We have decided to do something a little different for the annual Ministers’ & Spouses’ Communion Service this year. We will be meeting at Higher Ground Conference and Retreat Center; to come together to share the sacraments and dinner.

The service will begin with dinner at 6:30 PM Tuesday with the Worship service following at 7:30 PM. It is our intent is to create an atmosphere that will allow you time to connect and commune with God. A reservation form has been mailed to you. Please note that we must receive your registration with your deposit by February 12, 2010.

The meal consists of four choices of pastas, salad, bread, dessert and drinks for $10.00 per person.

In closing, please be in prayer that this will be a time of remembering Christ and all that He has done for us in his life, death and resurrection as well as a time to examine ourselves as we participate in the body of Christ.

Click here to download the registration form

Monthly Report

There is a great hymn of the church which includes the chorus, “Are you ready? Are you ready for the judgment day?” That’s a great question to ask ourselves and it is the driving force behind what we do as a mission society. We do our work from week to week in the context that there is a “great day coming by and by; when the saints and sinners will be parted right and left.” It is important to be ready for the judgment day.

But here is a secret that I have learned along the way… when God calls us to a task, we rarely are ready! When God called Gideon to save Israel, Gideon protested because he was the least man in the least clan in Israel (Judges 6:15). Ever feel that way? But listen carefully to God’s call, “Go in the strength you have…Am I not sending you…I will be with you” (Judges 6:14,16).

When God calls you, just go in the strength that you do have, and don’t focus on the strength that you don’t have! Remember who it is that is sending you; He is not sending you alone! He will be with you . Remember Paul who affirmed that it was when he was weak that he was strong!

Have you ever backed away from something God was calling you to because you felt that you were not ready? Unlike the judgment day, you don’t have to be! God wants to work through you and display His strength through you. So be bold to say ‘yes’ trusting that He will go with you!

 Missionaries Available for Faith Promise May 1-July 31, 2010

David and Rhoda Restrick are global missionaries with the Church of the Nazarene assigned to the country of Mozambique.   They have served in Mozambique since 1992.   David serves as academic dean and professor at Seminário Nazareno em Moçambique located in the capital city, Maputo.  Rhoda has a number of rolls ministering to the faculty and students of the school including being the school nurse.  

David is a 1973 graduate of Eastern Nazarene College. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, he taught math and science at Nazarene High School in Manzini, Swaziland from 1975 to 1978.  Upon completion of his Peace Corps service, he continued his studies at Nazarene Theological Seminary where he earned his M.Div. degree.  He has done further graduate work at Boston University School of Theology, earning an STM in 1990 and completing his Th.D. in church history and missiology in 2001.

Rhoda received her registered nurse’s credentials at the United Sheffield Hospitals School of Nursing, Sheffield, England, in 1970.  She received her midwifery certification in 1971.  From 1973 to 1978 she served as nurse and midwife at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in Manzini, Swaziland. 

Prior to being assigned to Mozambique, the Restricks served one term at the Lula Schmelzenbach Memorial Nazarene Theological College near Acornhoek in the Northern Province of South Africa.  David served as professor and academic dean of the college.  Rhoda served as part time teacher, college nurse and bookkeeper.  In addition, they were involved in relief work among refugees from the civil war in Mozambique. 

Prior to their missionary appointment, the Restricks pastored the Church of the Nazarene in Weston-super-Mare, England, for three years.  David was ordained on the British Isles South District in 1985.  The Restricks have three children; Beth, Mary, and David.

Contact Wayne LaForce: wlaforce@nazarene.org to schedule.
 

Mark Your Calendars…The Radi’s are coming!

You really do not want to miss getting to meet Carlos and Robin Radi global missionaries for the Church of the Nazarene in Argentina. They will be on our district this Spring!

Sunday April 18
AM Carthage
PM Harrison

Monday April 19
SE Zone at Amelia

Tuesday April 20
NE Zone at Hillsboro

Wednesday April 21
NW Zone Fairborn Wrightview

Saturday April 24
Hispanic Church at Carthage

Sunday Night April 25
At the NYI Praise Rally!

It’s not too early to start planning for the 2010 NMI Dsitrict Convention July 14 and 15.

Mark your calendars now and consider putting in for a day off work. We will enjoy hosting Jay and Teanna Sunberg ministering in Bulgaria!

Did you know?

The Clifton Church of the Nazarene is venturing out to team up with a para-church ministry. They will be reaching out to University of Cincinnati students of  Asian and Indian descent. Please pray for Rev. Fischer and Ranjara and Pramod Aghamkar as they step out to minister in this area.

New Terminology

The shift from an outdated, expense-based formula to a global percentage for funding our global mission involves a change in mindset for many affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene.

In order to ease this shift, we are providing the terms we’re using to describe the Funding the Mission plan in our resources, our Web sites, and our reports. We will encourage missional faithfulness and passion by the terms we choose and use.  

Changes are coming…

I included in this newsletter some of the changes that are being initiated by the Global Headquarters. This will trickle down to changes on the district and local level over the next months and years. I will be attending a meeting in January for District Presidents from across the globe and will be communicating the information I receive over the next few months. We will all have to work together to negotiate these changes!  ~Cynthia

To our LINKS and Church friends!

Immanuel, God with us!!!  What an incredible fact!!  We rejoice with each of you that together, we DO CELEBRATE  GOD WITH US!

GOD WITH US………Through His abundant grace, each and every day
GOD WITH US………Through His peace and hope
GOD WITH US………In His refining power
GOD WITH US………In His sustaining strength
We celebrate each and every day!  May each of you be encouraged and truly bask in His presence with you wherever this finds you and in whatever situation you find yourself in.  Rest in the glorious truth that He is with you. 
We thank the Lord for many answers to prayer in our lives this month.  John has been ’steady at it’ in the print shop getting all the Sunday school, equip, and theological education material ready for 2010.  The Lord sustained and protected myself and a dear family friend as we traveled up to Northern Ghana.  How does one describe riding on the back of a motor bike in the dark, ascending an escarpment with no lights….with potholes galore and patches of sand…with no lights working?  How does one describe bathing a D.S. who is burning up with fever and extremely weak?   The Lord’s presence was there with all in all. 

While up in Northern Ghana, I had the joy of teaching over 150 girls about HIV/AIDs as well as training children’s ministry workers.   Oh, the needs are many.  Please pray for the pastors who are working hard to make a difference in the lives of children and youth. In November, John and I were able to spend our 3 weeks of holiday time in Alberta, Canada visiting with family and friends.  It was a blessing and we were grateful for this rest. We thank the Lord for Alanna’s growing time while attending a 6 week intensive course at Capenwray in New Zealand.  She is now in Papua New Guinea for the next 3 months and has been helping teach the missionary kids at the school.   We thank the Lord for having Mitchell home with us over the Christmas school break.  He had a great first semester in his Sr. year at boarding school in Dakar, Senegal. John survived turning 50 on the 20th.  I’m behind him all the way!  A good dose of Canadian Maple syrup and Ghanaian chocolate will keep his going for another 50!   Mitch turns 18 on the 26th.  Where does the time go?? We thank the Lord for our family friend, Bethany Herbert, who is spending 1 month with us.  She is our first guest from our home church and we are truly blessed!  She’s a great trooper!  

“Lord, we are so thankful for the many brothers and sisters in Christ that you have blessed us with.  Minister to them and through them.  Bless them and enable them to continue to ‘press on.’  Help each of us to live with the keen awareness of your presence with us in all and through all.  We love you Lord and give you all the praise.  Amen! ”

 ”…….may your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you maybe able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteous that comes through Jesus Christ–to the glory and praise of God. “  Philippians 1:9-11

Go with Christ in 2010! 

Yours in Christ, John, Laurie, Alanna (PNG) and Mitchell (Ghana/Senegal)

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. - 1 Timothy 4:12

This weekend retreat is designed with our preteens in mind (10-12 years old). We will discuss God’s purity standard when it comes to our speech, actions, attitude, dress, and relationships.

SWO Nazarene Children’s Ministries presents…
Pure Freedom Preteen Winter Retreat
January 29 – 30
Registration includes 1 parent and 1 preteen
$69 early bird prior to January 22
$79 after January 22
Higher Ground Conference & Retreat Center
Registration includes shared lodge room and 3 meals.
You may request your own lodge room for additional fee of $23.

Click here for registration form

Cooperation, Consequences, and Keeping Your Sanity

Presented by Amy Clymer
Saturday, January 30
8:45 am to 2:30 pm
Living Hope Church
1150 W Spring Valley Pike
Centerville, OH 45458

The cost is $15 per adult. Register at www.biblicalparenting.org/register or call (937) 433-2773.

You will learn practical ways to move from a behavior modification approach to a heart-based approach to parenting. It’s amazing how children change the way they live when parents adjust the way they work with them.

This seminar is provided by the National Center for Biblical Parenting and is a practical, biblical approach to parenting. You’ll be so grateful you attended because you’ll be able to use the material right away.

Southwestern Ohio District 
Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International
is sponsoring this event…

Marriage Renewal Encounter 2010
February 12-13

Higher Ground Conference and Retreat Center
Presenters: Chad Current, Lester Jones, Bob Mahaffey,
David and Sara Vallandingham
Music: Brannon and Gloria Hancock
Comedy Relief: Dan and Darlene Walters
Friday, February 12 ~ Dinner at 6:30 PM
Concludes Saturday, February 13 at 3:00 PM
Price per couple~ $125.00
Please send reservations and payment to Higher Ground Conference and Retreat Center
3820 Logan Creek Lane ~ West Harrison, Indiana 47060
For more information contact the district office (513) 777-5600
or email Tom Zile at tzile@earthlink.net

“Element” is a district-wide retreat for young adults January 23-24. The retreat will be held at Higher Ground Conference and Retreat Center, our district campground, in Harrison, IN. This will be a time for young adults to grow closer to the Lord and closer to each other. Although information about the retreat is available on the Southwestern Ohio District website, we have more details to share and one change to make.

SATURDAY 1/23: 
Check-in 1:00 at Pioneer Lodge
~ Outdoor/indoor games in the afternoon — football, dodgeball, volleyball; board games, card games, etc.
~ Hot dinner provided
~ Evening coffeehouse with coffee bar
~ Live music
~ Karaoke

SUNDAY 1/24:
~ Hot morning brunch provided
~ Worship service, with Beavercreek Nazarene Young Adult Pastor, JR Forasteros as special speaker
~ Check-out 1:00 at Pioneer Lodge
A block of 24 lodge rooms has been reserved for this event. The rooms are very nice and similar to hotel rooms. Each has two beds, a TV, linens/bedding, wi-fi, and can room up to four persons. (Rooms do not furnish hair dryers or shampoo.)

VERY IMPORTANT: The cost is $30 per person and includes two meals, lodging, and general use of the Higher Ground facilities. If someone is able to attend only part of the retreat (i.e. if they come later in the day on Saturday), they may subtract $10 from their cost, ONLY if they will be missing one of the provided meals. The DEADLINE for payment is Saturday, JANUARY 16. Checks must be written before or on that date. After the 16th, the cost is $40.

If paying by check, young adult attendees may make it out to: SWO Sunday School Ministries.

Please mail checks to:
Zach Bohannon
524 French Run Ct.
Lebanon, OH 45036
Zach has been interning at Springdale Nazarene and is one of the coordinators for this retreat. 

God wants to move in and through our young people, and this event is an opportunity for Him to do that.

Feel free to contact Chris Bean, our campus missionary to the University of Cincinnati, if you have any questions about “Element.”

Check out www.amc.nazarene.org a wealth of information and assistance. You’ll have access to all ministries, including Women’s, Single Adults, Men’s, Nazarene Motorcycle Fellowship, Prime Time, Marriage, Family, and The Discipleship Place denominational website. Included in The Discipleship Place are many resources and free courses for laypersons. Material to benefit ministry is added regularly!