Northeast Oklahoma District Church of the Nazarene

“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.”     Samuel Chadwick

Dear NEO Nazarene family,

What a way to begin an Advisory Board Meeting! Last Thursday night as we began a long meeting, I asked Pastor Casey Hollinsworth to share about the “fresh wind and fresh fire” they are experiencing at Miami New Life Church. Casey shared about the manifestation of God’s glory and power in service after service this past month. People are getting saved and sanctified, miracles of healing are taking place and hearts are being refreshed. Casey said people can hardly wait for the next service and they come with anticipation. I praise God for the revival and growth New Life and other churches on our District are experiencing.

I got ahead of myself last week when I mentioned the website has been launched again. It looks like we are live with the new server this week. There is still a lot that needs to be added and it is always a work in progress, but I appreciate the work of Gloria Mckellips in getting up and running again.

Fun times for NEO kids the next 10 days:

     Fun Quiz this Sunday, April 3, 3 – 5pm, Regency Park Church

     Kid’s Mission Day with Beverly Gruver, Saturday, April 9, Claremore Church


Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Inc. receives four-star rating
A U.S. charity evaluator awarded Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Inc. a four-star rating for its management practices. Charity Navigator, based in Glen Rock, New Jersey, rated NCMI after a review of the organization's fiscal and administrative records.

"As the nonprofit sector continues to grow at unprecedented pace, savvy donors are demanding more accountability, transparency, and quantifiable results from the charities they choose to support with their hard-earned dollars," wrote Ken Berger, president and chief executive officer of Charity Navigator, in a letter to NCMI. NCMI, based on 2009 data, goes above and beyond the demand for accountability, Berger said.


Charity Navigator, ranked one of the top nonprofit evaluators in the U.S. by Forbes, Business Week, and Kiplinger's Financial Magazine, highlights the work of efficient charities and provides donors with information they need to make a charitable contribution. "Only 19 percent of the charities we rate have received at least two consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Inc. consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way and outperforms most other charities in America," Berger wrote. "This 'exceptional' designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Inc. from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust."

NCMI provides funds from donors outside the denomination to support Nazarene Compassionate Ministries' projects around the world. For the past three years, approximately $4 million annually has been directed to Nazarene programs responding to human suffering in the U.S. and around the world, Nees said.

As a U.S. nonprofit corporation, with a board elected by the Church of the Nazarene General Board, NCMI is one of several international resource partners for Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and the Church of the Nazarene. For more information, visit the NCMI website, www.ncmi.org.

General superintendents appeal to U.S. churches for full support of P&B Fund
The Board of General Superintendents is calling all U.S. churches to a renewed commitment to full payment of the Pensions and Benefits Fund, said J.K. Warrick, BGS chair. The general superintendents will give special attention to support of the P&B Fund at each U.S. district assembly in 2011.

"Full support of the P&B Fund is vital to the Church of the Nazarene fulfilling promises made to her ministers and widowed spouses under the Basic Pension Plan," said Warrick. "The fund has been hurt by a decline in giving by churches over the last 20 years. Further weakening of investments has contributed to sluggish growth toward the goal of fully funding the plan. However, our board is confident that, as in the past, when Nazarenes are made aware of the need, they will rally to the support of our retirees."

"Will We Be There for Them?" is the theme for the emphasis to support P&B Fund giving. The general superintendents will present a video at this summer's U.S. assemblies and give special recognition to retired ministers on each district.

Have a blessed week! You are loved!
Dave McKellips