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Newsletter – March 30, 2022

Newsletter
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR CRISIS CARE KITS…CAN’T WAIT TO REPORT TO YOU NEXT WEEK!
We’ve been amazed by numbers of CCKs being reported!
East TN Nazarenes are BUSY getting lots of Crisis Care Kits ready to send to our warehouse, to be sent to Ukrainian refugees.
We were given very short notice on this request…all caused by the dire situation in Eastern Europe.

IMPORTANT LAST MINUTE REMINDERS:
1. Cut the heavy brown paper (usually found in the banana box) in half and place inside the bottom of the box. Tape the other half over the hole in the lid. (Plain cardboard may be used in the same way if your banana boxes are missing the paper.)
 
2. *Using strong packing tape, cover all holes in the top and the bottom of the box. Then tape the box securely shut. Please leave box handles open; this makes it easier to load and unload
3.Send a check—made payable to Global Treasury Services, Church of the Nazarene—in the amount of $12.00 per banana box (for storage and shipping costs during the distribution process). Include the name and address of your church with the check. Ten Percent Credit will be allowed for the $12.00 shipping donation only. Do not put the money in the CCKs or banana boxes. Mark the check, “Nazarene Relief Shipments ACM1297,” and mail to: Global Treasury Services PO Box 843116 Kansas City, MO 64184–3116
We’ve been amazed by numbers of CCKs being reported.
4.  Pick up times/sites:  
Thursday, March 30, 12:00-5:00 pm at Tullahoma Westside Church of the Nazarene
Saturday, April 2, 10:00-12:00 pm at Crossville CotN & (central time) & Maryville CotN (Eastern time)

Q & A:  We’ve had several other things going on, & can’t make CCKs until later.  Can we still bring them to assembly?
YES, WE WILL COLLECT CCKs at ASSEMBLY, as usual.   We’ll gladly receive them at assembly if you didn’t get to participate 
with the upcoming  shipment …or if you want to make more CCKs & bring to assembly!
WHERE:  Lee University, Cleveland, TN 
WHEN:  July 12-14, 2022 

ALABASTER UPDATE:  Thanks to Southview Community & Cross Style for taking us to 83.3% Alabaster participation.

VALENTINES FOR JESUS WRAPS UP BEAUTIFULLY WITH SILENT AUCTION OF KIDS’ ART AT MANCHESTER!
With additions from Lebanon 1st & Pleasant View this week, new total is…..$15,561.13!
Kids at Manchester Church painted beautiful pictures which were sold at silent Auction, for a total of $450 for Valentines for Jesus.

Newsletter – March 23, 2022

Newsletter

HILL TOP NMI HAS VIRTUAL BRIDAL SHOWER FOR CHAD AND LINDSEY!

The Hill Top Church recently held a virtual bridal shower for Links missionary Chad Dickerson and his future bride, Lindsey.                            Picture shows prayer on three screens:  Lindsey in KC, Chad in Ecuador, and the Hill Top audience praying with Lindsey & Chad.  To access bridal  information for Chad and  Lindsey, with great pictures, go to  

theknot.com/lindseyandchad202

VALENTINES FOR JESUS DEADLINE IS MARCH 31….
LATEST TOTAL:  $15,051.28!
MOST RECENT DONORS: Lenoir City, Chattanooga Grace,
Cleveland First, Monterey, Tullahoma 1st
DEADLINE:  Checks must be sent to John Butler by March 31

NAZARENES IN EUROPE SACRIFICE TO SERVE REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE

Moldovan church sacrificing to support people displaced from Ukraine

  How we in E TN can help:

1.Pray, & give, with knowledge of how the Church of the Nazarene  is serving:   Learn  about how the Church of the Nazarene  is serving: 

https://ncm.org
Today’s NMI Central tells about relief efforts in Romania;  to subscribe to NMI Central, go to:

https://nazarene.org/who-we-are/organization/ministries/nazarene-missions-international/nmi-resources/nmi-central
2. Take complete boxes of CCKs to the following pick up sites: 

Pick up sites for 4/2/22   
Crossville Church of the Nazarene–Scott & Debbie Blair  
       10:00-12:00 CST
Maryville Church of the Nazarene–Don Moore  10:00-12:00 EST
Drop off for Tullahoma/Decherd area -3/31/22 
Bill Statum, Family Food Ministry, will drive CCKs from Decherd/Tullahoma area, to Crossville.
Churches interested in sending CCKs by Bill Statum may bring FULL, ready to ship boxes to 
Family Food Ministry, THURSDAY, March 31, from 12:00 to 5:00 pm
Jim & Teresa Hodge will be there from 12:00-5:00 to check your boxes in and help load. 

Newsletter – March 16, 2022

Newsletter

ENGAGING YOUTH

2022 E TN NMI Trevecca Scholarship  Application for Mission Passionate HS Seniors Now Available

For several years, E TN NMI has awarded two Trevecca scholarships annually to two MISSION PASSIONATE high school seniors who have shown a real interest in missions on the local or district level.  The students are not necessarily mission called youth.  The $500 scholarships are matched by Trevecca, making the entire scholarship $1,000. Scholarship applications are available at  http://etnmi.org/forms/

Real Life Youth Shop for Blessing Box

Tristan Garbison, Luke Johnson and Rylan Selvidge served their community by stocking the Blessing Box in the Real Life Church parking lot.  The box is always unlocked, ready or persons needing food to get what they need.  But the Blessing Box has been emptied almost daily recently.  So, Pastor Kristie Selvidge took the teens shopping.  They learned how to best spend their money to get the best deals…to serve more families!  Youth at Real Life clean and stock the Blessing Box, promote missionary offerings, count Alabaster offerings, and engage children, adults & other youth in missions.

PLEASE SEND PICTURES AND STORIES OF HOW YOUR CHURCH IS ENGAGING YOUTH IN MISSIONS!

Valentines for Jesus Update – New total:  $14,177.61,  with new additions from Elizabethton, Gordonsville, Maryville, Cookeville, Hill Top, Eastside Community, & Fayetteville! 
Alabaster Participation Update – Knoxville House Church Network brings us to 80.56% participation!  


For all updates on Church of the Nazarene’s  responce to crisis in Ukraine, go to  https://ncm.org/ukraine-crisis 

Update on Ukraine from Dr. Carla Sunberg

Newsletter – March 9, 2022

Newsletter
VALENTINES FOR JESUS UPDATE
NEW TOTAL-$11,099.08
Cleveland New Hope, Jasper, Maryville, Tullahoma 1st,
New Life, Mt. Hermon, Warren Chapel 

ALABASTER OFFERING REMITTED
UPDATE:  79.1% participation
57 churches, including Decherd, Maryville, and The Arbor,
have remitted Alabaster offerings. 

DID YOU MISS HAUNS, LEADING  E TN IN PRAYER, ON FB LIVE LAST SATURDAY, GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER? 
 IT’S RECORDED & POSTED TO ETN DISTRICT NMI FACEBOOK PAGE


The invitation below invites Bulgarian friends and soon-to-be friends
to a group meeting at the home of Missionaries Joshua and Katie Haun.  
Read request from Joshua Haun below invitation; see how you can be blessed, praying for the group meeting weekly.

Will you help us pray? You have been so faithful to pray for us. We know that it is through the powerful and affective prayers of the righteous, that God has brought us this far. We need your continued support as we journey. Help us pray for the growth, development, and work of this group that is meeting.  Pray for us each Tuesday at 7:00PM (This is 12:00 PM EST and 11:00AM CST). Pray that we can invite more people to this group, that the members of this group will grow in Christ, and invite their own friends, and that this group would be a blessing to our community in Sofia, and the city as a whole. Pray for our Bulgarian language ability. We are going to be having another course for Bulgarian beginning in March. I am not sure we will ever be finished learning this beautiful language, but we recognize the need to know more, so we can know our neighbors better, and share more deeply about Christ.   SET ALARM FOR PRAYER FOR BULGARIAN MINISTRY – TUESDAYS AT 12:00 EST AND 11:00 CST

GIVING FOR VICTIMS OF WAR IN UKRAINE
Those at E TN Ministers’ Retreat last Friday-Sunday were HUGELY blessed by the ministry of General Superintendent, David Busic.  We’ll long remember seeing ministers gathering around him, laying on hands in prayer, as he was leaving at the close of the Sunday AM service to depart for the Eurasia field where he will minister in 8 countries in a very short time.  Please pray for his ministry, as well as for those in Europe needing hope and encouragement as they minister to thousands of refugees. 

The most reliable place to receive up-to-date news about how the Church of the Nazarene is ministering in the Ukraine crisis: 

Many of you have asked about giving through NCM, for relief efforts in Europe. 
NCM tells us:  “The  fastest way for money to be processed is by giving online at 

www.ncm.org/ukraine

 with a credit card. 

It is okay, though, if people want to give by check.  We are THANKFUL for everyone’s generosity and desire to help!  I know those on the frontlines in Eurasia are VERY grateful!!
As far as checks, people can make checks payable to “General Treasurer” with a designation of ‘137043’ for the NCM Eurasia North and Central Europe Field Crisis Fund.
Please send checks to the following address:
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Church of the Nazarene
PO Box 410946
Kansas City, MO 64179-9655

 

Newsletter – March 2, 2022

Newsletter
GLOBAL WEEK OF PRAYER, DAY 4:  THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR THE EURASIA REGION 
Because Ukraine, Russia, and the nations surrounding them are heavily on our hearts right now, it’s especially urgent that we pray for Eurasia, today, and until God brings peace.  Be blessed by this video update by Teanna Sunburg in Poland, posted yesterday on our Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Facebook page. 

Refugee Reception in Poland

 

Valentines for Jesus Report-Latest Total:  $7,258.08! 
Special Thanks to Tullahoma 1st, & Newport Churches for their generous offerings & their patience with me for late reporting. Both of these great churches sent their offerings in much earlier than this week, but I failed to add their names to newsletter list. 
Churches that have sent offerings this week:  Chattanooga E. Ridge, Sweetwater, Knoxville South, Beulah Chapel, Decherd, Knoxvile House Church Network, &  Shelbyville. 
Decherd NMI President, Patsy Hill Engages Children by Engaging her Community!  What a Great Win-Win!

Wanting to do something different for Valentines for Jesus offering this year, Decherd NMI President, Patsy Hill, led her church in engaging her community by having the local Mexican Restaurant cater a Valentines dinner at the church.  The offering table was decorated with posters made by ESL students from Mexico, at Clark Memorial Elementary, where Patsy works with these children.  The children proudly shared about Mexico, their homeland, with their new friends at Decherd Church of the Nazarene.

 

Alabaster Update:  
Thanks to Estill Springs and Smithville, for taking us to 76.39%, or 55 churches participating in remitting Alabaster offerings.
Our final percentage of participation last year was 76.7%, so we’re about to surpass our final participation last year, nearly 5 months early!   Several churches have contacted me this week with reports of great Alabaster offerings, but offerings are not reported on newsletter until they are received at Global Treasury.

Newsletter – Feb. 23, 2022

Newsletter
Sunday, February 27, is the first day of the annual NMI Global Week of Prayer
Subscribers to NMI Central will receive an email each day with prayer needs and insights, and Prayer Journal has been attached to last two newsletters, at 

http://etnmi.org/category/newsletter/Please encourage everyone to like and share our posts on the global NMI Facebookand Instagrampages.

Global Day of Prayer  
Saturday, March 5:  Our E TN  Missionary  Joshua Haun to lead us in prayer from Bulgaria

IMPORTANT: on the attached poster, please note that the times are 10:00 eastern, and 9:00 central times.   Attachment     This is a slight change from the 9:02   10:02 times so that we will be able to have a short, sweet greeting from Katie and the kids before prayer!

 

Good Questions from Great E TN NMI Leaders
Q:  Do we send Alabaster offering to John Butler, like Valentines for Jesus offering?

A:  No, the only offering that goes to district NMI Treasurer during our church year is “Valentines for Jesus” because it is  our district children’s project.

Q:  Can you assure me that my church’s Alabaster offering has been received and credited to my church?
A:  I check our church’s offerings weekly on my district access to Funding the Mission.  When there is a new addition to our district record,  I report it on the weekly newsletter, so we can celebrate together. Read previous newsletters at  

http://etnmi.org/category/newsletter/

VALENTINES FOR JESUS REPORT:   Athens and Cowan have contributed this week, bringing our TOTAL to $2,325.50
REMINDER:  send check made out to E TN District NMI, to John Butler, PO Box 173, Cowan, TN 37318 by March 31, 2022

 

All other offerings, including ALABASTER, go to Global Treasurer, either through FTM portal, or send check to  Global Treasurer, PO Box 843116, Kansas City, MO 64184

ALABASTER PARTICIPATION REPORT:  The Arbor Church remitted Alabaster offering to Global Treasurer, taking our district’s participation to 75%, 54 of our 75 churches participating!  I have met with all our Hispanic churches, giving them Alabaster boxes, and will help them send in their offerings.  They are excited about this LOVE OFFERING!

 

 

Newsletter – Feb. 16, 2022

Newsletter

Joshua Haun to Lead our District on Global Day of Prayer, March 5

Global Week of Prayer is February 27-March 5, 2022.  On March 5, we will celebrate the GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER together, with prayer led by our E TN Missionary, Joshua Haun, at 10:02 am EST, 9:02 am CST, on FB Live. 
 

Global Week of Prayer Guide is attached. It would be great to send to your constituents ahead of time. Click here  to access resources in over 25 languages.   Subscribers to NMI Central will receive daily emails for prayer throughout the Global Week of Pray. Subscribe here:  https://nazarene.org/who-we-are/organization/ministries/nazarene-missions-international/nmi-resources/nmi-central

E TN Links Missionary Chad Dickerson
Shares Nazarene Response to Major Earthquake in Peru
To read blog and view video on Nazarene Compassionate Ministries website: Nazarenes in Peru Respond to Major Earthquake

Chad is marrying Lindsey Eckart on  May 12! 

 “Thank you so much for all that you and your district have done for me and continue to do! I feel like I have a second (or third or fourth) home in TN.”  Chad Dickerson, 2/15/22   Watch Upcoming Newsletters for details about an E TN online “Wedding Shower for Chad & Lindsey!”

New Alabaster Update

Thanks to Family Worship Center, in South Pittsburg, our district participation in Alabaster has moved this week from 52 to 53 churches, or 73.61% of our district’s churches participating.  How exciting that our participation number is growing weekly!

New Valentines for Jesus Children’s Project  Total:
$2,937.08
*Participants since last newsletter:  Pleasant Green Church

*View all current participants at http://etnmi.org/category/newsletter/ All newsletters are archived there.  Write checks to E TN district NMI & mail to John Butler, PO Box 173, Cowan, TN 37318 by 3/31/22


 

Newsletter – Feb. 9, 2022

Newsletter

ALABASTER UPDATE:  Thanks to updated post from GTS:  Chapman’s Chapel, Chattanooga 1st take us from 50 to 52 churches, 72.72%  of our churches remitting Alabaster offerings. 

Today’s NMI Central tells how ALABASTER effected our church in Mongolia: 
 Mongolia is in the midst of a revival amongst its people.                        
To receive NMI Central in your inbox each Wednesday, click link below: 

https://nazarene.org/who-we-are/organization/ministries/nazarene-missions-international/nmi-resources/nmi-central

VALENTINES FOR JESUS  PROGRESS REPORT:  $2,212.08 Received!
CHURCHES THAT HAVE SENT OFFERING:   
Athens, Brownington, Carthage, Crossville,  Doyle, Family Worship Center, Gordonsville, Knoxville 1st, Smyrna, Real Life, The Arbor
IMPORTANT:

Send Valentines for Jesus checks, made out to E TN District NMI,  to John Butler, PO Box 173, Cowan, TN 37318…Deadline is March 31, 2022. 

Here’s the unique way Blackman Community Church engaged their kids.   NMI President, Megan Dahlke, bought a cardboard dollhouse at an after Christmas clearance sale at a craft store.  Then, to help her church’s kids grasp the meaning of a “dormitory” that their Valentines for Jesus offering will build on the Mexico South Border District, she made a cardboard  template for a bed.  Each child decorated, cut out and assembled a bed to go into their cardboard “dormitory”!   Pastor John Lennon’s son, Rhett, proudly displays his bed, ready for the dormitory! 

Watch for more Emojipictures on the new E TN District Newsletter, due out March 1, from Judy DeWitt. 

Coming Soon:  Nazarene Global Week of Prayer – February 27-March 5,  2022 
Only subscribers will receive daily prayer requests and praises during Global Week of Prayer.  To subscribe, go to:
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, GLOBAL WEEK OF PRAYER  JOURNAL IS ATTACHED TO THIS NEWSLETTER. 

 

Newsletter – Feb. 2, 2022

Newsletter
IMPORTANT: 
Writing check for VALENTINES FOR JESUS offering? Make check out to E TN DISTRICT NMI
Send to:  John Butler, PO Box 173, Cowan, TN 37319 by March 29, 2022

 

THANKS TO THOSE WHO JOINED  FB LIVE DEPUTATION SERVICE  FROM NEWPORT CHURCH
This past Sunday night, Missionaries Rusty & Diane Robbins, spoke at our Newport Church. 
Rusty is Jesus Film Coordinator for the HUGE Eurasia region, while Diane is the NMI Coordinator for the region.  You can still access the service at 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=search&v=383414040215441

PRAISE REPORTS FROM JESUS FILM 

It was amazing hearing Rusty Robbins share how God is using the Jesus Film, in brand new ways because of the pandemic,  to call souls to salvation.  To read testimonies on this praise report,  click here:  https://mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/1/messages/220495


FROM TODAY’S NMI CENTRAL, SPOTLIGHT COUNTRY: PANAMA
JESUS Film Harvest Partners has 19 teams in Panama

To subscribe to NMI Central, click here: 

https://nazarene.org/who-we-are/organization/ministries/nazarene-missions-international/nmi-resources/nmi-central

HOW TO SUPPORT THE ROBBINS’ MINISTRY
Even though you may not have been able to meet the Robbins in person, you can still give a deputation offering:

1. To send an offering through your Fund the Mission site, simply put “Robbins Deputation” as a Write-In gift. 
2. If writing a check:  make payable to “General Treasury Service” with “Robbins Deputation” in the memo line.  It can be mailed to GMC-Church of the Nazarene, Attn: Deputation, 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66220

 

 

 

Newsletter – Jan. 26, 2022

Newsletter
Valentines for Jesus 2022
Our project:  funding construction of the first dormitory on Sur de Fronteria (South Border District) campground
Goal:  $10,000
Deadline: March 31, 2022
Send funds to:  John Butler, PO Box 173, Cowan, TN 37318
District Alabaster Update
Alabaster Offering Update:  Sparta has brought  us to 69.44%   participation.  Our final participation percentage, at close of last year was 76.7%.
WITH GOD’S HELP, WE CAN REACH 100% PARTICIPATION THIS YEAR!
If your church has not yet remitted an Alabaster offering, PLEASE send one to Global Treasurer, PO Box 843116, Kansas City, MO 64184

To order boxes (completely up to you…) go to https://nazarene.org/alabaster
you’ll find  “to order Alabaster boxes” close to bottom of page. 

NMI Central Missionary Lessons with Alabaster Emphasis
Each Wednesday, NMI Central, with a missionary lesson, emphasizing a different country, comes to subscribers.  

To subscribe: NMI Central | Church of the Nazarene    Today’s NMI Central was a wonderful surprise!  KENYA  was the country of emphasis!  

E TN churches raised $29,103 for Africa Nazarene University in Kenya in 2019, but W&W team from E TN has been cancelled and re-scheduled repeatedly due to covid.  
Our March dates have been rescheduled to August 15-31;  we received the OFFICIAL  invitation to register our team TODAY from ANU!
Missionary Rob North, from Africa Nazarene University, will be our 2022 NMI Convention speaker!

ATTACHED:  
I’ve attached two Alabaster stories, both of which you’ve already heard me tell at conventions.  Both of the are very personal and unique to our district. 

Here’s a link to a (rather long) video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exofe3Ok62s
about the Bible Seminary  in Coban, Gutaemala, the first every Alabaster building where our district has been heavily involved through W&W.

Attachments:           An Alabaster Love Story                 Alabaster + W&W – E TN