Covid19 stay at home request came just as we were starting a second church in Henry, but because we were trying different things already, like changing days and times, church differently didn't bother them at all. They took the challenge on with energy and enthusiasm. Making these changes has allowed Family COTN Malden and Henry to meet together on Sunday evenings via Zoom for church, instead of separately. The first Sunday night together warmed this pastor's heart as Malden and Henry attenders introduced themselves and welcomed faces to names. We have also done bible studies through Zoom, Facetime and group calls. 

During the week of Easter, with the help of businesses and homeowners, we had a scripture scavenger hunt. Families sent us pictures of their hunt and what the scripture was in order to receive a small prize that was left on their door steps. We are looking forward to doing that again in a week or two.

Last week we started random acts of kindness. Some church members have dropped off baked goods, others have left encouraging cards and still others have dropped off bottles of bubbles with cards that say Laughter is Essential including a scripture reference for the individual and or family to look up. Fun and laughter are essential and we are enjoying the stories being told of trying not to get caught dropping stuff off to friends and strangers as we, with Gods help and direction, fulfill our vision of  bringing friends and strangers together for a time of fellowship, to grow in their faith and become the family of God.

We have stayed connected as two separate communities and we have stayed connected as a church body. We have also kept up with contacting leadership within our communities to see where we could be of service. Just like the plants and flowers are popping up all over so are we, praying we spread the fragrance of the knowledge of him to all who will listen.  We are social distancing but we are keeping ourselves visible and viable to each other and to the communities God has called us to serve. 

-Pastor Ronda Hollars

Change is never easy but it does get better as time goes on.

Our people at our Havana Nazarene Church have pitched right in to try to help and encourage others along the way. Each Sunday morning at 9:30am we record our church service LIVE with a skeleton crew. It has been fun to see names from the community pop up saying they are watching our service too.  Our congregation is quite a quiet group, but we know they are there. 

During the week we encourage people to contact each other by phone, email and texting.  Our SS teachers are keeping up with their classes as much as possible.  SS stories have been taken to their homes or sent in the mail so the kids can enjoy the Bible stories.  At Easter, baskets were dropped off at their doors.  One of our teens dropped off candy at the adult's homes and then they ran. It was fun trying to figure out who made the contact.

Children's books and songs have been recorded LIVE for the children to enjoy throughout the week. The teen teachers have been keeping in contact with their teens on Facebook and YouTube at the church's teen website. Some of the teens have been responding back.

Pastor continues to contact people by phone and texting.  He says he 

he doesn't have a lot of free time because he still has to prepare a sermon. He is there and tries to keep contact through messages on our prayer line. God is in control.  We praise Him for his faithfulness. 

-Arla Jeanne Buchanan

PASTORAL CARE

SDMI

NYI

NMI

IN GENERAL

One of the greatest blessings that we have found is in the implementing of our Online Groups through Zoom. This has been a special blessing to our Senior Adults. Our pastors have worked together one-on-one with all of our small group leaders to set them up in using Zoom. A pastor has also been present in each small group time to offer technological support and bring greetings to each group. One of the greatest joys has been contacting the senior adults in our church through individual phone calls to walk them through how to set up and use Zoom. The joy in this has been the moment when they first join a one-on-one video call with us. It is such a blessing to see each other's faces and to in that moment serve our seniors and provide pastoral care to them during this time. Who would have thought that offering tech assistance to seniors during pandemic could be such a pastoral blessing to us and them?

- Pastor Mark McCall

You can tell a lot about the personality and character of a church during uncertain times.  As the old adage goes, this is when we see the "true colors" of a congregation.  In my experience, most churches rise to the challenge and embrace each other, the community, and the mission when they are pressed.  So, as the lead pastor of Point of Change, I was excited to see how PoC would adapt to the COVID-19 challenge.  I was pleasantly not surprised.  Like so many churches, the staff and families at Point of Change-affectionately called, "PoCers"-predictably saddled up and rode into the Coronavirus whirlwind with their determined guns a-blazing.  They demonstrated an anointed and "always-ready" flexibility and willingness to sacrifice.  The staff embraced an opportunity to work harder even during the "shut down."  Here are just a few things that the Lord has led PoC to do during this season of quarantine and uncertainty.

I wish I could go on and tell you more details about the ministry that God is doing through PoC, but the thing that I'm the most excited to report is that we have experienced new life in Christ and have seen a congregation take many steps closer to each other and Jesus.  I'm also learning that PoC is not all that unique.  As I've talked to NWIL's incredible leaders and pastors across, I've see once again that our wonderful district is FILLED with creative, inventive, sacrificial, generous, and caring people who are consistently at their Spirit-led best when stretched missionally.  I have personally learned from each of you.  PoC and I continue to be students of your amazing ministry.  Thank you.  We're in it together.

  -Pastor J. Todd Keller

If you were to consider a low double-digit attendance church with the latest technological advancement a twenty-two-year-old sound system to have a presence on the internet, it may have been a stretch for anyone to imagine.  Before the COVID-19 pandemic made a presence the Roseville Church of the Nazarene did not seem like it had much going for it, but God saw it differently.

 

God had a plan way before the COVID-19 reared its ugly head.  He brought people to the Roseville Church who had the desire to serve the church.  One of these had the knowledge of web page development and new the importance of making a social presence known in a more relevant way to reach those the church would not be able to reach like it could before.  A web page and Facebook has been implemented and it is reaching more than the low double digit church ever thought it could.  A mobile app is in the works hoping to be launched soon.

 

Roseville Church has been able to reach over a thousand people through Facebook within a fifty-mile radius, most of them on a mobile phone. The web page has reached more people than it had in the last ten years of meeting publicly and gaining more by the day.  God had a plan, and He is on the move.

 

If anyone had any doubts about this small church having a huge impact on the community, they have been quickly removed.  God saw it differently and has blessed Roseville with the right people at the right time.  He is on the move and we are excited to see what He has in store for Roseville, and the impact we will have for His kingdom as we share His word with those who need to hear it. 

-Pastor Mark Johnson  

 

April 22, 2018 was the dedication celebration for the former El Bethel Church of the Nazarene, the literal birthday of Southside Community Center. 

Southside Community Center is proud to be used by God and considered "essential" in these strange times. Nothing has stopped SCC from being a Stronghold for the community to run to for assistance.  God has seen fit to bless the last two years effort to Transform Community One Relationship at a Time.  He has taken those relationships and deepened them both with our families and our community partners.  

 

SCC has been a school lunch site through our two-year relationship with Peoria School District 150 for some of the most vulnerable families in the state of Illinois.  The relationships that have turned into passionate partnerships have literally blossomed in response to the pandemic. We have been in the position to help companies like Starbucks get the milk that filled their coolers directly to the families who need it the most.  We were able to shift our partnership with Peoria Grown from healthy cooking and nutrition education classes to bags of fresh fruit packs for our families. As well as the Rotary in Peoria partnering with us to provide formula diapers and wipes to help our families.  And Pekin First has been a blessing by giving members the opportunity to help by donating cleaning supplies and essential items like toilet paper for our families because LINK Assistance does not provide the dignity of purchasing the items necessary to follow the COVID-19 cleaning and hygiene protocols.  Our partnership with Kingdom Life Peoria has helped bring clergy together to identify gaps in services and plug church leaders and their congregations into their niche to fill the Gaps.  God is using SCC in a vital way and we could not be more blessed how God's favor has shown on us.  

 

SCC's Parent Support and Education outreach as well as Dinner Church have transformed into power online ministries both keeping our families connected and reaching out to new friends all over the country.  Even though we can meet for our family meal at Dinner Church at the Center, we are still able to meet for dinner because of technology.  Austin Smith, Assistant Director, has taken part of the Dinner Church team and created a care team and check on our 67 families weekly, while the other part of the team cooks and delivers meals to our families.  Then everyone is invited to bring their meal to the device of their choice to watch and interact with Pastor Irene for Tell the Story on Facebook Live.  Miss Nikki has been going live each Monday for MOMS Group. Miss Deeann is collecting and organizing our Prayer Force Ministry and getting prayer needs out to our Prayer Warriors.  

-Pastor Irene Lewis-Wimbley

Staying connected to our Summit family during these unsettled times takes some creativity.  Just keeping in contact with them is key. I try to call, email, or text each of them on a weekly to bi-weekly basis. I write and send cards to them as well, especially my friends that don't have internet or text. I make Wal-Mart runs, or grab meds. or whatever else they might need and run it by their homes so that they don't have to get back out. Sometimes while I am making dinner for my family I will pack up single serving sizes and take to our single friends. My FAVORITE thing we did was announce that I would be sitting in the parking lot at a certain time one day and they could drive by (stay in their car) and say hi...we had 15 cars come by and we got to see each other and visit . It was FANTASTIC and brightened all of our days. We are meeting together on Sundays for online worship with our Parent church (Pekin First) and love how we are getting to know each other and really feeling apart of all that is happening there, but we CANNOT WAIT to worship together again at Summit where WE BELONG.  -Pastor  Gretta Nash