Chicago Central District Newsletter | Issue 121: August 9, 2019

"My prayer is...for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one- 
I in them and you in me-so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:20-23)

We want to better fuel our Nazarene movement
. There are numerous books today on church strategy and structure. We have training programs that highlight starting new churches
, revitalizing existing congregations, etc. New strategies continue to emerge as the church finds better ways of fueling the movement of God through the people of God. As a team of 480+ districts, we are getting better at providing specialized training for church leaders. The premise of this book however, is that to keep fueling the Nazarene movement, we need more than strategies and training.  

We believe the Holy Spirit is bringing us together. We share a common agenda. We enjoy a spiritual unity that Jesus talked about (John 17:21-23). We know multiplying
 movements
 require church leaders to work closely together. The desire to fuel the movement, the resources needed, and the right climate is being created among us. Our movement aims to plant all kinds of churches in all kinds of places to reach all kinds of people. Our movement believes EVERY church can participate!  

As Nazarenes, we know what we believe about the church
 will affect how we behave within the church. Our movement operates with a biblical understanding of the church. We choose to love the church
 as Jesus love
s it (Ephesians 5:25-27)
. We understand for any multiplying movement of God to be sustained, we must regularly clarify our theology and understanding of the church. 

The above paragraphs are part of a chapter entitled, "A Great Future Together." Thank you for your prayers as we write this summer. Pray that this will continue to be a fruitful time. Thanks to each of you for being Christ in Action. Great days are ahead - you are loved.

Dr. Larry McKain, Superintendent

Chicago Central District

Church of the Nazarene

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.

TEEN QUIZZING

The annual teen quizzing kick-off is approaching! Quizzing is an excellent opportunity for teens to hide God's word in their hearts and also to develop relationships with other teens from their church and district. The curriculum is a great tool - it functions as a built-in Bible study!

If you have teens from your church who would like to participate, consider pairing with another church from our district to create a team. Check out this Teen Quizzing promo video here and contact district teen quizzing director, Ron Marklund, for more information.

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. The trip will begin on Friday evening at 7p and finish after lunch on Sunday afternoon. The cost is $45 per person.

We are in need of adults to attend, along with the preteens. An online registration form will be available soon, as well as more details about the trip. Please help us spread the word and mark your calendar! We are excited about this opportunity for our preteens!

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:

Sunday AM Sept 15
Monday - Friday PM Sept 16-20
Sunday PM Sept 22

They also have other available dates through the fall semester.

Dan and Melody Anderson (serving in Uganda)

Available dates:

Monday Oct 21
Tuesday Oct 22
Saturday Oct 26

ISRAEL TRIP

The Mundelein Church is leading a trip to Israel, and there are limited spaces available. It is an 8 day trip from June 8-15, 2020, and the cost is $2,700. This cost includes everything, including airfare. If you are interested, contact Pastor Doug Ward at [email protected] , and he will email the complete itinerary and any other information you may want.

UPCOMING DATES

Mark your calendar!

Saturday, August 17 | District Advisory Board Meeting
October 11 - 13 | District Preteen Mission Trip
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
Saturday, November 2 | Cultivate at Kankakee First
Thursday, November 7 | District Mission Strategy Team
November 15-16 | Ministerial Self-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

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.

Your continued prayers are appreciated for strength and full recovery from Bill Wiggins's recent stroke.

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

September

Mon, Sept 9 - Joliet Crystal Lawns 6:30 - 8:15 pm

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!

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