Worship Pastor Sam Green’s bone marrow transplant procedure required thirty minutes of time last Thursday, February 25, 2010, and every indication at this point is that the transplant was a complete success. He is actually receiving suppressants to keep his brother’s stem cells from assuming the control of his body they will eventually possess. Pastoral staff visited with Sam this morning and though his DNA has been swapped out, he remains our Sam. He laughed. He cried. His hair is growing back.
Congratulations to Taylor Haydel, freshman pitcher for the Western Kentucky University baseball team, on his three hitless innings in relief work on Saturday, February 20, 2010, against Kent State. Taylor struck out three and allowed one base runner on a hit batter in three innings of work. He pitched again last weekend in a series versus Texas A&M and Texas State. He pitches this week against Austin Peay.
Associate Pastor Carol Waller led a weekend of spiritual worship for children at the Erin Church of the Nazarene last weekend. Five services were conducted around the theme of belonging to the family of God. Carol was assisted by Beth Fox leading music and Diane Cater adding character sketches. Bryson Fox and Jameson Scappaticci provided instumental accompaniment on several songs in each session. Carol reports that the “kids were engaged and receptive and the people were wonderful.”
Associate Pastor Rondy Smith was the special speaker for the Dallas District Women’s Retreat over the weekend. The retreat was held at the Richardson, Texas, Church of the Nazarene. The target audience was women in their 20’s and 30’s and about half of the 200 women present fit that category. Rondy used an HGTV theme and spoke on “renovating the heart” and “remodeling the soul” with the Father as Architect, Jesus as Builder, the Holy Spirit as Decorator. The services were powerfully blessed.
Associate Pastor Ken Jewett led the Middle School LiveWire Students on retreat to Sevierville, TN, last weekend. Fifty-five students and twelve chaperones filled two large cabins. Chaperones were Alan Elkins, Buddy Mabry, Daniel Smith, Darlene Miranne, Jake Pilarski, Jake Resor, Jillian Forcum, Ken Jewett, Kristi Mabry, Teresa Vines, Tim Garrett, Treila Garrett. Retreaters were Abbie Winfree, Abby Elkins, Andrew Vines, Anna Waller, Annie Cater, Ashley Wallace, Austin Waller, Avie Joyce, Bethany Ruff, Biranna Post, Bryce Poole, Cade Crosslin, William Fleming, Caleb Foster, Cameron Davenport, Chandler Scott, Corey Miranne, Emily Paddon, Gabby Satterlee, Hannah Garrett, Hannah Hayes, Hannah Jackson, Haylee Gold, Isabella Green, Isaac Houser, J.D. Hall, Jacob Paddon, Jared Mannen, Jesse Case, Jessica Perkins, Jessie Joyce, Jonathan Jones, Josh Elkins, Josh Pilarski, Kailey Perkins, Kaina Habibeche, Keely Dozier, Kelli Rose, Kevin Helm, Kristin Paddon, Logan Evans, Luke Steeley, Madison Trotter, Maggie Hollingsworth, Mahaliah Davis, Marileigh Mabry, Morgan Houser, Nathanael Jackson, Olivia Garrett, Rachel Jones, Rachel Thimell, Ryan Mahoney, Shelby Rose, Taylor Shoemake, and Travis Walter. Pastor Ken reported to the staff team this morning about the team of chaperones who made his life easy. He said he normally is thinking through how to get the first meal prepared on arrival at the cabins on Friday evening but on this trip he did not even know what they were eating. Someone else planned it. Someone else prepared it. They arrived at the cabins on Friday evening with brownies on the table and a popcorn machine popping corn and fuming the house. A dad hosed off shoes on the back deck covered in Saturday’s paint ball experience. Dishes were washed before anyone else could volunteer. Chaperones learned how much the students depend on and respect Jake Resor and Daniel Smith, two Trevecca sophomore pastoral ministry students who assist in the age group. They said the most popular words out of the student’s mouths were calling “Jake” and “Daniel.” There were significant spiritual moments but I had rather the students tell you. Ask one of them.
Room-in-the-Inn was hosted by the Cross Trainers and Young Professionals Sunday School Classes on Saturday-Sunday, February 27-28, 2010. Wayne McNeese drove the van which brought ten homeless men from downtown Nashville to our campus for the evening. The men were fed a hot, homemade supper; given a dry, warm, clean bed to sleep in; offered a hot shower with clean towels; allowed to wash and dry their clothes; treated with respect through shared conversation and fellowship; provided a hot break-fast and a sack lunch to take with them for the day. Every kind word and deed was done as if it was done to/for Jesus. Thanks to Wayne McNeese; Paul and Christy Stonecipher; Tom and Beverly Lutz; Angela, Kenzie, and Rebecca Eiseman; April Swoner, Glenda Bolling; Dorinda Biggs; Jonathan Paddon; Matt, Keely, and Maxwell Mullins, Leisha Stride; Kylee Koon; Carrie Lounsbury; Richard and Beth Rouse; Phillip and Natalie Lutz; John and Rachelle Reigard; Ginger Pilarski; Jennifer and Kris Neely; Jeff, Diane, and Josh Cater; Amanda Benson; Joe Walker; Albert Rios; Jea and Jessica Agee.
I want to close this letter by asking for your help. I have thought for weeks about how to approach the subject and for some reason the Holy Spirit has said now. Over the next three months, we need to increase our overall giving by $100,000 and the purpose is to fund mission and ministry. We pay our bills fine. We pay our facilities mortgage fine. We have given no raises to staff for two years and reduced pastoral staff payroll by tens of thousands of dollars over the last two to three years. We meet payroll each week. The place where we come up short is in our obligation to and support of others. We have responsibilities to help support mission work in Nashville and Tennessee and around the world. We have responsibilities to support Trevecca Nazarene University where twelve of our students are currently receiving a quality Christian education. Our ability to retain and continue our current pastoral staff is approved or disapproved based on the accountability of meeting our mission budgets. We have met every mission obligation assigned to our church for the last fifteen years. With the economy in slow recovery, I do not want to wait longer to speak with you. Would you begin to pray and to give so that the need may be met? I will offer some suggestions next week.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
Posts
