All posts by ETNMI

Newsletter, January 10, 2024

January 11, 2024NewsletterETNMI

VALENTINES FOR JESUS CONVERSATION WITH JOSHUA & KATIE HAUN

From Joshua & Katie Haun:

“We cannot tell you how much we adore our ET family. All that we are is a result of the accumulated means of grace that is every pastor, leader, and laity of our home district from the first days until now. Every Bulgarian we bless is being blessed by East Tennessee Nazarenes by extension. We give God thanks for each of you!”

How exciting it was to learn that Joshua is teaching at European Nazarene College, preparing Bulgarians, in their own language, for ministry! From Joshua:

“I am excited to be a part of the ministry of European Nazarene College. It is a great challenge to teach my first course in Bulgarian! I know our Lord will help me as I try to help shape perspective ministers in a second language. Please pray for me!

By March 15, please send Valentines for Jesus checks, written to E TN District NMI, to: JoAnn Rutherford Alderman, 910 Brentwood Drive, Etowah, TN #73331

The Hauns graciously made a great video, telling how Valentines for Jesus funds are to be used. Two versions of same video (short:7.5 minutes) & long (12.5 minutes) are below:

Short Version: Valentine’s For Jesus Project
Long Version: Valentine’s For Jesus Project

Links News!

While we’re excited about new Links missionaries, we still want to let our most recent BELOVED Links missionaries, Russell & Carla Frazier, know they’re still special to us.

Russ’s birthday: February 22….

Russell & Carla Frazier, P. O. Box 53067-00200, Nairobi, Kenya

From Links missionaries, Rusty & Diane Robbins

Last week, we introduced our new Links missionaries, Rusty & Diane Robbins.

Their excellent newsletter, published & distributed by Diane, is below.

NEWSLETTER FROM OUR NEW LINKS MISSIONARIES,

RUSTY & DIANE ROBBINS

Dear Kingdom Co-workers and Ministry Partners,
We are excited about all the Lord is doing across the Eurasia Region and in the areas of ministry in which He allows us to participate. We are grateful you are taking time to read this.

Updates
Rusty has another role added to his heaping plate of Jesus Film (JF). He is also serving as the South Asia Field Finance Coordinator. A role for which he is highly equipped but learning new systems takes time.
The JF work continues to thrive with 221 teams trying to reach over 1 billion people in South Asia! Praise the Lord! 174,799 people made decisions to accept a personal relationship with Christ last year. We are grateful for these new brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Diane is focused on developing missions across the region. A big effort is getting materials in the heart languages of the people. Many of the districts are just beginning to embrace Nazarene Missions International (NMI). Using materials from Global NMI, Diane compiled a training handbook for local churches. The best part – it is already translated in to 15 languages! You can see the results at this link https://www.eurasiaregion.org/ministries/nmi/

Praises –
–We thank God we are allowed to serve Him in such a place as this – where the lost are seeking and the Savior is found!
-We thank you for being on this journey with us – your prayers, emails, notes, and cards uplift us!-Additionally, the passion of the frontline workers fuels us to push on that more may have the hope of Christ!

Prayer Points –
-Pray for the hundreds of JESUS Film team members and their families to experience God’s protection and favor as they share about Christ.
-Ask the Lord to help Rusty balance his time as he takes on the additional role of a Field Finance Coordinator.
-Pray for Diane as she continues to struggle with leg pain which limits her mobility.
-Ask the Lord to help our Nazarenes catch a vision for sharing Christ at home and abroad.
-Pray for peace as many countries on our region are at war or are facing persecution – Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, parts of India, and the Middle East. We have believers on all sides of the conflicts. Pray for them to reflect Christ in all they do.
Gratefully, we are often asked about ways to support the work in which God allows us to participate.
Our sincere gratitude to those who help us serve where the Lord has placed us.

Giving directly to our Church of the Nazarene deputation account is the primary option.
Secure On-line Giving at https://give.nazarene.org/pledge/robbins#v35448

NOTE FROM E TN NMI: the link above cannot be used for church credit. If you desire 10% credit for your church, you will need to give through your FTM portal, or send a check to Global Treasurer.

NEXT WEDNESDAY: Newsletter will introduce you to East Tennessee’s non-English Speaking Missionary from MesoAmerica! Our district has been selected to partner with a Links missionary from outside the US….don’t miss the announcement next Wednesday!

Newsletter, December 20, 2023

December 21, 2023NewsletterETNMI

Thanks to your faithfulness in bringing Crisis Care Kits to

District NMI Convention, 150 boxes of (900) CCKs, stored at Maryville Church,

were delivered to Clarksville Church of the Nazarene this past Monday by

Don Moore & Doug Hodge for tornado victims on the MidSouth District

***Don’t miss this blessing***

Yesterday, I shared with district NMI council that CCKs had been sent to Clarksville, then got this reply from Rachel Reed, NMI council member/nurse who always loads CCKs at NMI Convention:

“I volunteer with the Red Cross…and, and they have the Shelter in the Nazarene Church in Clarksville. I know some nurses over there volunteering, so I sent one of them a little info about our CCK’s and that they were sent over yesterday. This is her reply, ” We (the nurses) got these at the shelter. They are amazing!” Thanks, Rachel, for letting us know our CCKs are already a blessing!

Thanks, also, to Family Food Ministry-Nazarene Compassionate Ministry Center

at Tullahoma Westside CotN, for feeding 500 in Clarksville last week

Thanks be to God that our beloved retired missionary,

Dr.Geneva Silvernail,

is home from the hospital after double pneumonia.

This month’s Alabaster video, from NMI Central, comes from Nazareth in Israel—Jesus’ hometown. Through decades of internal strife and religious prejudice that often makes the news, the Church of the Nazarene has continued to be present and positive in this ancient city. To download this month’s video from Nazareth, Israel on the Eurasia region, click

here

To view, without downloading, click link below (hit play again if video pauses)

https://vimeo.com/830271642/c166b16d1d?share=copy

Like many of you, Jim and I will travel to be with family in the coming few days

so, the next newsletter will be sent Wednesday, January 3, 2024.

We wish you a Blessed Christmas!

East TN District NMI

Newsletter, November 22, 2023

November 24, 2023NewsletterETNMI

NMI President’s Grateful Musings

I’m thankful for….

Friends in churches across East TN,

whose love for God & each other is a beautiful gift

E TN churches that embrace people

of all backgrounds and who speak many languages

E TN churches whose support for missionaries is amazing

Wonderful NMI Presidents in churches across our district

Great NMI NMI Council members

Beloved Missionaries: Joshua & Katie Haun, MKs Jude, Kaitlyn & Levi

Russell & Carla Frazier, and Rev. Dr. Geneva Silvernail

and for…

District leaders who serve with grace and gratitude, and, especially…

For our Awesome God who ties us all together with His grace!

____________________________

I was blessed, reading “Good News Tuesday,” the weekly newsletter sent by our District Superintendent, Ron DeWitt, to pastors and ministry leaders each Tuesday. It was so good to read his report (quoted below) of the latest “Una Familia Dinner” with our precious Spanish speaking friends.

“Last Friday evening, Nov. 17, Pastor Nancy Piper hosted the Una Familia Dinner at the Tullahoma Eastside Church. We had four of our Hispanic Churches represented. These are so much fun and a real joy to attend. A huge crowd gathered and put together a Potluck on steroids!

Sooo Much Food! David Statum and Teresa Hodge plan these together. Bro. Bob Gilbert, our District Hispanic Director interpreted. Following the meal, we gathered in the sanctuary and had worship and several seasons of prayer. We are so proud of our Hispanic congregations and all that they are accomplishing. Rev’s Edwin and Luz Rivera, Rev. Marcos Balthazar, Rev. Sandor Vasquez, and Rev. Federico Ramon Caliz were in attendance with their congregations.

Please continue to pray for these Pastors and Congregations regarding some of the problems unique to their types of ministries. They need us and we need them!”

What a blessing, to be able to fellowship and worship with friends from all over the Meso-America Region: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua!

Jim and I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—I Corinthians 1:4-5

Newsletter, November 15, 2023

November 15, 2023NewsletterETNMI

It may not yet be Thanksgiving, but it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Christmas cards & gifts need to be sent immediately for our overseas missionaries to receive them. For names & addresses, go to

http://etnmi.org/links/

Two Great New Videos Available Below

1. We Are NMI video, that debuted during the Global NMI Convention, is available in English, French, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish by clicking

here

. You’ll love this video!

2. Download this month’s Alabaster video from Brazil, South America Region, click

here

. This redemption story is one of the best! It would be great anytime, not only for Alabaster emphasis in September or February.

Mission Area 5-Chattanooga NMI Coordinators

Reverend David and Brenda O’Neal

We’ve all seen the O’Neals, working hard, with no expectation of recognition, year after year at District NMI Convention. Let’s learn more about their years of service together:

David and Brenda have had the opportunity to serve the Lord on three Districts after graduating from the Nazarene Bible College: Kentucky District for 3 years, Georgia District for 20 years, and East Tennessee District for over 20 years.

They share “We began serving in missions on the local level soon after becoming Christians. We have served in many positions on the District level from Zone or Mission chairman, District NMI Secretary in GA for 15 years, and assisting with Youth Work & Witness Trips in GA and participating in Adult Work & Witness Trips in GA.”

David and Brenda feel it is a privilege to serve others and watch to see what God is doing in the lives of His people. His Love and Blessings seem to overflow on us when we get involved and offer to help!

“Thank you ETN NMI for allowing us to serve on this great District!”

David and Brenda O’Neal

MISSION AREA 5 ENCOURAGEMENT TOUR GIVES GREAT OFFERING TO

E TN COMPASSIONATE MINISTRY CENTER:

FAMILY FOOD MINISTRY, TULLAHOMA WESTSIDE CHURCH

Thanks to everyone in the crowd of 175 who came and prayed for the Decherd/ Tullahoma Mission Area Encouragement service. The total of the offering raised for the Tullahoma Westside Food Ministry was $1,498.00.

Family Food Ministry is an official Nazarene Compassionate Ministry Center. Each church or individual that gave in the offering can report their giving through Point-to-Point giving, and it will be counted toward 10% giving for your church. For instructions, click below:

How to submit a Point-to-Point reques