Gaithersburg Church of the Nazarene
Real life. Real people. Real hope... In Christ
Missions
MISSIONS
GCN and the Church of the Nazarene support a variety of missions as a vital part of our ministry and worship of Christ. Many of the mission activities are planned locally. We also plan many in support of Nazarene Missions International (NMI).
Honduras Mission
In July 2008, GCN had 33 members plus 5 additional brothers and sisters in Christ from other churches participate in a mission trip to Honduras. We thank everyone who participated or supported this mission! These photos show some of the highlights from our 2008 mission.
We had planned a mission trip to Honduras for July 2009. However, this has been postponed because of the current political situation. We have tentatively re-scheduled the trip for the summer of 2010. Check back here for updates on plans and how you can help support our trip.
Faith Promise
The mission work in the Nazarene church depends entirely on giving above and beyond our tithes and offerings. Our goal for fiscal year 2009 is to raise $80,000. (Note: Our fiscal year begins March 1.) As of May 3, 2009, we have collected $14,569 torward our goal; and we have received pledges of $68,730 towards our goal of $80,000.
Money raised is through pledges and offerings, including the Alabaster Offering, which provides funds for property and buildings around the world in support of Nazarene mission efforts.
NMI presents Memorial Roll certificates in memory of our loved ones. The money goes to Missionary Medical Plan, to pay for medical expenses of Nazarene missionaries living outside the United States. This contribution is part of our Faith Promise budget.
Individuals may send Gifts from the Heart cards as a means of providing financial support for the health care of active and retired missionaries in the Church of the Nazarene. You may pick up cards in the GCN lobby to donate directly to NMI Missionary Health Care in memory or in honor of a loved one. Your recognition of the wonderful work our missionaries do for the Lord will help them by letting them focus on their mission of sharing the gospel.
What your Faith Promise pledge will do in 2009
Local Level (3.5%)
- Travel and housing for missionaries on furlough that come to speak at GCN
- Educational materials (DVDs, books, books on CD) that give kids, teens and adults a glimpse of what's happening around the world in missions.
- Send out local mission leaders to the District Mission Convention to hear about Nazarene mission updates and the latest resources available.
- Support the annual Faith Promise weekend.
- Pay shipping and Crisis Care kits and clothing shipments to needy areas.
District Level (2.5%)
- Youth and children's projects planned by the district.
- Christmas gifts to missionaries.
- Allocation to support District missions activities.
Denominational Level (94%)
- Keep missionaries, teachers, nurses, and others in 151 countries.
- Pay medical expenses for missionaries.
- Child sponsorships - children from Pakistan, Kenya, Nicaragua, India receive education, food, and medical care.
- World Mission Radio support.
- Compassionate Ministries.
- Support for Nazarene Bible Schools and Seminaries across the globe.
Mission News
LINKS Newsletter -- May 2009 (Updates from our Missionaries in Sri Lanka)
Churches Operate in Refugee Camp
Food and Water Sanitation Project in Zimbabwe
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Update
Excerpts of the newsletter from our LINKS missionaries, Rich and Betty Crow, in Sri Lanka
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Thanks GCN
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary elects new presidentLINKS Newsletter -- May 2009 (Updates from our Missionaries in Sri Lanka)
Rich and Betty Crow provide a newsletter with details of their missionary activities in Sri Lanka, Asia, and Europe. Read the complete newsletter.
Churches Operate in Refugee Camp
16 March 2009
More than 14 churches meet in the Kibati refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Congregations are made up of people displaced by ongoing fighting in the country, which affects more than 40 percent of the Nazarene churches in the North Kivu District. Nazarenes throughout the Africa French Equatorial Field have been collecting items to help their brothers and sisters living in the camps.
Food and Water Sanitation Project in Zimbabwe
16 March 2009
An estimated 40 percent of the 12 million people in Zimbabwe cannot provide basic sustenance for themselves. A 10-year agricultural crisis created a food shortage, and inflation made what remains too expensive. Compounding the crisis is a cholera epidemic. To combat these issues, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries has developed the Food and Water Sanitation Project. Local Nazarenes will distribute maize meal, cooking oil, pulses (similar to lentils), and chlorine tablets for water purification to over 1,500 families on a monthly basis for at least three months.
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Update
2 December 2008
GCNers delivered 43 banana boxes of clothes, shoes, blankets and Crisis Care Kits to the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Warehouse in Fawn Grove, Pennsylvania. During the month of October a shipping container was loaded for the Ukraine. On Thursday, November 20 we loaded two containers for Moldova and Kyrgyzstan. On December 5th a container will be loaded for Armenia. These shipments will include clothing, School Pal Paks, and shoes. Pray that these containers full of banana boxes will help to open the hearts of people to listen and respond to the Gospel of Christ.
Excerpts of the newsletter from our LINKS missionaries, Rich and Betty Crow, in Sri Lanka
17 September 2008
Dear Family and Friends,
(From Betty) Greetings from hot and sultry Sri Lanka! I must admit that we are a little jealous of you all at home right now as you enjoy the beginning of Fall with its cool temperatures, beautiful leaves, and the opportunity to change wardrobes. We are truly feeling on the other side of the world from you! What a busy two months we have had! I know you must think that we dropped off the face of the earth since we took so long to write. But actually we have been out seeing some of the wonders of creation on this great big planet of ours!
Our first Work & Witness team arrived here in Sri Lanka on August 12. They were from Living Word Church of the Nazarene in Houston, Texas. We traveled to the mountains of Sri Lanka, in the midst of the tea plantations, to our Ministry Center at Hatton, where they stayed while they worked. They were a “triple header” team that did construction work and medical clinics during the day and then showed the Jesus Film at night. The construction crew, along with several of our Sri Lankan pastors, worked on the building of a Child Development Center at a church about 30 minutes away. The center was ready for the roof when we waved goodbye on Monday morning! The medical team saw almost 1000 patients during their four days of clinic. It was an amazing sight to see the people coming from miles away walking down through the rows of tea plants or riding up the hill in the little “Tuk Tuks” (three wheel taxis) to reach the center and free medical care. We had a doctor and three nurses on the team, and they were joined by two Sri Lankan doctors who donated their time to help. Everyone worked tirelessly as the lines got longer and longer each day. What a blessing and encouragement they were to everyone they touched!
The four of us left on Sunday, Sept. 7, to spend a week working with the new District leaders there. We each had an opportunity to spend time with those in charge of statistics, children’s ministry and child sponsorship, compassionate ministries, and leadership development to answer questions and do some training. And of course, there were four days of traveling in a jeep around the countryside to see Child Development Center projects and new sites where they hope to build new churches and more centers. Along the way we were privileged to have some clear days that allowed us to be able to see the awesome, breathtaking Himalayas. They were everything we ever dreamed they would be!! How Great Thou Art, O Lord of all Creation! It was truly a worshipful experience!
(From Rich) Many have asked about the violence and persecution of Christians in the state of Orissa, India. It truly is a horrible situation. I (Rich) was with our district superintendent for that district on the day the violence began and as the word spread of more and more attacks on our church people, I felt so helpless. All we could do was pray for God’s grace and protection for those in harm’s way. We lost two of our pastors, many were hurt, and several of our buildings burned or destroyed. And yet our people there are showing love and forgiveness toward the ones who are still attacking them. They truly are turning the other cheek and showing Christ’s love through it all. When I go back to India in October, I will be in Bangalore which is in the state of Karnataka. Although it has not experienced the level of turmoil and persecution that is going on in Orissa, just last weekend, they did have some destruction of churches there (though thankfully not Nazarene). I would appreciate your prayers for our safety. We will have a Work and Witness team in India for about 2 weeks, and we need God’s protection around them as they work and travel.
I would also like to ask for special specific prayer for my health. I have had some asthma for many years but not serious. As I am traveling in smog filled cities and dusty back roads it seems that I am having more and more problems breathing. I know that God can take this problem away and allow me to focus on the work at hand. I also know from experience the power of your prayers. Thank you for always being there to help carry our petitions to the Lord.
I want to tell you that it is so exciting to be here in the middle of where God seems to be turning this world around. The problems I face with my work are because so many people are coming to the Lord and creating the need for more facilities. And the fact is, I think it is only the beginning of what God is going to do here. It seems that we have gifted leaders in place, and they are empowered to do their jobs and are empowering the people out across the districts to do the same. God is moving. Betty got an e-mail today from one of our missionaries on a pioneer district in Southeastern Europe telling about how he is being able to speak about Jesus in the schools and Universities there. People want to hear about Jesus and plan of salvation. These are exciting days!
Now having said all that, I would like to ask you to prayerfully consider the possibility of sponsoring or coming on a Work and Witness trip to the EURASIA Region. We have projects all over this part of the world. Not only do we need many teams for South Asia, but we also have needs in the Azores in the middle of the Atlantic, throughout Europe, and even in the Communications Center at the Regional Office in Busingen, Germany, right on the banks of the Rhine River. (We really do need a team to do some finish work on the communications studio.) The Theological College in Manchester England is also still in the process of renovations. We need more than a hundred churches and child development centers built in South Asia. Please check the World Mission website for projects if you are interested, because there are just too many for me to list here. Or you can always call or write me for the details. We really do need help.
Thank you again for your prayers, your words of encouragement, your cards and letters and emails, your faithful support, and most of all for your love. You are such a blessing to us. Please keep in touch when you have time. (We understand how busy you can get!) We would be tickled to hear from you anytime!! We love you!
Many Blessings,
Rich and Betty
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Thanks GCN
July 27, 2008
The following was in a letter to GCN from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries:
"Thank you for your recent gift to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. We greatly appreciate your partnership with us and give thanks for your commitment to the mission of NCM.
"The body of Christ continues to reach into the most difficult circumstances around the world. In Nimba County, Liberia, people in the Church of the Nazarene extended loving arms to those suffering because of a civil war that killed over 250,000 people before its end in 2003. During the war, the church took care of people's needs by providing agricultural assistance and by starting a "hidden" school for children who were not able to go to public school for fear of being abducted and forced to fight in the war. After the civil war resolved, the congregations in Nimba have continued to grow because people witnessed the way the church lived out Gospel of Jesus Christ during times of suffering.
"Thank you for your continued support of NCM and projects like those in Nimba. Your gift enables your brothers and sisters around the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their communities."
Giving to missions at GCN makes contributions to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries possible. For ministry updates and news on what NCM is accomplishing through gifts like yours, visit www.ncm.org
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary elects new president
July 8, 2008
One of our own Mid-Atlantic District Missionaries has been elected President of the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary! Dr. Floyd Cunningham is from our Gaithersburg Church. Please remember him in prayer as he transitions from Interim status to elected president.
Floyd Cunningham is Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary's fifth president.
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) elects new president Manila, Philippines Thursday, July 3, 2008 In June 2008, the Board of Trustees of APNTS in Manila, Philippines, unanimously elected Floyd Cunningham as the seminary's fifth president.
Neville Bartle, chairman of the Board of Trustees, stated, "The Board has been impressed with the leadership that Dr. Cunningham has given to the seminary as interim president. We were impressed by Dr. Cunningham's commitment to the seminary over the past 25 years. As a person who has studied the history of Christianity in Asia and especially of the Church of the Nazarene in Asia, we felt that he had the background knowledge of the region that will give us good direction and vision for the future."
Cunningham has taught at APNTS since the school began in 1983. He has served as academic dean since 1989, and prior to that was the dean of students. For 16 months, Cunningham served as APNTS officer-in-charge between the presidencies of John Nielson and Hitoshi (Paul) Fukue and again after the resignation of Fukue. Since 2002, Cunningham has served as the regional education coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Region.
In addition to his work at APNTS, Cunningham pastored churches in the Metro Manila area for six years and helped plant a church in Teresa, Rizal, in the Philippines. He also taught in South Korea and Taiwan and was missionary-in-residence for a year at Nazarene Theological Seminary (Kansas City). He wrote the two church history modules for the Nazarene Course of Study and is currently editing and co-writing the Centennial History of the Church of the Nazarene.
Originally from Gaithersburg, Maryland, Cunningham received his A.B. degree from Eastern Nazarene College in 1976, the M.Div. degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary (Kansas City) in 1979, and the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the Johns Hopkins University in 1981 and 1984.
Cunningham will succeed Hitoshi (Paul) Fukue, who accepted a pastorate in Japan.
LeBron Fairbanks, education commissioner of the International Board of Education and former APNTS president, commented: "What a great selection! Dr. Cunningham will provide outstanding theological education leadership for the graduate level seminary, the Asia-Pacific Region, and, indeed, the entire denomination."
More than 300 students have graduated from Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary with master of divinity, master of arts in religious education, and master of arts in Christian communication degrees, and graduate diplomas. They are scattered around the world, serving as pastors, Christian educators, teachers, Bible college administrators, missionaries, district superintendents, and in a variety of other ministries.
Labels for Education
Collect campbell's labels to help mission support of Sun Valley Indian School in Arizona.
It's not just soup. Look for any of the eligible products, including soups, juices, sauces, and more. Click here for instructions in collecting labels. See Campbell's Labels for Education website for additonal information.
Return labels to GCN. Put them in the mailbox label "Campbell's" in the church lobby, provide them to Dave Van Gilder, or drop them off at the church office.
We thank you for your support!
Crisis Care Kits
Crisis Care Kits (CCKs) are a cooperative effort between Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Incorporated (NCMI) and Nazarene Missions International (NMI). CCKs continue to meet the needs around the world. The kits have gone to places like Belize, California, Dominican Republic, Greensburg (Kansas), Haiti, Jamaica, Jordon, Louisiana, Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, and Zambia. Your generosity makes an incredible difference!
You can help prepare a Crisis Care Kit. Follow these instructions and return the kit to the GCN office or to the information booth in the lobby. Please include $2.00 to help us pay for shipping.
Gather new items in quantities listed below. Assemble Crisis Care Kits and seal the Ziploc bags. Include only those items listed on the inventory. Deviating from this list can cause an entire shipment to be rejected in customs.
INSTRUCTIONS: Into a 2- OR 2.5-GALLON ZIPLOC BAG put the following items:
· 1 medium-size bottle of shampoo (12 to 18 oz.), please tape flip-tops closed
· 2 bars of soap (bath-size or larger)
· 1 medium toothpaste (4.0 to 6.4 oz.)
· 3 toothbrushes
· 1 box of Band-Aids (30 or more)
· 1 fingernail clipper
· 1 sturdy hair comb
· 2 hand towels
· 4 pocket-size packages of facial tissue
· 1 Beanie Baby-size stuffed toy
Click here to download a printer friendly version of the shopping list for the CCK.