After a Long Hiatus

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other. From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, 38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.

Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time." Deuteronomy 4:35-40

PASTOR TO PASTOR
I am writing this in the aftermath of yet another "natural" disaster. (Isn't that an oxymoron?) After a conversation with one of our pastors I read again Matthew 24. Wow! I was then reminded of some scripture I read last week that is copied above.
God is in charge. And God is constantly reminding us that He is in control, He is our sustainer and Savior, and that we need to depend on Him.
As a pastor I get that. What surprises me sometimes is that I notice that when these things happen, there is little mention of God, His plan, or His ability to see us through. Some in our culture never consider that the things that are happening around us are a part of a bigger plan, a greater scheme, a larger picture. Just listen to the prognosticators. They talk about the science of it, or the cost of it...never the purpose of it.
That is why God was so adamant about parents and communities teaching these things to their young. They need to know what God has done, and what He can do.
This is why you and I are in the disciple making business. We need to teach and to train each generation to see God and to hear His voice in these days. To naturally and sincerely know that there is a God thing happening here. That these disasters, troubles, tests, and each challenge of life have divine responses and options attached to them.
Matthew 24 says "the love of many will grow cold". How can that be during these days? Perhaps because they don't know. Perhaps because people have forgotten...there is a God!

LET'S TRADE PRAYERS

EXCELLENT ADVENTURES
We have most recently visited Gloster (MS), Lucedale (MS), Laurel First (MS), Holly Grove (LA), Friendship (LA), Crowley (LA), Kosciusko (MS), Natchitoches (LA), Family Community (LA), Jackson Emmanuel (MS), Meridian Northside (MS), Columbia (MS), Pearl River (LA), Hispanic Ministries/Slidell (LA),

March 13-16 Revival at Cleveland First (MS)
March 20 - Magnolia (MS) am, Columbia (MS) 2:30
March 27-30 Revival at Baker (LA)
April 3 -- Available
April 10 -- Available
April 17 -- Available
April 24 -- Easter
May 1 -- Available

To schedule me please contact Pam. I would love to come to your church.

SPECIAL NOTES

Rev. Thomas (Carolyn) Allen was honored for his 25 years of pastoral ministry to the Pearl River (LA) congregation recently. What a wonderful record. Congratulations to the Allen's.

Rev. Alejandro Murillo and his wife Paula were honored last week for 25 years in the ministry. It was a gala celebration held at Slidell First (LA). Four Hispanic churches as well as the Slidell congregation, and other area ministers celebrated the occasion. Congratulations to the Murillo's.

Renee Parish, pastor's wife at Vicksburg (MS) has been appointed by the MS DAB to serve as District Secretary, replacing Dr. Ray Easley who has moved off of the district. Renee has worked for several years in the General Secretary's office at Nazarene Headquarters and brings valuable experience to the assignment.

Rev. Eric Nelson, pastor of Slidell (LA), has accepted the appoinment of the LA DAB as the new District Secretary, replacing Rev. Joe Talhelm who has resigned after many years of valuable ministry. Eric served in a similar capacity on the NWIL district.

Elijah Friedeman, pastor's son at DaySpring (MS) has been announced as a winner of the prestigious McClurkan scholarship at TNU. Only two of these are given each year.

Rev. Marlin Betts (Debbie) has resigned as pastor at Family Community (LA). Rev. Betts has done a wonderful job their helping to launch the school and other community ministries. He is seeking God's will for his next assignment.

Rev. Michael Perkins has accepted a call to Natchitoches (LA). He is married to April and they have a son Ethan. They are coming from a staff assignment in Midland, Tx.

Rev. John Sadler has accepted a call to Meridian Northside (MS). He is married to Beth, and they have two sons and a daughter. They are coming to us from Charlotte, NC.

Rev. Rev. Edwyn Carias and his wife Ligia, are pastoring our newest church in Gretna (LA), the Inglesia Del Nazareno Adulam. They will be serving under the direction of Rev. Murillo. They currently have a congregation of 25.

Rev. James Gillette (Magnolia, MS) will celebrate 10 years at the church with a special service on March 20.

The New Orleans Westbank church board has voted to close. The district has agreed to allow Inglesia Del Nazareno Adulam to occupy the building.

The board at Columbia (MS) has voted to close the church. There will be a celebration service at the church on Sunday, March 20, at 2:30. Pastors and churches in the area are encouraged to attend.

The following have had outstanding reviews: Rev. Bob Bradley (Crowley First), Rev. Jamey Robertson (Holly Grove), Rev. Steve Joiner (Columbus First) Rev. Randy Witbeck (Starkville Wesley)


Open Churches: (MS) GraceWay
(LA) Gracepointe, Family Community

Important Prayer Requests:

Rev. David Kelly (Crystal Springs, MS) continues to go through cancer treatments.

Continue to pray for Rev. Mike Howard (Westlake, LA)

Rev. Thomas Allen (Pearl River, LA) and wife Carolyn have had multiple physical battles recently. Carolyn will face another surgery on Monday. She recently had gall bladder surgery. Thomas had surgery (brain) on the pituitary gland.

Rev. Gary Harper, elder in MS, fell and broke his kneecap, and is immobilized.

We were saddened to hear of the death of Sis. Eileen Cargill, wife of retired pastor Vernon Cargill. Their daughter Claudia is a member of the MS district NMI council. She was a faithful member of the Gulf Coast Family church.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

MS DISTRICT ASSEMBLY AND CONVENTIONS
APRIL 12/13 - NMI Convention
APRIL 13/14 - SDMI Convention
APRIL 14/15 - DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
April 16 - NYI Convention

Justin Wells, Special Music
Dr. Eugenio Duarte, General Superintendent

LA DISTRICT ASSEMBLY AND CONVENTIONS
MARCH 11/12 -- NYI Convention
MAY 4/5 -- DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
MAY 6 -- SDMI/NYI COMBINED Convention

Adams Voice, Special Music
Dr. Eugenio Duarte, General Superintendent

Book I am Recommending: "Holy Purpose: Strategies For Making Christlike Disciples" by Bill Wiesman, et al. This book was sponsored by the USA/Canada Missions department as a way of highlighting the 5 strategic emphasis being encouraged and studied as a means of church renewal in North America. They are: 1) Intentional Leadership Development, 2) Vibrant Church Renewal, 3) Clear and Coherent theological Identity, 4) Passionate Missional Outreach, and 5) Multifaceted New Church Development.
Each strategy is highlighted in the book by chapters written by various authors. Our pastor at DaySpring (MS), Matt Friedeman has a chapter entitled Following the Leader, which describes the leader as tone setter in missional outreach.

I highly recommend this book.

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: ASHES TO FIRE - Many churches are using the emphasis as a time for deep spiritual renewal in their local churches running from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost. I pray you are walking through the daily material. I heard one of our pastors say that without Pentecost, Easter and Christmas don't matter. He is exactly right. May this season of the Christian calendar be rich with renewal and revival.