September 19, 2018
Greetings in the Glorious Name of Jesus, The Nazarene:
Hello “MY” Philadelphia District:
It’s a Wednesday morning in Kansas City as I write to you. I’m here at the Nazarene Global Ministry Center with nine other rookie district superintendents learning how to be more effective at our calling. Pray for us. Pray for me.
Before entering the first learning session today, I greeted our General Superintendent in jurisdiction, Dr. David Busic, in the hallway. His genuine inquiry about how things are going on the Philadelphia District touched me deeply. He kindly invited me to breakfast for Friday. I am anticipating leaving here more like Jesus simply because I will get to break bread with him. I hope to encourage him as well.
Recently, I was thinking about my new position as overseer of the local Nazarene churches in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Specifically, I was asking myself: “What is the most difficult reality about my new position?” I didn’t have to think very long at all. The answer was obvious. The most difficult reality about my new position is that I cannot be with all of “my people” every week.
As a local pastor, I took for granted that I got to be with ALL of “my people” every week of the year. I have now given “my people” — at the local church I pastored — over to their new pastor, so they are no longer “my people” (as a pastor). So guess who “my people” are now? You are! It’s all true! If you are a part of the Philadelphia District, you are now “my people” and the fact that I cannot physically be with ALL of you, “my people”, every week, is the most difficult reality about my new position. It’s because I am a pastor, and a pastor is really all I know to be. And as a pastor, I care about “my people” and being PRESENT with “my people” — “MY” Philadelphia District.
Of course, I understand that I am not, neither do I expect to be, omnipresent. I cannot be with all of “my people” all of the time. However, I plan on offering multiple opportunities for us to be together as often as possible. I do hope to come and come again to where you are as often as possible. This is my joy description. I also hope as often as possible, to see you come to the places I will invite you, so we can fellowship as people who belong to Jesus, The Nazarene, and to one another, as Nazarenes.
Let me share with you some upcoming opportunities happening. I hope you will consider coming to where I’ll be so we can encourage one another together. Why? Because I truly believe PRESENCE MATTERS MOST!
* Saturday, Sept. 29, 2pm-4pm
West Chester Church of the Nazarene
Familiar Grounds — Bread • Cup • Friendship Gathering (Pastors, Elders
& District Licensed Ministers)
Pastor Owen White, leader/host pastor
(Lifelong Learning Credits available)
* Monday, Oct. 8, 9am-1pm
Fairview Village Church of the Nazarene
PCDC Gathering (Pastors Career Development Center) — First of 7 sessions.
Pastor Dave Bennett, leader/host pastor
(Lifelong Learning Credits available)
* Sunday, Dec. 16, 4:30pm-6:30pm
Ephrata Grace Point Church of the Nazarene (Pastors, Associates, Retirees, District Leadership & Spouses)
Christmas Celebration Dinner Concert
Pastor Kerry/Kim Willis, leading/hosting
I have also been personally invited to preach Revival Services/Seasons of Spiritual Renewal on these dates and at these churches. If you can be present, you are welcome. (Please contact local pastor for exact meeting schedule:)
* Sept. 29-Oct. 1, West Chester, PA
* Oct. 6-8, Pitman, NJ
* Oct. 30-November. 1, Williamsport, PA
* Nov. 4, Crossroads, Lewisburg, PA
* Nov. 10-11, Bethlehem Promised Land
* Dec. 8-11, Faith Pointe, Allentown, PA
* Mar. 17, Burlington, NJ (added later today)
* Mar. 23-25, Pennsville, NJ
* May 17-19, New Holland, PA (added later today)
Complete PCDC Schedule (Pastors Career Development Center). All sessions are Monday meetings 9am-1pm at Fairview Village. It’s going to be great!
* Oct. 8, 2018
* Nov. 5, 2018
* Jan. 7, 2019
* Feb. 4, 2019
* Mar. 11, 2019
* Apr. 1, 2019
* June 3, 2019
(Lifelong Learning Credits available)
MAKE NOTE: THE DISTRICT OFFICE HAS MOVED. NEW ADDRESS:
Location:
Philadelphia District
Church of the Nazarene
445 Washington Street
Royersford, PA. 19468
Mailing:
Philadelphia District
Church of the Nazarene
PO Box 259
Royersford, PA. 19468
A Recent Good News Report from Pastor Donna Sarog at Collingdale:
“We had our Baptism and Annual Church Picnic at the Chesapeake. Three adults and a nine year old boy went down and came up anew. Max, the nine year old, started by yelling his testimony, ‘I LOVE JESUS’, oh so very loud. Heaven came down!”
