District Ministry Center
September 13, 2019 - Issue 126
District Superintendent
Assistant District Superintendent
District Office Manager
District Connections Director
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If there is any way we can serve you better, please let us know!
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| Our Mission: "Multiplying Leaders, Ministries and Healthy Churches" |
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THE CHURCH AND JESUS ARE ONE
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"This is a profound mystery - Christ and his church have become one flesh."
(Ephesians 5:30-31)
Saul (the apostle Paul), who wrote almost half the New Testament, began as an outsider to the church. He did not begin his spiritual journey practicing what he wrote in 1 Corinthians 13. Saul began as a zealous Christian killer. He was a key influencer behind the death of Stephen (Acts 7:58). Following Stephen's death, Saul led a great persecution against the church.
"All the believers except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria" (Acts 8:1). Luke tells us "Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison" (Acts 8:3). On the road to Damascus, all that changed when Saul had a divine moment with God. A light from heaven flashed and a voice spoke, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?...I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" (Acts 9:4-5).
We are very careful with our attitudes toward the church because of what the scriptures teach us about the church. In the paragraph above, did you catch the inescapable link? Saul was persecuting the church (Acts 8:3) and trying to destroy the church. But in Acts chapter 9, Jesus makes clear Saul is not just persecuting an imperfect group of people. When he speaks badly, hurts with his words and actions, or when his attitudes toward the church are wrong, Saul hears a voice: "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting."
The teaching of the Scripture is clear. In God's eyes, any wrong I do to the church, I do to Jesus. This same zealous Christian killer later writes, "This is a profound mystery, but Christ and his church have become one flesh" (Ephesians 5:30-31). What an attitude change he had! When he met Jesus, Saul dramatically changed his attitude toward the church.
That day on the Damascus road began a new journey in Saul's understanding of Jesus and his relationship to the church.
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." It is being submitted to the Nazarene book committee this month and should be published this fall. 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
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PRETEEN MISSION TRIP
The preteens on the Chicago Central District are invited to on our Preteen Mission Trip, October 11-13, 2019, at the Salvation Army Church in Kankakee. All fifth and sixth graders are eligible to participate. The trip will begin on Friday evening at 7p and finish after lunch on Sunday afternoon. The cost is $40 per person and registration is due by
September 25.
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WELCOME BABY HUBBELL!
Phineas James Hubbell was born on Friday, September 6th to Pastor Tyler and Liz Hubbell from our Joliet Crystal Lawns church. Phineas was 8 lbs., 10 oz., and 20 inches long. He joins big sister Phoebe. Everyone is doing well and they are adjusting to being a family of four!
Welcome, Baby Phineas!
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WELCOME BABY HOGAN!
Dax Fredrick Hogan was born at 11:54p.m. on September 10th to Pastor Dustin and Amanda Hogan at Gathering Point. Dax weighed 9 lbs, 5 oz. He joins big sister, Daisy, to make them a family of four!
Welcome to CCD, Dax!
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DSLDP VANCOUVER
Dr. McKain and Denise were able to spend time last week at the District Superintendent Leadership Development Program with other District Superintendents from USA and Canada. Here is a message from the McKain's:
We want to thank our district for the privilege of attending the recent DSLDP in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This was not only a very enriching time of training, but also included an emphasis on health and wholeness. There were also wonderful times of fellowship and team-building!
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PRIME TIME THANKSGIVING DINNER
We 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.
More details will follow - mark your calendar today!
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DISTRICT WORK AND WITNESS TRIP
Join friends from around our Chicago Central District on this amazing Work & Witness trip to Nairobi, Kenya. We will be working at Africa Nazarene University to help them update all of their classrooms in celebration of their 25
th
Anniversary of the university.
Our trip will be from May 10 - May 20, 2020. The cost is $2,000. All project funds are being supplied by the CCD NMI district council. Please contact Lynne Utter at
[email protected]
or Ralph Goodwin at
[email protected]
for more information.
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DEPUTATION SERVICE AVAILABLE 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!
- Phil and Denise Anderson (serving at Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center, Cactus TX - replacing Rolf and Debbie Kleinfeld who had to cancel their tour)
- Available dates:
- Monday - Friday PM Sept 16-20
- 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.
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UPCOMING DATES
Mark your calendar!
- September 5-6 | Theological Leadership Conference at ONU
- Thursday, September 12 | District Mission Strategy Team
- 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
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PRAYER REQUESTS AND CELEBRATIONS
Your prayers are appreciated for Robyn Luttrell. Her heart-related epileptic seizures continue and the ocular ones, affecting her eyes, cause much pain.
Please pray for Pastor Andrew Twibell. He recently found out his brain cancer has returned. Please pray for strength as he begins treatment.
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!
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UPCOMING LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY EVENTS
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September
Sun., Sept. 15 - Oak Lawn First - 6:00 - 8:00 pm
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!
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If there is any way we can serve you better, please let us know!
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