Chicago Central District Newsletter | Issue 128: September 27, 2019

"Now I will show you the most excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31)
                       
When Barnabas and Paul began their first missionary journey (Acts 13:2-3), Paul was probably still rough in his practice of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). His ministry was filled with confrontation, conflict, stirring up riots and harshness. He probably mentioned love once in a while, but love was certainly 
not 
Paul's greatest theme. Paul's early preaching method was this: "...he went into the synagogue, and on multiple Sabbath days, he reasoned with the Jews from the scriptures, explaining

and 
proving 
that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead" (Acts 17:2-3). Paul's central themes were not wrong -- the good news of the gospel, Jesus and the resurrection, Jesus as the promised Messiah, etc. But as Paul walked daily with Jesus, Paul's attitudes and spirit slowly began to change. 

By his third missionary journey, about A.D. 55, Paul sat down and wrote a message he had missed at the beginning. Just like every church today, the Corinthian church needed agenda harmony. Paul begins his letter by writing, "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you 
agree with one another 
so that there may be no divisions among you, and that you may be 
perfectly united 
in mind and thought" (1 Corinthians 1:10).  

Can you see Paul reflecting on what the Holy Spirit was teaching him about himself? After his initial preaching efforts were filled with confrontation and conflict, trying to argue and prove to Jews and Gentiles that they should become Christians, Paul experienced new inspiration from the Holy Spirit. At a writing table in Ephesus, Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthians about spiritual gifts and then he penned, "now I will show you the most excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31). The following chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, have fueled the movement of God through the people of God for the past 2,000 years! Paul was learning to love!

The above paragraphs are part of a chapter entitled, "The Greatest of These - Is Love," from the book entitled, "Fueling the Nazarene Movement with Love." Thanks to 
each of you 
for being Christ in Action on our district, in the community where God has placed you. Great days are ahead on the CCD team - you are loved.

Dr. Larry McKain, Superintendent

Chicago Central District

Church of the Nazarene

Cultivate 2019 is right around the corner! Our theme for this year is Healthy Churches: The First Steps to Multiplication . We have a great lineup of speakers that will be challenging us on areas of building healthy teams, creating a culture of prayer in the church, building agenda harmony, and how to effectively reach those outside the church. It will be a great day and we want YOU to join us!

We will be hearing from five main speakers:

Larry McKain, District Superintendent of the Chicago Central District
Brett Rickey, Lead Pastor at Highland Park Church, Lakeland, FL
Althea Taylor, Executive Pastor at Bronx Bethany Church, New York
Kevin Donoho, Lead Pastor at Crossbridge Community Church, Ottawa, IL
Andres Marin, Lead Pastor at Casa de Oracíon, Elgin, IL

We hope that you will join us for the day and leave equipped and empowered to create a healthy culture in your church. Cultivate will be held at Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene on Saturday, November 2. Registration cost is $20. Please visit ccdnaz.church/cultivate for more information and to register!

OCTOBER PASTORS ON PURPOSE

Are you tired? Wondering if what you do matters? Trying to keep up with your own success? Coping with perceived failure? There is a grace in being with one another. In the Church of the Nazarene, and specifically on our district, we value CONNECTIONS! Join us for the first POPS of this fall.

We will have a special time of spiritual enrichment for lead pastors and their staff pastors as Dr. Jeff Stark shares a special message - " Finding our Worth - Avoiding the Performance Trap ," worship with Dr. Carlos Lonberger, a couple of testimonies, a time of communion, and group prayer with fellow ministers. This POPS is designed to minister to the Pastor's soul. Join us!

PRIME TIME THANKSGIVING DINNER

W e are looking forward to our annual district Prime Time Thanksgiving Dinner! Senior adults from across the district are invited to join us on Tuesday, November 19th at Kankakee First Church from 11am - 1pm for food, fellowship and entertainment. Tickets are $14 per person.

One person from each church should collect all registration payments and submit the registration online. Registration and payment can be completed here. We hope to see you at this year's Prime Time Thanksgiving Dinner!

LOCAL WORK AND WITNESS OPPORTUNITY

Pastor Debora White and the Sheldon Church request help with the following projects:

1. Scrape and paint the outside of the church (cinder block, Sheldon will provide the paint).

2. Remove pews in the sanctuary to make room for chairs.

3. Remove carpeting in the sanctuary to make room for new flooring.

These are great weekend projects for a men's group, youth group, Sunday School class, etc. and would be an immense blessing to the Sheldon Church.

For more information, contact Debora White at [email protected] or 815-295-6572.

DISTRICT VISITORS

We were happy to have Paul and Beatrice Mtambo on the Chicago Central District this past weekend. The Mtambos serve as Field Strategy Coordinator in Zambia. Our Chicago Mission Area Leader, Dr. Jeff Stark, served as their host during their time with us. They had a wonderful service with our Lombard church on Sunday.

We're grateful for the ministry of the Mtambos; please say a prayer for them and the good work they are doing all around the world!

CONDOLENCES

Our condolences go to the family of Chris Nelson who went to be with the Lord this week. Chris is the wife of Al Nelson, a retired Nazarene pastor from the Chicago Central District. The services will be at the Clancy Gernon Funeral Home on Route 102 in Bourbonnais. The visitation will be Monday, September 30th at 9:00 AM and the funeral will be the same day at 10:00 AM.

Thank you for your prayers for the Nelson family as they grieve the loss of Chris.

AVAILABLE DEPUTATION SERVICES

Below are some opportunities for upcoming deputation services on the district. Email Denise Anderson at [email protected] or call 815-370-4318 with any questions!

Dan and Melody Anderson (serving in Uganda)

Available dates:

Monday Oct 21
Tuesday Oct 22
Saturday Oct 26
Sunday Oct. 27
Monday Oct 28
Tuesday Oct 29

Tim and Michelle Eby (Africa region) who will be here and available to speak on

Available dates:

Monday Sept 23rd
Tuesday Sept 24th

Check out missionaries available in 2020 on the NMI website. Go to ccdnmi.org and click on Deputation Schedule to see the 4 missionaries and their availability.

UPCOMING DATES

Mark your calendar!

Thursday, October 3 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
October 11 - 13 | District Preteen Mission Trip
Saturday, November 2 | Cultivate at Kankakee First
Thursday, November 7 | District Mission Strategy Team
November 15-16 | Board of Ministry Discovery Weekend
Saturday, November 16 | Children's Bible Quiz, Location TBA
Thursday, December 5 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
Thursday, January 2 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
Saturday, January 4, 2020 | South/Southwest Mission Area Dinner
Saturday, January 11, 2020 | Board of Ministry Training Day
Saturday, January 18, 2020 | North/Northwest Mission Area Breakfast
Saturday, January 25, 2020 | Central Mission Area Dinner
Saturday, February 1, 2020 | Ordination Interviews
Thursday, February 6, 2020 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
Saturday, February 15, 2020 | Southern Mission Area Breakfast
Saturday, February 22, 2020 | Chicago Mission Area Breakfast
Saturday, February 22, 2020 | Children's Bible Quiz, Manteno
Thursday, March 5 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
Saturday, March 7, 2020 | District Advisory Board Meeting
Saturday, March 7, 2020 | Children's Bible Quiz, Kankakee First
Saturday, March 28, 2020 | NMI Convention
Thursday, April 2 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
Saturday, April 4, 2020 | Children's Bible Quiz, Kankakee Westbrook
April 17 - 18, 2020 | District Assembly
Thursday, May 7 | Pastors on Purpose and District Mission Strategy Team
May 10 - 20 | District Work and Witness Trip, Nairobi, Kenya
July 9-12 | Kids Camp, ONU

DS VISITS

It was our privilege to attend the exciting launch of The Table, a new ministry in Joliet, with 320 in attendance. We rejoice with Pastor Brad and Janelle Thompson and their faithful launch team.

Let's continue to bless them with our prayers as they reach out to their community for Christ!

PRAYER REQUESTS AND CELEBRATIONS

Please pray for Pastor Andrew Twibell. He is taking a medical leave of absence from Kankakee First as he battles a recurrence of his brain cancer. Please pray for strength as he undergoes treatment.

Your prayers are appreciated for Edna Roach. She has a fractured hip and is facing numerous health complications. Edna served as the recording secretary for the Chicago Central District for many years, and she would appreciate your prayers as she is healing.

We would love to hear any prayer requests or celebrations from our district pastors to include in our weekly communications. Please email us so we can lift each other up!

UPCOMING LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY EVENTS

October

November

Sun., Nov. 3 - Oak Lawn First 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Mon, Nov 11 - Joliet Crystal Lawns 6:30 - 8:15 pm

December

Please send us dates for your upcoming 2019 Leadership Community gatherings - we would like to promote those in our newsletter!

If there is any way we can serve you better, please let us know!