Central Gulf Coast Connection

December 2022 / January 2023

CENTRAL GULF COAST

CONNECTION

District Ministers Christmas Banquet

Marriott Prattville Hotel & Conference Center at Capitol Hill

Prattville, Alabama

December 6, 2022

Special Guests: Randy & Sherri Miller

Christian Recording Artists from Cleveland, TN

PRE-REGISTERED pastors and spouses,

come dressed in holiday attire for this festive occasion.

Churches and Donors: THANK YOU for assisting ministry couples

with banquet and travel expenses!

From Our District Superintendent

Ministry Team Retreat Summary

Dr. Mark Berry

Early in November the pastors and spouses gathered in Gatlinburg, TN for a well-deserved time away to worship, learn, and relax. Rev. Billy Huddleston, Nazarene evangelist, shared with us in song and message for two services. Music was provided by Rev. Amber Aills and a worship team. Rev. Huddleston spoke on the theme of “Peace." In a world that is distraught, uptight, troubled, and hopeless, Christ comes to bring peace.

Pastors face stressors that one can only imagine. Many of our pastors are bi-vocational that juggle the work of a pastor and a full-time job. Whether a pastor is bi-vocational or full-time, the difficulty of ministry is the same. This is true of many laypersons as well. They work a full-time job and give many hours to the work of the church. For pastors and laypersons, we say “Thank you!” And, I say to you, “Peace!”

In Mark chapter 4, we find Jesus in a boat with his disciples when a great storm suddenly arose. Jesus was peacefully asleep on the boat during the storm, and, in fear, the disciples woke him. Jesus quietly stood and called to the storm, “Quiet! Be still.” Jesus brings peace amidst uncertainty. We can be assured of this!

So, what is the greatest takeaway from your pastor attending the retreat? It would be that no matter what comes our way as pastors or laypersons, Jesus will bring peace if we call on His name. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10, NKJV)

Photo below: Attendees at the Ministry Team Retreat.

(Not pictured, Dr. Brenda Tyus, Rev. James Tyus, and Debi Berry, photographer)

Christmas Greetings From the Berry's

Debi and I wish you and yours a blessed Christmas season!

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and many festivities

happening in the local church, know that each of you are loved and appreciated.

May we always keep Christ in Christmas as the world around us presses in.

We are thankful for the dedicated service of pastors and laypersons that form each Nazarene Church on the Central Gulf Coast District.

– Dr. Mark & Debi Berry

Central Gulf Coast District News

MOVING MINISTERS

MOBILE FIRST – Pastor Lou A. Reyes (Sarah) accepted a call as lead pastor to Mobile First Church. He will begin his ministry on December 18, 2022. Rev. Reyes comes to the district from the Kansas City District.

RIDGEVILLE – Rev. Kenneth Wyatt (Judy) will conclude his ministry at Ridgeville on January 1, 2023.

LEADERSHIP REVIEWS

Congratulations to the following church and pastors

that recently completed a successful leadership review:

Sylacauga First – Revs. Wally Rezendes and Mance McCarthy, Co-pastors

CHURCHES IN TRANSITION

New Providence | Praise Park | Ridgeville | River Region

Please keep these churches in your prayers as they seek God's direction.

CHURCH APPRECIATION

Grateful thanks to churches that honored and celebrated their pastoral families during Clergy Appreciation Month. District pastors have conveyed their sincere thankfulness for the many expressions of kindness and generosity.

Upcoming Events

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY OFFERING

Received on the second Sunday in December, this is an approved 10% giving offering. Help get the Word of God into the hands of the most spiritually needy people of the world.

Send checks to: General Treasurer, PO Box 843116, Kansas City, KS 64184.

Thank you for your support of the Bible Society offering!

PASTOR'S TRAINING WEEKEND

This event will be held on Sat., Jan. 28, 2023 online via Zoom. The emphasis will be “Spiritual Formation." This training is for lead, associate, retired and staff pastors and ministerial students. We have made this training available to accommodate bi-vocational pastors and to lower costs for all. Pastors will receive a link for the conference call as the date nears. The training will begin at 9:00 AM and will conclude at 10:30 AM. Guest speaker will be Dr. Tim Green.

Tim serves as dean of the Millard Reed School of Theology & Christian Ministry and as professor of Old Testament literature and theology. He has previously served as chaplain at Trevecca. An ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, he received his Ph.D. in Bible with emphasis in Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) from Vanderbilt University. Prior to arriving at Trevecca, he served in pastoral roles in Hendersonville, TN, Cincinnati, and Nashville. He is author of numerous books and articles and is a frequent speaker across the US and beyond in various conferences, workshops, revivals, camps and university lecture series. He has taught classes in Russia, Kazakhstan, Germany, Kosova, Albania, Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova. Tim also serves as a member of the editorial publishing committee of a Christian publishing company. Outside the classroom, he loves to travel, spend time with his family, write, work in his yard and teach his Sunday School class in the local church.

STARTUP: Chipola Avenue Discipleship Group

The Chipola Avenue Discipleship Group is a new ministry in Wewahitchka, Fla. This growing ministry is a daughter church of the Port St. Joe Church of the Nazarene, pastored by Rev. Janet Johnson, with the great support of her husband, Charles.

Rev. Johnson reports an active ministry to the local elementary school, including collecting school supplies and providing an ice cream social for teachers.

For Global Nazarene News

visit the

Nazarene Communications Network (NCN)

Nazarene Discipleship International (NDI)

Brian Aaron, District NDI President

Check out this special update from The Discipleship Place:

The Discipleship Place is at work creating new courses, redesigning the website, updating the app, scheduling new webinars, and much more! Click on the link to find out more.

https://nazarene.org/ndi-journey/special-update-discipleship-place

Central Gulf Coast Women's Retreat

Retreat Theme: Living with Zest

March 16-19, 2023

Hampton Inn & Suites, Orange Beach AL

Deposit Due December 31, 2022

(Click on flyer below to download and print)

Click the photo below to read the current Global NDI newsletter!

Nazarene Missions International (NMI)

Diane Thompson, District NMI President

December is Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Month (NCM)

Compassion is the church in action.

NCM participates in acts of compassion around the world in emergency relief, anti-human trafficking, feeding the hungry, providing clean water, refugee and immigrant support, health care, child sponsorship, and much more. How can you learn about, download resources, give, and get involved? Visit the NCM website via www.ncm.org - Offering envelopes and videos are available to promote an offering for NCM.

Together, we are the church. Together, we can make a difference!

Many Central Gulf Coast churches have already shown the love of Christ by responding to several NMI projects. Please see the results below.

HURRICANE RELIEF RESPONSE: Gulf Coast NMI churches responded tremendously to hurricane relief in South FL by sending the Crisis Care Kits you had prepared and stored at Cross Pointe COTN. Rev. Freddy Williams, NCM Coordinator for the district, responded quickly by driving a U-Haul van to Venice, FL with 500+ Crisis Care Kits. Thank you to all who participated by having these items already prepared. We now need to begin replenishing our supply to be ready for the next crisis whether on our district or elsewhere.

While delivering the CCK’s, Rev. Williams discovered there was an immediate need for basic cleaning supplies, paper towels, tissue, water, etc. for the South FL area. Many of you responded once again to this request. Rev. Williams delivered these items to the Landmark COTN which would in turn be delivered to South FL by Pam Cooner of the Landmark Church. Thanks to all who participated in this ministry and thank you Pam for making these much-needed supplies.

HURRICAN IAN DISASTER RELIEF RESPONSE: We have received an astounding response from the Hurricane Ian Disaster Relief Fund with a total of $15,581 as of the end of October.

There’s still time to give to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Check out https://ncm.org/christmas or give to those mentioned above.

Matthew 25:40 ..."Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

January Emphasis

Volunteer Missions and Missions Call

Volunteering to serve in missions doesn’t have to be international only. It can be volunteering to assist one of our own district churches with repairs or projects. Coming alongside a church on your mission area can be as much a blessing for those volunteering as well as those receiving the help. Pray about it and see what God can do.

Could it be that God is calling you to serve on one of the almost 100 opportunities around the world that are available with the Church of the Nazarene? Check out this website to see find a position that may speak directly to your heart.

Could you go? Would you go?

Opportunity Summary - Send Me (nazarene.org)

NMI CENTRAL – is a free publication released every Wednesday and available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. It is the central location for all NMI information for a local church. Visit www.nazarene.org/nmi-central to subscribe.

Remember our Links Missionaries at Christmas

As we begin to think about Christmas gifting, consider giving a gift to your Nazarene missionaries through Links on Funding the Mission or their deputation account. Each missionary may have unique projects or needs; contact them to see how your gift would bring the greatest blessing before sending gifts or submitting funds.

Our Links missionaries are Elliott and Shireen Elliott. Their mailing address is

459 Stella Road, Malvern, 4093, South Africa, and their email address is selliott@africanazarene.org.

Hispanic Ministries News

This is the time of year when our Hispanic churches provide a needed ministry to the less fortunate among the Hispanic community. One ministry of our Hispanic churches is to distribute Christmas gifts to needy children in their community. Should your church wish to participate, contact the district office. Thank you to churches that have invested in these ministries through the Multicultural Ministries Offering. Our ministries to Spanish speaking people continue in Lanett, Fairfax, Millbrook, Panama City and Vance. We say “Thank You” to these sacrificial pastors that give much to the ministry to which they are called.

Nazarene Youth International (NYI)

Rev. Susan Broadhead, District NYI President

Celebrate 2023

(District TNT)

January 6 - 7

Registration is Open!

Registration and payment deadline: December 19

Mission Youth Rallies

We have had two amazing Mission Youth Rallies this fall. Many thanks to the churches, pastors and youth leaders for hosting and working to make these two events successful.

If your church is interested in hosting a youth rally in 2023 please

reach out to us at centralgulfcoastnyi@gmail.com.