NorthFloridaUpdateNorth Florida DistrictChurch of the Nazarene6817 Southpoint Parkway, Suite 1301Jacksonville, FL 32216 Phone 904-281-8148FAX 904-281-8149 E-mail: officenfd@bellsouth.netWeb: www.nflnaz.com Orville Jenkins, Jr., District Superintendent

Volume 37 Number 1

January 2011

FROM THE DISTRICT SUPT.

Random Thoughts for a New YearNever for a minute did God think we would be as perfect as He is, but He knew how much He loves us and wants to help us grow in His wisdom, maturity, and understanding. What is known as the abundant life in Him is not the absence of adversity, but rather, growth in the midst of it. And though adversity in some form will be inevitable in this new year, trusting the Lord and keeping a positive spirit is our choice. For the joy of the Lord is not reserved for the mountaintop; it’s found in knowing, trusting, and resting in Jesus Christ every step of the way. Choose to trust Him devotedly this year at the peak, as well as in the valley. (Proverbs 1:1-2)

Snippets of News from Across theDistrict:BLOUNTSTOWN: Dr. Ernie Gray has resigned to serve as a hospice chaplain in the area.

CRESTVIEW: Pastor Gerald Oetken’s interim role is coming to an end so he and Sandra can return to retirement, and the church will soon be interviewing a candidate.

HIGH SPRINGS GRACE: Rev. Preston Ponce has accepted a one-year appointment as pastor, with the church praying it will be extended.

JAX LIGHTHOUSE: When the former Beaches Church began their relocation seven years ago it was estimated to cost them $1 million. Instead, it cost nearly $1.5 million, plus an additional $225,000 to refurbish an old bldg. already on the property. But the church paid off Regions Bank in Dec. and is now debt free!

JAX NEW DIMENSIONS: Pastor Jesse Mills is stepping down after 10 yrs. due to health reasons, and the church has interviewed a new pastoral candidate.

LEESBURG: Pastor Larry E. Brincefield, after over 5 good yrs. here, and a strong pastoral ministry at Hernando prior, has resigned effective Feb. 10 to enter a new phase of life for him and Ruth, that of retirement.

MADISON BARBARA MEMORIAL: This small country church, with its aging membership comprised primarily of the Agner family and pastored faithfully by Robert Agner for 22 yrs., has voted to cease its existence dating back to 1947, effective at the end of our church year.

MARIANNA: Rev. Don Henderson is serving as the interim pastor.

OCALA FIRST: Associate Pastor Jerry Gilmore has resigned to accept the pastorate of the Wesleyan Church in Lancaster, PA, and began there Jan. 2. PANAMA CITY FIRST: After the longest pastoral tenure in the life of the church, 13 yrs., Pastors Joe and Kim Purl have accepted the call to pastor our church in Wright City, MO, and began their new ministry Jan. 2.

ST. JOHNS FAITH COMMUNITY: Pastors Wayne and Virginia Bauer report 25 baptisms in 2010 and a spontaneous time of New Year testimonies on Sun. evening, Jan. 2, during which people expressed their gratitude to God for bringing them to the church!

STARKE: Rev. Tom Maitland is the new pastor, replacing the retiring Fred Clem who gave able leadership to this new church plant.

Seminary OfferingJanuary 30th, 2011, is the Sunday designated for every church to participate in the annual offering for Nazarene Theological Seminary. Our goal is for every church to participate, no matter the amount. If every church gave just $5, it would amount to $250 from No. Fla.

Budget PaymentsI cannot overstate the importance of churches making their budget payments weekly, based on the new system and based on your church’s weekly income…not a prescribed or assigned amount as in the past. District operations have had to be greatly curtailed due to a lack of budget funds coming in. Still don’t understand the new system or have questions? Call Dist. Treas. Mark Patrick at 904-396-5400.

Personal NoteNancy and I extend our thanks to the district family for the cards, notes, and expressionsof kindness during the Christmas Season. Weare blessed to serve you!

Upcoming District NYI Dates:January 8 District NYI QuizFebruary 4-5 District NYI/SDMI Conventions

12 District NYI Quiz21-23 District Leadership / M11

Conference’s in Louisville, KY28-Mar 6 Nazarene World Week of Prayer

March 1 TNT Registration Deadline2 TNT $50 late fee goes into effect

today5 District NYI Quiz15 TNT – last day to accept

registrationsApril 7-10 TNT @ TNU

17 Palm Sunday22 NFL District Day of Prayer24 Easter

May 19-21 NFL District NMI Convention/District Assembly

June 24-27 Sr. High Camp @ Laguna BeachJuly 3-10 NYC @ Louisville, KY

Rev. Tim Hildreth, President1590 N. Jefferson St., Monticello, FL 32344monticellonaz@gmail.com850.997.3906

New Year’s Eve Bash a Great Success!A special ‘Thanks’ to Pastor Darren Boyd (Oak Hill Naz), Brian and Jessica Mercer (Oak Hill Naz. NYI leaders), Teresa, Jennifer M! and others for hosting our NFL Dist NYI New Year’s Eve Bash! It was great! Let me put it in simple terms . . . Eggs and feet; silly screaming Smurfs; the Great Egg Drop; Pizza; Basketball; Football; Volleyball; Colossian 3.17; Times Square at midnight; “Gifted Hands”; light’s out at 3am; light’s on at 7am; Dunkin Donuts; and tons of face time with friends (old and new).

Upcoming . . .

NFL District NYI ConventionFebruary 4th-5th, 2010Tallahassee First ChurchWe need every youth group across our district represented. We’ll start Friday evening at 7pm and join our SDMI Ministries Team in a time of fellowship and Worship. Saturday morning (time to be finalized) we’ll gather for our annual accountability, balloting, and information sharing for all that’s yet to come!

TNT @TNUApril 7-10 (Thurs – Sun), 2011We’ve grown our participation for this event to the largest we have seen in several years! If you or your teens have qualified for any of the events at TNT or if

you have some teens that would like to go as spectators to the event, prepare now! Registration forms will be out within two weeks. Completed registrations with payment (online) need to be postmarked by March 1st. A late fee of $50 for all payments made from March 2nd through the 15th. Absolutely no registrations/payments will be accepted after March 15th.

Susan Day, President7039 Oakwood Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32211sday18@bellsouth.net904.724.2520

January Emphasis - Volunteer Ministries / Work & Witness / N.A.I.L.S ClubThe emphasis for this month is on Volunteer Ministries. Many of your can attest to the fact that once you have gone on a W & W trip, you are forever changed! As part of this emphasis, I would encourage each of you to relate your experiences this month to others of your congregation. We need your help to encourage participation by promoting the N.A.I.L.S Club. Pastors, why not do a sermon series on missions? You could relate your own experiences if you have been on a W & W trip!

I needed to give you an update about our District W & W trip to Haiti. Unfortunately, we have been unable to schedule a trip for this 2010-2011 church year. Part of the reason for this decision comes from trouble getting information about a project, part because we could not work out a date, and part of it comes from economic reasons and we feel that at this time the district cannot afford the materials fee. As your District NMI council, we will be evaluating this situation at our next 2 council meetings. We are committed to continue the North Florida tradition of participating in W & W. This may be in the traditional construction style of trip, a Jesus film experience, or some new configuration. Please feel free to contact me or any council members and give us your ideas - we would value your input!

February Emphasis - AlabasterThe Alabaster Offering provides funds for property and buildings around the world. It gives a sense of permanence, the attitude that the Church of the

Nazarene intends to "put down roots." Eighty percent of the money is used in world mission areas, and twenty percent goes to multicultural congregations in the United States and Canada. Alabaster funds help provide land for most Work & Witness projects. The entire offering goes toward the

construction of churches, schools, medical facilities, and homes for missionaries and national workers.

Project Summary:

1949-2009 2009 SummaryChurches & Chapels 3,850 128 BiblesSchools & School Buildings 396 10Mission & District Centers 510 41Hospitals & Clinics 37 1Missionary Homes 395 22National Workers Homes 1,056 14Land 1,487 42Miscellaneous 627Total 8358 Total 258

Offerings Suimmary1949-2009 US $92,135,588 2009 Offering Us $2,840,908

DISTRICT CALENDARJanuary 27 District NMI council Meeting,

District OfficeFebruary4-5 District SDMI and NYI Conventions,

Tallahassee12 Teen Quiz, John Chapters 1-1817 District Board of Ministry, District

Office20-27 District NMI Deputation Tour with

Daniel and Michele Lepley, Dominican Republic

21-23 M11 Conference, Louisville, Kentucky

25-26 District Women’s Retreat, Vickie Boone Watson, Marriott Hotel, Jacksonville

27 Alabaster OfferingMarch5 Teen Quiz Finals, John Chapters 1-

2117-19 TNU Board of Trustees Spring

Meeting, Nashville19 NMI Kidz Jamboree with the Lepleys26 District NMI Executive Committee

and Council Meeting, District Office

31 End of Our Church YearApril7-9 TNT @ TNU29 District Advisory Board, District

Office30 Pre-Assembly Meetings, District

OfficeMay19-21 District NMI Convention and

Assembly, Jacksonville Univ. Blvd. (Thursday evening---Saturday noon)Dr. Jesse Middendorf, presiding general superintendent

Donna Nichols, President3822 Leane Dr. Tallahassee, FL 32309850-877-2650tfnc@comcast.net

SDMI CONVENTIONFebruary 4-5Tallahassee First Church

Guest Speaker: Dr. Stan TolerWorkshop Speakers: Pastor Dave Vaughn &Pastor Ben Kesselring

FRIDAY – 7 pm…..SDMI & NYI will begin with a joint LUAU Dress comfortable & fun!!!

SATURDAY – 8:30 am….Business & Workshops

(Check Web Site for more Convention Details)

‘JUST A NOTE ABOUT NUMBERS’Pastor, did you say your salary was $150 or $650?

It doesn’t matter, they’re just numbers!

Nurse, was his temperature 99 or 109 degrees?

It doesn’t matter, they’re just numbers!

Did the driver say he was going 35 or 75 MPH?

It doesn’t matter, they’re just numbers!

Coach, did you say the new center was 5’7” or 7’5”

It doesn’t matter, they’re just numbers!

SS Supt., did you say your average was39 or 93?

It doesn’t matter, they’re just numbers!

Numbers DO matter. They matter to God. They must matter to us for more than dollars, degrees, MPH or inches. They help us

measure how well we are

reaching the lost for whom Christ died. We must be diligent in recording and

REPORTING those numbers, for they are PEOPLE and THEY MATTER! (Taken from NF Update 9/98)All reports must be in by NOON on the last MONDAY of each month

and must include SS, AM Worship AND Responsibility List.

North Florida Women’s RetreatFebruary 25-26, 2011Marriott Jacksonville4670 Salisbury Road

Jacksonville, FL 

Speaker:  Vickie Boone Watson

PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE at nflnaz.com, click on Ministries, then Women’s Retreat. You will need to pay with a debit or credit card for your registration. Hotel reservations need to be made directly through the hotel. There is a link at this website.

 Questions can be directed to Martha Stephens, marthastep@gmail.com

Please make your hotel reservations by phone 800-962-9786 or 904-296-2222  Or from the link at the nflnaz.com website.

One person from the room should make the reservation.

IMPORTANT!  TO AVOID SALES TAX - PAY WITH A CHURCH CHECK OR

CREDIT CARD AND HAVE TAX EXEMPT CERTIFICATE AVAILABLE