NorthFloridaUpdateNorth Florida DistrictChurch of the Nazarene6817 Southpoint Parkway, Suite 1301Jacksonville, FL 32216 Phone 904-281-8148FAX 904-281-8149 E-mail: officenfd@bellsouth.netWeb: www.nflnaz.com Orville Jenkins, Jr., District Superintendent

Volume 38 Number 6 December-January 2011

FROM THE DISTRICT SUPT.

While most of you as pastors are at your peak when it comes to activities, events, and special

services in your churches from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, a district superintendent does his best to avoid “getting in the way” of all that you have going on in your church during this time. And many of you have heard me lament that it’s one of the times of the year that I miss most being where you are…as the pastor of a local congregation. For nothing compares with the joy, the excitement, the anticipation of leading a congregation of people through the Advent Season…celebrating how and why God chose to reveal Himself to us in the form of the Christ Child.

With a spirit of thanksgiving we began this special time, and it will continue through the month of December in worship, praise, and adoration. It is my prayer that will truly be the experience that takes place in each of our churches in the coming weeks.

Jim Henry was the long-time pastor of First Baptist of Orlando and built it into a great church before his retirement a few short years ago. One Christmas he preached a sermon entitled, If Jesus Had Never Been Born, based on John 1:14-18. In it he asked the question, “What would the world be like if Jesus had not been born?” And during the course of the message he answered by saying we would not know God, and we would have no victory over sin, evil, and death. Words like Advent, Christ, the birth of Christ, the deity and humanity of Christ, Messiah, salvation, and spiritual victory would all be foreign to us. In addition, there would be no “God with us”…no announcement of “good tidings of great joy”…and most importantly, no way of knowing how much God truly loves each one of us.

If Christ had not come, stop the Christmas music, close the church, and cease whatever hope we have, both now and for the future.

But He did come! “And the light came into the world, and we beheld His glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And the darkness could not overcome the light!” This is the truth we proclaim and the reason Christmas is such a celebratory time.

Nancy and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year.

Orville Jenkins, Jr.District Superintendent

Day, President7039 Oakwood Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32211sday18@bellsouth.net904.724.2520

December Emphasis: Compassionate Ministries

Famine in the Horn of Africa.The UN declaration of famine in the Horn of Africa is the first official declaration since almost a million people in Ethiopia starved to death in 1984

On July 20th the UN declared the Horn of Africa in a state of famine:

7 people are dying per every10,000 people affected.More than 50% of children are suffering from acute hunger.This is the worst drought experienced in the area in the last 60 years.More than 10,000 people have died already.The livelihood of more than 12 million people is threatened as they are in dire need of food aid.

In Somalia, if urgent action is not taken, it is predicted the famine will spread to all eight provinces of the country. Water, Food, and necessities have become inaccessible to most people.

More than 800,000 people have fled the most drought-affected areas in search of survival. People are flocking into camps in Kenya and Ethiopia. Many people have walked hundreds of kilometers seeking help.

In Kenya the largest refugee camps are in Dadaab. Originally, these camps were established to house 90,000 people. However, as of July 20, 2011 their capacity was exceeded, housing a refugee population of 440,000 people with 1,400 additional people arriving daily.

The World Health Organization stated that “8.8 million people are at risk of malaria and 5 million of cholera”. The problem is expected to worsen as the rains are not anticipated to arrive until October of this year. The shortage of man power due to mass fleeing will affect future agricultural production as well. Staple prices have risen by up to 240% in southern Somalia, 117% in south eastern Ethiopia, and 58% in northern Kenya.

The Church of the Nazarene through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries wants to mobilize resources to assist suffering people. These efforts will address issues of malnutrition, hunger, shelter, sanitation and other necessities.

December 1st is "World AIDS Day" http://www.ncm.org/worldaidsday/Today and every day, almost 5,000 people will die because of a completely preventable disease. AIDS has ravaged communities all around the world, but the church is standing up.

The church is saying no more of this. The church is caring for the sick, the orphaned, the fearful, the hurting, and the lonely. On Sunday, December 4, 2011, join your brothers and sisters to worship the God who heals and saves. Join them and stand up against AIDS.

Please remember to use your NMI CD and buy something from the

Compassionate Ministries brochure. That (along with an NCM Gift card) can

make a wonderful gift for those people on your gift list that have no need of

anything that you could give them. Give them to older parents or perhaps give

them to honor (or in memory) of someone or some event.May your Christmas season be filled with His Spirit in such a way, as you have never felt Him before..........................Susan

Rev. Tim Hildreth, President1590 N. Jefferson St., Monticello, FL 32344monticellonaz@gmail.com850.997.3906

“Extreme Days”

“Synergy” – a coming together of several things to empower for something even greater. On the weekend of November 11-13, the NFL NYI descended upon the Oak Hill Church of the Nazarene en masse for our annual “Extreme Days” Retreat weekend where ‘synergy’ happened! We had a tremendous time in worship and in play together. There were 128 students and 47 adults registered for this weekend (a 22% increase!) coming from 15 different churches. The talent exhibited throughout the weekend continues to show how God is maturing us into the young men and women who will lead the Church on into the future!

Pastor Jonathon Leonard (now officially engaged and with his fiancé in attendance – Congrats Jonathon and Eileen) delivered two great messages on the weekend leading us to understand two very important things: 1) every person has a place in fulfilling the great calling of the church to be the church. We are many, but one! and 2) to be the very best God wants us to be we must remain close to Him – placing our full trust in him and He will show us how to use those gifts and talents well. The Holy Spirit moved among the congregation on Sunday morning as several students and adults came forward to pray. It was a powerful and holy moment.

Throughout the entire weekend we were aptly led in worship by LivingSong. They are a new worship band on the contemporary circuit with a great heart for ministry. They gave of themselves dearly in worship and relationship which set the stage for what the Holy Spirit was about to do throughout the weekend. Through both popular contemporary music as well as songs personally written, we feasted at the doorstep of God’s grace as they led.

On Saturday evening, after all the competitions were over, 48 individuals joined together for dinner with each other and with LivingSong. As we were leaving the restaurant a waitress came running up to me (Pastor Tim) and Kim Martin (NYI Leader from Trenton) and asked me “Are you a Pastor with all these students here?” I concurred. She then stated the following. “I want you to know how well behaved and courteous your students were. They handled themselves very well. Whatever it is you’re doing, keep doing it because it’s working. God bless you.” Kim and I were flabbergasted! This is the quality of work going on in the Churches of the Nazarene on the North Florida District. We know youth ministry is time-consuming, expensive (many parents of our youth won’t give a dime to get their students involved in anything ‘churchy’) and tiring. Our hearts are broken with every student we see veer off on a spiritually self-destructive path. But our time, energy, investment and love are worth changes that lead a child into spiritual adulthood.

What a great weekend! Thank you Pastor Jennifer Mangaoang (Oak Hill) and Pastor Crystal Riner (Orange Park) for your outstanding leadership. Thank you Pastor Ben Kesselring and the Oak Hill Church family for willingly opening your facility. Thank you Pastor Jonathon Leonard for having the heart of Jesus to share His Word with us. Thank you “LivingSong” for your servant ministry.

“NFL NYI 30-Hour Famine”

The NFL NYI 30 Hour Famine registration deadline is November 20th. This is taking place at the Jacksonville University Blvd Church on December 9-10. Check out www.30HourFamine.org/naz to see what the 30 Hour Famine is all about. In this short 30 hours our students will fast so others can eat. Our target area is Malawi, Africa where hunger is very

prevalent and kids die each day by malnutrition. We are joining up with Nazarene Compassionate Ministry and World Vision to teach our students what kids around the world are going through on a daily basis. Here’s what we encourage you to bring: 1) $30 or more in sponsorship monies per student (an easy $1/hour!); 2) 30 pounds of non-perishable foods for the local food bank; and 3) new or gently used shoes to give for Well of Hope (www.wellofhope.org) – a foundation that will use or resell shoes in Kenya, Africa with 100% of the proceeds going to widows and orphans of Well of Hope. Check out www.ubnc.org/30HF for more information or contact either Pastor Mark Confer at mconfer@ubnc.org or at 904-404-6568; or Pastor Jonathan Leonard at jdleonard@yahoo.com or at 863-698-1419.

Upcoming Dates

November 19 NFL NYI Quiz @ Live Oak 10amDecember 9-10 District NYI 30-Hour Famine @ UBNCDecember 30-31 Quizzing Invitational is cancelled.January 21, 2012 NFL NYI Quiz @ Live Oak 10amJanuary 27-28 District NYI Convention @ Tallahassee First ChurchMarch 3 NFL NYI Quiz Finals @ Live Oak 10amApril 12-14 TNT @ TNU

Donna Nichols, President3822 Leane Dr. Tallahassee, FL 32309850-879-2342donnanic@embarqmail.com

Join SDMI & NYI on

JANUARY 27-28, 2012Guest Speaker: Dr. James Diehl

Location: Tallahassee First Church

Friday – January 27 @ 7 pm

PICNIC with Dr. James Diehl

Dress Comfortable… WEAR YOUR BEST PICNIC ATTIRE!!!!!

Fried Chicken with “All the Fixins!”

Saturday – January 28 @ 8:30 am-12:30pm SDMIConvention

Don’t wait……..MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!!!!

HOTEL INFORMATION Listed under Church of the Nazarene

CABOT LODGE -- $85(850) 386-7500

1653 Raymond Diehl Rd+Book by Jan. 13 for guaranteed room

BEST WESTERN PRIDE INN & SUITES -- $74.95 (add’l $10 for more

than 2 in rm)(850) 656-6312

2016 Apalachee Pkwy (next to Kohl’s)+Book by Jan 7 for guaranteed room

HAMPTON INN - $82(850) 219-2135

2987 Apalachee Pkwy+Book by Jan 13 for guaranteed rate

Don’t forget TAX EXEMPT FORM

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS -

Donna Nichols (850) 879-2342

SDMI Schedule: SDMI Business Meeting General Session with Dr. Diehl Break-Out Sessions