"When you focus on what's eternal, you are always relevant" Rick Warren
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Parent's Note about Potter's Wheel Camp...

Potter's Wheel Camps for grades 4th - 9th enrolled about 850 students along with counselors who were trained in evangelism. There were three PWC camps that ran sequentially. PWC1 was 8th and 9th grades; PWC2 was 6th and 7th grades; and PWC3 was 4th and 5th grades. Many of the campers were not students at NBS.

Here is a note that NBS received following PWC2 and comments from the Camp Director, Manal Haddad. We thank God for His presence at the camps and for supplying leaders who remained focused on what's eternal.

Chapel for 6th and 7th grade Potter's Wheel Camp.


This note came from the parent of a 7th grader, who is not a student at NBS. 

"Hello Manal,

I want to thank you for the amazing camp, your giving has no limits. 
May the Lord give you the strength and health to continue this work.
It is a safe camp, full of activities and its content is more than amazing.

Majd (the name of her son) had a wonderful time and the first thing he said when he opened his eyes this morning (was) 'ohhh mom, I have to wait for a whole year to go to this camp again.'

May it continue every year and thank you for accepting my children to participate in this camp."

The NBS Board President, Najed Azzam. sent a copy of the letter and these comments to FON.

Manal reports that the devotions and worship time were the most desired times at both camps. (At the time of the Newsletter, PWC3 has just started). The kids in PWC 1 and 2 were demanding more devotion time with their counselor at their rooms before going to bed. The kids went around all day singing worship songs especially a new song that they were taught which was a hit. The song's title is "I need a touch from your Spirit to change me".

Praise the Lord that the first two camps were great. We trust the Lord that the third camp will be just as amazing.

Thank you, FON and the partners for the blessing NBS and for your support. Without FON's financial, spiritual and tactical help, NBS would not be about to conduct such successful camps. Sincerely, Najed Azzam.

Friends of Nazareth gives a BIG shout out to all of its partners and financial donors. In particular, we want to thank Mimi Brookshire, Shandon Baptist Church, and Ruba Bathich, NBS Day Camp/VBS Director for their amazing leadership. Potter's Wheel Camp leader Manal Haddad and her family were outstanding leaders.  You are all thanked and appreciated.

Partners/Donors you are making a difference in the hometown of Jesus!


Update on Land and Relocation

Behind the scenes much has happened in the past months to move relocating the school forward. 

First, Friends of Nazareth and Nazareth Baptist School have each made a concerted effort to reserve funds to seed a relocation. At this writing, we each have achieved the minimum amount of reserves to satisfy the authorities desire for FON/NBS to demonstrate that together, we can raise the funds for a down payment on land owned by the Municipality. The total cost for the long-term lease is undetermined as it is based upon administrative costs and these are still accumulating.

Second, everything at the Municipality has been approved to appropriately rezone the property. There are about 10 acres zoned for education. This 10 acres is under review by the Allocation Committee. They are expected to parcel the area into three units. NBS has been promised about three or more acres.

Third, NBS and the Municipality are in the process of presenting an architectural model and plan to the Municipality's engineers and the Allocation Committee. NBS' architectural team has done an excellent job. We are praying that the Committee will be "wowed!" This meeting should happen before the start of school, which is the last of August.

Fourth, FON has established a reserve account and will set aside specified donations to this account. Donations may be made at http://www.friendsofnazareth.org/donate.html by mail to FON, 3482 Keith Bridge Road, #215, Cumming, GA 30041; or, to our Investment representative at Wells Fargo.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. 

NBS Vision Statement.
Financial Information:

The fiscal year for Friends of Nazareth (FON) is July 1 to June 30. Our preliminary, unaudited, financial summary indicates that in the 2016-17 FY that FON was able to direct about 98.5% of its donations to NBS. 

Thank you volunteers! Thank you donors for your support.
Photo Journal

Photo says it all. FON is blessed to minister with NBS and the Local Baptist Church to help enrich and enlarge both the church's and the school's capacity for ministry. 2017 exceeded expectations in every way; but, especially at the Day Camp/VBS and Potter's Wheel Camps. Each camp had record enrollments. Jesus is pleased, I am confident. 


The courtyard at the Primary School as well as the interior classrooms have been updated and refreshed. One of the additions is the school's Vision is in Arabic. Redwan, an Art teacher at NBS, painted the grape leaves around the Jerusalem stone painted wall. He also did the Arabic lettering. Thanks, to all who worked to make this transformation possible. Great job!

Dedication time for the Primary School. The team, teachers and members of the community gathered for a time of prayer for the 2017-18 school year and to celebrate the awesome changes to the Primary School property.

The wall, that later had the Vision lettered to it, is the work of these four talented, Jesus loving team members. Left to right: Connie Erwin, Sherry Koolman, Redwan Shehadeh, Michelle Mardis. Nadia Ajaj, NBS Art teacher, helped on the main courtyard wall too!

Primary students LOVED the three-week Day Camp/VBS. Thank you to ALL of the teams. Teams came from Shandon BC (SC); Regency Park BC (OK); Highland BC (AL); FBC, Pelham (AL), Agape BC (AL) and Idlewild BC (FL) to help staff and operate the camp. We were blessed to have our two interns, Lainey Pfister and Naomi Cunningham on staff at all of the camps.

Before photo of a classroom door. Thank you, Idlewild BC, for pitching in and helping with the Primary School renovation.

High energy! We are sad to see Hunter and Lauri return to the USA after about five years leading the Young Life Program at NBS. Awesome job!!!! NBS students in upper grades enjoyed time in the USA at Windy Gap. We are so proud of these students for their stand for Christ and for demonstrating leadership skills for the rising generation.

NBS primary student and his father check out the renovation progress. The team joined the Kittan father/son duo for a photo.

Start to finish in five days! It was over 100 degrees everyday. YET, GOD provided an amazing breeze that was felt nowhere else in Nazareth. Despite a challenge with the type of paint, heat, and a LONG wall, this team prevailed.

Dr. Ross O'Brien, Dallas Baptist University, taught Christian Ethics as part of the ongoing Leadership Development Program. 

Leadership Development Program graduates were honored at a luncheon hosted by FON and NBS. Each graduate was given a Certificates of Completion. The Ministry of Education has approved the NBS-LDP for Continuing Education Credit. 

FON Board Members, Dr. Ross O'Brien and Dr. Mimi Brookshire, along with Donna Chisam, Executive Director, attended the 63rd graduation of NBS. During the ceremony, Najed Azzam, NBS Board President (left) and Botrus Mansour, NBS General Director (right), presented FON, on behalf of NBS, a plaque to show its appreciation to FON for its ministry with the school.

About Friends of Nazareth - 
A NEMA Corporation

Friends of Nazareth (NEMA-FON) is a faith-based ministry. We operate with a 100% volunteer staff. Therefore, more than 95% of your gifts go directly for ministry with the Nazareth Baptist School.

NEMA-FON is an IRS approved 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit Corporation. Allowable gifts are tax deductible to US donors. No goods or services are provided in exchange for the gifts other than the joy of giving to a faith-based organization that supports Christian education in the Holy Land. 

Note: FON may use up to 5% of donations for administrative purposes.

Donate Online

 


Mail Donations

Friends of Nazareth
3482 Keith Bridge Road
#215
Cumming, GA 30041


Stock Donations

Donating appreciated stock may be a double benefit to the donor. Please contact our NEMA-FON broker for assistance:

John Dupuis
Wells Fargo
201 N. Court Street
Florence, AL 35630
(256) 764.1000

The account is:
Nazareth Educational Ministries Association
DBA -
Friends of Nazareth (NEMA-FON)

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