Few Thoughts 8-23-2019
LOS ANGELES DISTRICT
Greetings, Everyone! The Lord has been blessing me in so many ways. I have been enjoying the warmer weather. Some recent visits with pastors, church boards, and other committees have simply been awesome! As I travel throughout the district I can see that the Holy Spirit is alive and moving across our land. Jesus Christ is worthy to receive our praise. I hope that you are celebrating each and every day you have with Him. 

By the way… I just heard this one last night: 
Did you hear about the skunk that went to church?
It sat in its own pew!

My legs are finally starting to feel better, and I am glad, since Leslie and I will be making a quick 4-day trip to South Dakota in 6 weeks. We’ve never been to Mount Rushmore, and I will be participating in the Crazy Horse Marathon while there. So we have a short get-a-way coming up in a few weeks, October 4-7. The Thursday night 3-mile competition has come to a close as we now enter a new school year. Last week for the finals, they had to change the course moments before the race due to a fire that broke out near the 2-mile mark on the cross country dirt pathway. Still, it was a fun race, nonetheless.  
E NCOURAGEMENT : 
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews, I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law, I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law, I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings.  (I Corinthians 9:19-23) 

So many points jump out at me from this passage the Apostle Paul has written for the church. He opens by saying that he is free, belonging to no one, YET, he has made himself to be a slave to everyone. WHY? Because his desire, dream, goal, passion in life is to WIN as many people as he can to the Lord. 
 
For this reason I love VBS. Our churches are looking for opportunities to WIN children to Christ. I love Work & Witness, because in doing so we connect ourselves with other nations and people that belong to our family, and by doing this we find that we WIN other members in their community to Jesus. I enjoy Easter Egg Hunts, special programs, Outreach ministries because Like Paul, we want to WIN people to the Lord. Yes, there is a stiff competition out there. Satan is at work, and he is doing all he can to try and prevent the Gospel from spreading. Let’s enter the race together and WIN!
 
As I travel to the jungle I get to see many different things. I love capturing photos of unusual sightings. I have a friend living in Iquitos who took this picture and gave me a copy. I love it when I go to churches, and see people coming in all sorts of ways. Some in canoes, others walking, some in moto-taxis, others on bikes, but check this one out. He did everything he could to get the kids and people together. This driver is on a mission. No one is left behind!   
Church Ministries:
L.A. Eagle Rock:  This last Sunday I was able to worship and preach in our Eagle Rock church and then spend a few moments with the church board together afterwards. Thank you, Pastors Guillermina and Francisco Valenzuela for the work you and your leadership team are providing there. Estoy muy agradecido a Dios por lo que veo allí en Eagle Rock. Que el Señor los bendiga en una manera muy especial en estos meses juntos! By the way… in one of these photos, as I went around to capture a few pictures, can you spot something that is not seen very often these days? It was located on the sidewalk near a barber shop next to the church. I didn’t know these were still around.  
Church & Pastor Reviews:  I forgot to take some pics, but earlier this week I had two board meetings with local churches to go over a few items in a church/pastor review. I thank the Lord for the first two years of pastoral leadership that Pastor Alan Arevalo, Jr. and his wife Geebel are providing for our church in Oxnard. Great things are taking place in this church.  
And then, another review I was privileged to conduct was with the church board and pastor in Pismo Beach New Life. Thank you Pastor Dave and Dana Hutsko, along with your leadership team for everything you are doing along the Central Coast! Praise the Lord!
District Matters:

Attention all pastors and leaders!

In this issue of Grace & Peace magazine there are some great articles on the subject of “Giving”. I hope you take some time to read through this recent issue. Great stuff!!!  
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At Fountain of Life Church, we have taken on the mandate to enjoy a corporate time of worship in music during the next three summer months which we have named, "Summer Time, Month-End Praise". This 3-time praise event will begin at 7:00 pm on the last Friday night of
June, July and August (the 26th, the 28th, and 30th).
 
We are inviting guest praise teams, praise dancers and musicians to join us as we give Glory back to God and thank Him for the month ending, and for the one we expect to begin. At these services we will enjoy a free-flowing time of Worship--no Master of Ceremony or speakers—just musical Praise! We believe God’s anointing will flow so that people will be compelled to the altar, and so we are asking Pastors, Ministers/Alter workers to be on hand to pray for needs as the Lord makes alter calls throughout the services.
 
We are hoping that your Church’s Praise Team can join us during one or even all of these services.  
 
Yours in Christ,
Ursula D. Walker
 
Dan Bohi Revival Services:  Evangelist Dan Bohi will be coming to the LA District to hold services next month in various churches. If you would like for your church to join in at one or two of the services nearby, please feel free to pass along the information.
 
Wednesday, September 18: L.A. First
Thursday & Friday, September 19-20: Bishop
Saturday, Sunday & Monday, September 21-23: Camarillo
Tuesday & Wednesday, September 24-25: Santa Maria
Thursday & Friday, September 26-27: N. Hollywood New Hope at the Hills
Hi Youth Leaders! 
Sept. 1st is the deadline to register your students for THE CALL! Our NYI would like to sponsor any teen that feels a call to ministry and would like to attend this event by paying their registration of $100. Pastor Dave Myers at PazNaz is trying to put together some transportation to New Mexico for those that are interested. 
In order to register you must visit the website  southwestnyi.org . (You must register by September 1st!!)
Please let us know if you have any students registering by emailing Josh Johnson at  josh@newnaz.org .
Occasionally I’m invited to share in other churches, and this past Sunday evening I was honored to preach in the San Bernardino Iglesia del Nazareno on missions. What a joy it was to be with these wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ!  
I hope you are having a great week. May the Lord bless you and your church family as you come together for worship this weekend! I love you and I hope to see you soon!
 
So blessed!
Greg A. Garman
Los Angeles District Superintendent
Church of the Nazarene