.