All posts by ETNMI

Newsletter -Jan 22, 2025

January 23, 2025NewsletterETNMI

OUR VALENTINES FOR JESUS PROJECT:

Supporting 233 Jesus Film Teams…

Led by our 2024 Links Missionary, Rusty Robbins

From Links Missionary, Rusty Robbins:

“Last year, we were blessed to receive over 2,578 stories and testimonies of

God’s amazing grace…412,000 people heard the gospel…deeply grateful for the sacrifices made by each of our 233 Jesus Film Teams…” (full report attached)

Send your check for Valentines for Jesus to

JoAnn Alderman, 910 Brentwood Drive, Etowah, TN 37331

Attachments on this newsletter:

#1: “Explosions Outside My Door,” January Thoughts of Missionary Dr. Geneva Silvernail

#2: Crisis Care Kit list: some have asked about bringing CCKs to district assembly. We will continue collecting CCKs at district assembly. Churches

will not need to send the updated $16 fee to GTS since the CCKs brought to assembly will be stored on our district until they are needed on the SE USA region. We will continue taking a transportation offering at assembly for

transport of CCKs to disaster areas. Hundreds of CCKs were delivered to

E TN flood victims this year, thanks to your generosity.

#3: Rusty Robbins’ full report to our district from his 233 Jesus Film teams

From Last Friday’s Global Nazarene News:

Nazarene churches in the Los Angeles area have been directly impacted by the wildfires.

Altadena Fountain of Life Church of the Nazarene

was destroyed by the Eaton fire, and

several Nazarene church members across the region also lost their homes.

How You Can Help

Pray

Pray for individuals, families, congregations—for all who are suffering due to these ongoing wildfires. Pray for those who have lost their homes or businesses and those who are mourning the loss of loved ones. Pray for first responders and all assisting with the monumental task of recovery. Pray for church leaders to have wisdom as they direct a compassionate response.

Give

Churches and individuals worldwide can provide support through the Los Angeles Wildfire Response Fund at ncm.org/lafires. Donations will be used for immediate needs, long-term recovery, and rebuilding efforts.

To send donations by mail:

Make checks payable to “General Treasurer” and send them to

Global Treasury Services, Church of the Nazarene

,17001 Prairie Star Pkwy,Lenexa, KS 66220

Be sure to put 140061 in the memo area of your check.

Attachments:

#1 Explosion Outside My Door

#2 Crisis Care Kit list

#3 Robbins’ Report

Newsletter -Jan 15, 2025

January 18, 2025NewsletterETNMI

**We’ve had several inquiries about sending CCKs or funds through the church to California fire victims.

Both are addressed (yellow highlighted) at the bottom of page.

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN! VALENTINES FOR JESUS 2025

Important: Read all 3 attachments !

THE PROJECT:

Support of the Jesus Film Teams, trained & supervised by our Links missionary,

Rusty Robbins, on the huge Eurasia Region

PROJECT GOAL: $10,000. DON’T MISS ATTACHED POSTER (

1st attachment)

DEADLINE for sending check to our district NMI treasurer

March 15, 2025

Send to: JoAnn Alderman, 910 Brentwood Ave., Etowah, TN 37331

RESOURCES:

Robbins’ Biography:

https://give.nazarene.org/pledge/robbins

Robbins’ contact information / Special dates:

http://etnmi.org/links/

Robbins Valentines Report -See

THIRD attachment

: from Dianne Robbins TODAY!

Beautiful report of Valentines for Jesus, involving 3 generations & w cultures- see SECOND attachment.

JESUS FILM RESOURCES ON E TN DISTRICT WEBSITE:

We have used this lesson plan on numerous W&W trips…most recently in Brazil, adapted

for children who spoke Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole!

Jesus Film for Children video & lesson plan (may be more appropriate for grades 3-6;older

children, depending on maturity of children)…click blue text below and follow prompts:

JESUS FILM FOR CHILDREN LESSON PLAN Teresa Hodge.pdf

Crisis Care Kits/ Monetary Gifts for California Fire Victims through the Church:

It will be cost prohibitive for ETN NMI to collect Crisis Care Kits from across the district, transport them to the Maryland Warehouse, then have them transported all the way to California. Our churches would have to send $16 per box to the Global Treasurer for shipping from the warehouse. It would be far more effective for churches wanting to help California fire victims to send an offering to GTS through Funding the Mission.

CHURCH TREASURERS: We do have a fund available through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries that you can find on the Funding the Mission website. When you go through the giving tree, click on the Giftbox icon, then click on “GTS Contribution” and then in the drop down menu you can select “Search for Additional Project” and search for the word “Fire” and you will see the results in the picture below. You can then click on “Los Angeles Wildfire Response” and send the funds!

Newsletter -Jan 10, 2025

January 11, 2025NewsletterETNMI

Hi E TN District Friends,

I’ve been amazed at the number of you who have checked to see if I’m okay since you’ve not had an NMI newsletter in two weeks! Thank you…that makes me aware that you read the weekly NMI newsletter!

On January 1, sent a New Year’s greeting on a forward to everyone on my newsletter address list, in response to an inquiry from one of our pastors, but I’m learning that few received it. Then, this past Wednesday, January 8, I failed to get a newsletter out because I went with Jim to Nashville for his cataract surgery (a trip that should have taken 2 hours, but took all day, due to navigating around several wrecks on the interstate).

Please take time during your “snow days” to read about our NEW Links missionaries, Ben & Hannah Ponder, serving in Serbia, pictured below, with their two sons.

Please note: as per the new Links guidelines, Links district assignments change each January. So, Rusty & Diane Robbins, as well as Ana Crocker, have been assigned to other districts. However, because E TN is such an awesome district, I know you’ll continue to show your love to Ana Crocker and to Rusty & Diane Robbins. The Robbins will be with us in E TN March 30 -April 13.

Joshua & Katie Haun, Global missionaries will always be our own missionaries, sent from E TN.

Information about the Ponders will be posted at

http://etnmi.org/links/

, and contact information for our other missionaries will remain there for the remainder of this

assembly year.

Ben and Hannah Ponder

As missionaries assigned to Serbia, Ben & Hannah will be living in the city of Belgrade, primarily to serve the refugees there. Ben graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University with a Bachelor’s degree in Religion and has served as a volunteer missionary in Croatia for 2 years. Hannah graduated from Southern Nazarene University and has several years of professional experience teaching pre-school children and working with children with special needs. Ben is a former youth pastor, worship pastor, and College-aged ministries pastor. Ben & Hannah got married in 2018 and were sensitive to God’s call on their life to be missionaries as they progressed from dating into marriage.

Some of the different ways that God will be using Ben & Hannah in Serbia include teaching English to refugees, working with children at refugee camps and Roma villages, and teaching youth how to play musical instruments like the guitar. Ben & Hannah are passionate about educating and meeting the needs of people who find themselves in difficult situations in which local culture seems to harm rather than help them. Ben & Hannah are striving to make relationships with these people and bring them into a relationship with Christ by showing them God’s love and care.

As Ben & Hannah go to meet the needs of refugees in Serbia they will also be learning and adapting to Serbian culture and language to better serve the local people. Please pray for the refugees, Roma, and the Serbian people as Ben & Hannah walk alongside them as they also walk with God.

Anniversary – June 23, 2018

Birthdays:

Ben- December 21

Hannah- December 26

Benson- June 30, 2021 (turning 4)

Beau- March 18, 2023 (turning 2)

Address

Prvomajska 101 Apt. 9

Belgrade, Serbia 11080

______________________________

New Crisis Care Kits in time to send for Fire Victims in California

-from Debra Voelker, USA Canada Region Coordinator

See new CCK instructions on attachment.

As always, it is essential to follow the instructions strictly, including guidelines for mailing. Anyone wishing to send CCKs will need to be mail them, according to attached guidelines. E TN District NMI will not be able to collect kits to transport to warehouse.

Attachment: CCK Instructions

Newsletter – Nov 20, 2024

November 21, 2024NewsletterETNMI

Thanks to these churches & pastors for a week of great deputation services:

Murfreesboro 1st (Dale Winton), Tullahoma 1st (Scott Roberts), Crossville (William Bonee),

Branches (BJ Miller), Maryville (Don Moore stood in for Pastors Nick & Erin Ward who attended their son’s graduation from Marine Training), Beulah Chapel (John & Karen Porter), Athens (David Reynolds)

GOOD NEWS !

NMI Central and Kids Kaleidoscope Advent Series:

From November 27, through January 1, NMI Central will be emphasizing Advent and Epiphany.
A Kids Kaleidoscope will complement each NMI Central during this period.
These resources are designed for families to engage in learning about Advent & Christmas celebrations globally. Please encourage your church to share these resources to promote understanding within our Nazarene community.
Beginning next week, the focus in NMI Central will be Advent. As part of this five-week special focus, there will also be a weekly Kids Kaleidoscope, and together all generations will learn how Christmas is celebrated around the world. To subscribe to NMI Central to participate in this special time: www.nazarene.org/nmi-central.
Be sure to see today’s NMI Central featuring Eurasia, home of Hauns & Robbins!

MORE GOOD NEWS! WORK & WITNESS OPPORTUNITY Many of you know and love Dr. Helmer and Susy Juarez, beloved retired missionary, medical doctor, and hero of the people of Guatemala. Ever since our medical/ construction trip to Guatemala, many E TN Work & Witness veterans have wanted to do another such trip, in honor of Dr. Helmer and Susy. In talking to missionary Bob Prescott, following Susy’s recent heart attack, we learned, that if we were to be able to honor them while they are able to enjoy the

honor, we need to do it soon. So, Bob Prescott has worked to plan a significant project especially for our district, honoring Helmer and Susy Juarez. It will be a medical / construction trip, with teams in San Miguel Chicaj, Guatemala, March 12-20, 2025. This trip is open to all but may be limited in size.

Please forward any questions to Rachel Reed at rach1966@gmail.com For more information, click here 2025 Guatemala opening letter and application.docx

Even More Good News: 24 Hours of Prayer for Global Missions:

Find more information at https://www.facebook.com/NazareneMissionsInternational

“To the Ends of the Earth” is a 24-hour Global Missions prayer initiative.
It begins on Dec 6^th at 1 p.m. CST and ends Dec 7^th at 1 p.m. CST.
The prayer times are 2-hour blocks.
USA/Canada Region’s time – (5 p.m. CST) on Dec 6 and (11:00 a.m. CST) on Dec 7.
You can join at any time during the 24 hours and are encouraged to join other regions in addition to your own.

FINAL GOOD NEWS, – AN OPPORTUNITY FOR E TN TO SHARE WARMTH…

Send a new or like new warm coat to a storm victem in E TN! Send your coats with your pastor to the District Pastors’ Christmas Lunch on December 7.

Newsletter – Nov 13, 2024

November 15, 2024NewsletterETNMI

Great Services this Week with Rod & Sarah Reed, Africa Nazarene University

This week has began with two great services with Rod and Sarah Reed, from Africa Nazarene University, in Kenya, speaking. After the first service, I heard a gentleman say, “That was the best missionary speaker I’ve ever heard!”

Don’t miss your opportunity to meet the Reeds and hear their exciting message! Additional services:

Wednesday, 11/13 Crossville at 6:00 PM CST, Fellowship/snacks will follow the service

Thursday, 11/14 The Branches at 7:00 PM, EST, service is later to allow

Chattanooga Mission Area churches time to arrive.

Friday, 11/15 Maryville at 6:00 PM, EST, Fellowship/snacks will follow the service

Sunday, 11/17 AM Beulah Chapel, 10:30 AM, EST

PM Service-Athens at 6:00 PM, EST/ snacks will follow the service

FROM EURASIA NEWSLETTER: YOUTH GATHER FOR FIRST TIME SINCE WAR IN UKRAINE BEGAN

On October 26-27, the city of Odesa, Ukraine, hosted a powerful gathering of young people from across the country, which is the first Nazarene Youth Conference held in person since the war began.

Seventy youth from six different churches came together under the theme “Generation for God” which was an inspiring event filled with faith, and hope. Led by pastors from each participating church, the event created space for young believers to deepen their faith and find encouragement in challenging times.

This conference was a milestone for the Nazarene community, showcasing the strength and resilience of young

believers in Ukraine. Despite the difficult circumstances, the youth showed theri commitments to God and to

each other, reminding us all that faith can thrive, even in the face of hardship.

You can watch the full video here.

-shared from Svitlana Kleshchar, District Superintendent Ukraine

WARM COATS FOR STORM VICTIMS

Reminder: Send new/like new warm coats (for adults & kids) with pastors to District Superintendent’s Lunch for Pastors, Saturday, December 7.

WEF HELPS TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE FORJESUS FILM

The World Evangelism Fund helps to provide infrastructure for 1,109 Jesus Film Harvest Partner (JFHP) teams to share God’s love through the story of Jesus. Last year, teams reported 2.3 million evangelism contacts and 699,029 indicated decisions for Christ. 404,511 new believers received initial discipleship follow-up with teams starting 11,675 preaching points. Click

here

for more information.

Newsletter – Nov 6, 2024

November 5, 2024NewsletterETNMI

PLEASE READ! NEWSLETTER IS EARLY THIS WEEK SO YOU WILL HAVE

IMPORTANT UPDATE ON CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE HAUNS…

+ REMINDER: *Rod & Sarah Reed Deputation Next Week…

+ Don’t miss great Missionary Story (attached at bottom of page )from our Retired Missionary, Rev. Dr. Geneva Silvernail

IF YOUR CHURCH IS COLLECTING CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM THE LIST WE SENT OUR FOR OUR MISSIONARIES, THE HAUNS:

When John & Sandra Butler took their Christmas packages to the Post Office last week , they were charged

$268 to mail package from Cowan Church! We knew that international postage is expensive, but had no idea that

this kind of expense may be involved. Since then, I’ve learned, from messages back & forth from Katie, that she

has received emails from 5 churches with tracking numbers of their packages. She said, “We have been so thrilled,

and know that the kids will be also.”

Due to high postage for packages, some churches may want to reconsider, and either:

1. If you’ve already collected gifts, like one church we’ve heard from: they had already collected snacks,

treats, & kids’ toys.so…

They will donate those items to the Disaster Relief for E TN Hurricane victims, and send a message to

the Hauns, explaining what they’ve done…

THEN, they plan on sending a message, telling Joshua & Katie that “Christmas Gift Funds” have been

sent to their PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT (Not deputation)…

If you want to send an a monetary gift to PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT, SEND CHECK TO:

Jace Haun (Joshua’s’brother) , 1400 Riley Drive, Lenoir City, 37771

2. Send Amazon Gift Card to Hauns in Bulgaria…or-

3. Send Card or email greeting, letting Joshua & Katie know you are praying for their amazing ministry…

and that you’re looking forward to attending a service during their home assignment, June 8-September 7.

WE WILL BE BLESSED TO HAVE THE HAUN FAMILY AT DISTRICT ASSEMBLY, WITH

RUSSELL & CARLA FRAZIER AS CONVENTION SPEAKERS…AND WE ARE PLANNING SOME VERY

SPECIAL EVENTS AT ASSEMBLY TO CELEBRATE FAMILY WITH OUR E TN MISSIONARIES, THE HAUNS!

Rod and Sarah will tour our E TN District next week, Novmber 11-17

Missionary Profile Link: https://nazarene.org/missionary/africa/rodney-and-sarah-reed

Meet the Reed family! Rod and Sarah serve as missionaries on the Africa Region. Rod serves as the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs (Academic Dean) of Africa Nazarene University (ANU) in Nairobi Kenya and Sarah serves as the Children’s Ministries Coordinator for the Africa East Field (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Horn of Africa). Sarah is also serving as a Children’s Sunday School Literature Editor for the Africa Region. The Reeds have three young adult daughters: Rebecca, Katie and Hannah. Be praying for the Reed family as they work to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their workplace and community.

** Plan your time & place to enjoy the Reeds’ ministry, using the dates/times below:

Monday, 11/11 Murfreesboro First at 6:00 PM CST

Tuesday, 11/12 Tullahoma First at 6:00 PM CST, Service with soup/chili supper in Fellowship Hall-please text Sandra Butler about what you’re bringing!

Wednesday, 11/13 Crossville at 6:00 PM CST, Fellowship/snacks will follow the service

Thursday, 11/14 The Branches at 7:00 PM, EST, service is later to allow Chattanooga

Mission Area churches time to arrive.

Friday, 11/15 Maryville at 6:00 PM, EST, Fellowship/snacks will follow the service

Sunday, 11/17 AM Beulah Chapel, 10:30 AM, EST

PM Service-Athens at 6:00 PM, EST/ snacks will follow the service

Attachment:

November Thoughts of a Missionary