YEAR 10, ISSUE 8 • OCTOBER 2013

Armenia British Isles South summer camp youth go to Africa changes kids By CIS Field

Over a hundred children and teens took part this year in Armenia’s teen and children camps near Lake Sevan this summer. Amidst fun games, team building activities, meals, swimming and friendships developed, God’s presence was felt camp-wide. Reports state that large percentages of both kids and teens responded to both the altar calls and changed attitudes in general. Nine people were baptized. “Their parents testify to a spiritual change in the lives of many of the kids,” says Anna The British Isles South District youth mission team held an evangelistic campaign in Mwanza, Tanzania, Artsrunyan-Gonzales, director in July, followed by a leadership conference and workshops on AIDS prevention and understanding. of the Children’s Camp. In one specific case, “There was a boy By Matt Lee The team of 12 was split into three Eurasia Region Communications who was very nasty with his smaller teams of four who were led by parents and the parents didn’t adults, to be able to minister to the know what to do; they even The British Isles South District different age groups more effectively. wanted to take the child to a sent a youth Work & Witness team to There was a team for adults, led by special school, as they couldn’t deal Africa from July 24 to August 6. The Chris Lewis, a team for youth, led by with him anymore. However, his team consisted of 12 people, most of Sarah St. Clair-Whicker, and a team for parents were in crisis in their own whom were between the ages of 16 and children, led by Karen Lewis. relationship as well and almost 22. After the first day they also began divorced. This child came to the They had two specific assignments. holding discipleship seminars for camp, the pastors did their best The first was to hold an evangelistic new Christians. They kicked off the to spend time with him. Several campaign from July 27 to 30 in evangelistic campaign on Sunday by days after the camp the parents Mwanza, Tanzania, and the second was holding Sunday school classes and came to our pastor in Akhuryan to hold a leadership conference for the leading the morning church service. and were very thankful, noticing district, which included workshops, During the week, they saw many a big change in the child and they youth training and AIDS education. miraculous things, including the local are surprised with the miracle. On the Saturday before the witch doctor’s daughter coming to The child was able even to bring campaign began, they trained leaders Christ, one of the respected elders of the parents together to become in the church on how to follow up with the surrendering his life to the a happy family. Now this child those who would attend the services Lord, several people being freed from is attending the Kids Club in during the week. This took place at the bondage to the enemy and seeing 76 Akhuryan. Kiseke Church of the Nazarene with people making decisions to follow “The parents came to our the pastor of the church, Erick Oguta. Christ.

see “ARMENIA” page 2 see “AFRICA” • page 2 ARMENIA: Kids becoming leaders in ministry from page 1 pastor...noticing a big change in the child.” But it was not just changing attitudes in the camp. God even made plans beyond their expectations. “There was a girl from Yerevan (capital city) that we barely knew, and she told us that she wanted to come the night before we left. There was a misunderstanding. We tried to call and tell her not to come, but we couldn’t contact her. The next morning she showed up packed and ready for camp. During camp, she came to know Jesus. She now attends our youth group and helped a lot during the VBS as a volunteer,” says Lusine Melkonyan, the Armenian NYI director. Kids are becoming leaders in these ministries, and many are planning to Nine people were baptized at the Armenia teen and children’s camps where many youth experienced attend future camps. The effects of significant change in their lives and attitudes. camp are even allowing an openness of parents to send their children to Kids Clubs, which occur throughout the year, allowing for more ministry and discipleship exposure. AFRICA: Team conducted HIV/AIDS workshops from page 1

But for Chris, the trip’s organizer, Chris and his team led the training village church and churches that were there was one experience that stood far of the different leaders during the located in two different slums. and above all others. day and St. Clair-Whicker, along with Karen said, “Africa was an “It was the experience of baptizing Danny Watson, headed seminars encouragement and a blessing but 20 people in Lake Victoria.” that were directed toward women in there are also a lot of needs and so He and St. Clair-Whicker shared ministry, youth in ministry and AIDS many times I’d like to be able to help the duties of baptizing the people at education. more.” the end of their time in Mwanza. They St. Clair-Whicker said, “Quite Joanna Tamburello, 22, said, “The also baptized two people from their often there is a stigma attached to kids most powerful part of the trip was team: Jojo White and Jenny Rae. in the church in the slums. They had “Both of these young ladies wanted nothing but were praising God for to express their faith through the their life. It makes you realize the gift waters of baptism side by side with of life God has given us.” their African brothers and sisters,” said There were many powerful Chris, “I am sure that that day will be moments that happened on the trip. one that neither they, nor I, will ever People being delivered from evil forget.” spirits, people coming to Christ, the St. Clair-Whicker said her favorite hospitality shown to the Work & part of the trip was, “Every time we Witness team; the way God moved had a time of worship, the [teenagers] not only in the hearts and lives of the just gave it everything and praised God with AIDS and HIV, as if they’ve done Africans, but in the hearts and lives of so much and all of us came away really something horribly wrong … they don’t each of the members of the team as changed by that.” always know how it spreads or that well. On the Friday after the campaign, many [children] are born with it, so we Chris summed up the trip by they took a 12-hour bus trip to Nairobi, wanted to get that information across reminding the team, “While in Africa Kenya, for the second part of their to them.” we were able to see God’s power, and assignment. On Saturday morning they The following Sunday the four the God who lives in Africa lives in hosted a district leadership conference teams were sent to different churches your country, too.” at the Nairobi Central Church of the to experience worship in various ways Nazarene. including Central Nazarene Church, a Chaltyr church example of missional orientation

By Zee Kleshchar and Gina Grate Pottenger Eurasia Region Communications

It is often said that missions should be at the heart of every local church. That can certainly be said of Grace Church of the Nazarene, in Chaltyr, . Although this congregation of about 100 is situated in a small town of only 16,000, it is touching people not only in nearby and cities, but people in and from many other nations. Situated near the Sea of Azov, the town of Chaltyr’s history goes back to 1779 when the town was founded by Armenians who lived in the area. Grace Church of the Nazarene was established in October of 1992. It consists mainly of Armenians as well as people of other nationalities, professions, and ages who are united in their love for Christ and each other. Vasiliy Mamchitz, the pastor, and his wife Svetlana, were the founders of Grace Church. The congregation, which started with four to five people, invited a group of believers from the To Samaria has gone on to plant Bible study immigrants’ home country. They sang “The “Ark” Church in Rostov- ministries in six surrounding villages folk songs as well as Christian ones, on-Don, a plant of Chaltyr, recently and towns, including Bataisk, Morskoy then testified about their lives and how celebrated its third anniversary. Thirty Chulek, Hapry, . There is also God has saved and worked in them. to 45 people (adults and children) a service meeting in the nearby town The evening ended with a prayer for attend every Sunday. During the week, of Rostov-on-Don, and one in a village the Christians in their home countries. there are two Bible study groups. They called Chkalovo. “We feel the call to spread the Good are praying for God to provide them a “We all have different education News to another nearby region called building soon. levels, ages, tastes and experiences. Myasnikovsky and we believe that In March 2012, Chaltyr planted However, there is something that God is preparing a glorious revival for another church in Chkalovo. The unites us. It is God’s love and faith in people there,” Vasiliy said. ministry is led by Pastor Arsen Him. Possibly, this is what makes us and there are 12 to 15 people who different from other people on the To Judea come every Sunday (out of the total street and makes us somewhat special,” On a more local level, the church population of 254). The ladies from said Pastor Vasiliy. organizes events at some of the the church in Chaltyr are helping with public schools to promote preventive children’s ministry. Chkalovo Church To the ends of the earth measures against drug abuse and also has a prayer group. The church sent a missionary, trafficking. Those who have gone Sixteen to 25 youth meet once Brother Hacheres, to Israel to start through addiction rehab programs a week, and host a separate weekly a drug rehab ministry there as well share what drug abuse is like in real prayer meeting. They have worked as to serve people on the street. life, to counteract how it is glamorized in child centers, evangelizing and Hacheres has been conducting a Bible in TV shows and movies. witnessing to people who work there, study group, in addition to a Saturday The Sunday school began at the as well as to the kids, even cleaning the meeting in Sderot. Besides that, he also same time as the church, and today orphanage. The young people are also ministered to the drug addicts in Tel sees about 20 children every week. engaged in drama ministry, worship, Aviv and helped out at a rehab center The current Sunday school teachers ministry to children in an orphanage in Ashkelon. are young adults who grew up in the and at the children’s club, cleaning the In 2012, the Chaltyr church started Chaltyr church’s Sunday school. church hall, and evangelizing. evangelistic work among immigrants “It is incredible to observe how “Our God is an amazing God who from nearby countries, distributing these young people are on fire for the is performing miracles even in our day Christian books and JESUS film DVDs kids, praying and sharing the Gospel and age, using His faithful people as among them in their native languages. with them, setting a good Christian witnesses of His incredible love for the The church held an outreach event and example for the little ones.” humankind,” Vasiliy said. Meet your communications team

Gina Grate Pottenger joined Matt Lee joined the team in Zarah Miller joined the Eurasia Communications in April 2013 as a writer, designer Eurasia Communications team February 2010, coming from and videographer. in September to be our new Nazarene Global Mission where videographer. she worked in communications He attended Olivet Nazarene since February 2007. University and, after his first A country girl at heart, she was semester, realized that God raised in Warrington, Indiana, Gina manages the written was calling him into pastoral but attended Olivet Nazarene publications for the Eurasia ministry. He graduated in 1994 University in Bourbonnais, Region, in addition to with a B.A. in religion and was Illinois. Zarah graduated in serving as the managing a youth pastor for 16 years. 2011 from Olivet with a B.S. in editor of Engage magazine mass communications with a (www.engagemagazine. He was a delegate for General concentration in TV & video com), the global mission NYI Convention in Orlando, production and a minor in online publication for the Florida, in 2009, and it was theatre. After graduation, she denomination. there that he accepted the call to continued to work with her get involved in missions. Prior alma mater in media, as well as Gina has a bachelor’s degree to Eurasia, he was a missionary doing wedding videography. in English literature from in New Zealand. Northwest Nazarene University Her passion for storytelling, and is married to Andrew He will serve in Eurasia until travel, and meeting people is Pottenger. April 2014. what brought her here today. Mission videos WFor a number of years, English mission-themed service speaking churches in the Eurasia or Sunday school class. Region have been receiving copies of Individuals with a passion Global Mission DVD, a collection of for global missions may video mission stories from Nazarenes also have an interest in around the world. The collection online streaming these is distributed three times per year. compelling stories of God Churches often show the videos in at work in the people and mission-themed services or in small communities through the groups or mission meetings. Church of the Nazarene. The format of the package is To look up the stories changing from a plastic DVD case to from each DVD volume, a paper envelope. While the DVD will visit http://web.nazarene. continue to be shipped to the Eurasia org/site/PageNavigator/ Region and distributed to English- Stories_Archive and click speaking churches once or twice a year, on the latest volume. It all churches can access these videos will display the mission immediately through the Internet. As story videos from that soon as they are released, the videos DVD. are posted for download or to watch at the Nazarene Media Library, www.medialibrary.nazarene.org. NMI presidents may want to download the videos to share in a Living Mission Several years ago, Nazarene Missions International – the public relations heart of Global Mission in every local church – developed an English-language mission curriculum called Living Mission. This video-based, multi-media kit is designed to provoke thoughtful discussion about the challenges, hard questions and reality of missions around the world today. Each kit contains six lessons with videos, discussion questions, audio media, hands-on projects called CAUSES, and other resources. Your church family, NYI groups, NMI, Sunday school classes, or other small groups can use these resources the local church. website where pieces of the curriculum to disciple, involve and mentor future Living Mission is a resource and extras are available to the general mission leaders for God’s mission in available for purchase through public. the nations. Nazarene Publishing House, and once Learn more and view video trailers Living Mission is especially purchased, can be downloaded online at www.livingmission.com. appealing to youth, young adults and for use in the local church. emerging generations who are taking There is also a section called on leadership in NMI and missions in “freebies” on the Living Mission “The LORD is Goodbye, Dennis Mohn my light and my Dennis Mohn salvation - whom has served as the shall I fear? The Eurasia Region Communications LORD is the coordinator since stronghold of my life November 2009. He recently accepted a - of whom shall I be full-time pastorate afraid?” (NIV) position at the Psalm 27:1 Vlaardingen Church of the Nazarene in the Netherlands, and has resigned as All content in Where Worlds communications Meet is permissible to be coordinator to republished within the Church focus his attention of the Nazarene. Simply include on being a pastor. this statement: “Reprinted Thank you for your with permission from Where leadership, Dennis! Worlds Meet; October 2013 issue, available at eurasiaregion.org.” www.eurasiaregion.org

Prayer Requests

• Please pray for God’s continued blessing on the growth and discipleship occurring at the Nazarene churches in Chaltyr and Rostov, Russia. Ask God to pour out His Holy Spirit on the people, and bring many new people to faith. Where Worlds Meet is the monthly newsletter for the Eurasia Region Please pray for the youth of the British Isles. Ask God to raise up leaders, and • of the Church of the Nazarene. To develop their faith in passion and maturity. Pray for those whom God is calling to missions and ministry to answer that call. subscribe, e-mail communications@ eurasiaregion.org or visit • Please pray for the youth and children in Armenia who attended summer camp. www.eurasiaregion.org. Ask God to continue blessing those who accepted Christ or are growing into We welcome stories, photos and leadership positions. Ask God to turn them into passionate disciples of Christ. prayer requests. E-mail submissions to [email protected] • Please pray for the person whom God is raising up to become the Eurasia Region’s new director. Pray that those in the selection process will recognize Dennis Mohn, Communications God’s choice, and that God will empower and equip the new director for Coordinator leadership. [email protected] Gina Pottenger, Editor in Chief • Christ commands us to pray for more workers for the harvest in Luke 10:2: [email protected] “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, Matt Lee, Writer therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (NIV). Pray that God [email protected] would raise up and equip new workers across the region. Zarah Miller, Video Producer [email protected] Gustavo Crocker, Regional Director [email protected]

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