Nazarenes in the News is a compilation of online news articles featuring Nazarene churches or church members.

Oregon church organizes distribution center for fire victims

Lincoln City, Oregon

(The News Guard, 20 October) They say the more you give, the more you’ll gain. And for many in Lincoln County, the calling to selflessly help others has shown through in light of the devastation of the Echo Mountain Complex fire.

Among those compassionate individuals is Reverend Kelli Westmark of the Lincoln City Church of the Nazarene.

During her nine years as the pastor of the Lincoln City Church, Westmark said she has never seen anything like the wildfire event that took place in north Lincoln County last month.

“I got a call Monday (Sept. 7) at midnight, and people from the church were saying ‘my mountain’s on fire,’ so the church became an evacuation site for a few nights until we were evacuated ourselves,” Westmark recalled. “Wednesday morning, everyone was in panic mode, so we loaded up all the food from the church and evacuated with everyone else.”

Since then, the church has been active in listening to the stories of tragic loss and doing whatever they can to help those in need. Westmark said in the days following the evacuation, they gave away nearly all of their food supplies to displaced residents. Then, a good samaritan sparked the idea to create a donation and distribution site to continue helping others.

For the rest of the story, click here.

 

Texas pastor raises money for cancer research

Harker Heights, Texas

(Harker Heights Herald, 16 October) When Harker Heights resident Rick Moore, pastor of the Killeen Church of the Nazarene, and his wife, Emily, received a phone call from a non-congregant with a request to visit her grandson in the hospital, they didn’t blink. They simply got into their car and traveled to Baylor Scott and White McLane Children’s Medical Center in Temple to meet young A.J. Patterson, then age 2.

That was back in 2016. The grandmother, who at the time lived in Kansas, had contacted the Moores because the Patterson family were new to the area, the husband deployed, and A.J. was very ill. It wasn’t until January of 2017 that A.J. was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

“He fought for about three years,” Emily said.

Flash-forward to June of this year, when A.J., now 6, received his final treatment. The Patterson family have since become members of Moore’s church, and A.J. is cancer-free.

Then, in August, Moore said he was on Facebook and saw a post that mentioned The Great Cycle Challenge, an organization that, for one month a year (this year it was held in September), raises money for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. Interested parties sign up, register the number of miles they plan to ride, and raise money through donations.

“I didn’t just go to the (Great Cycle Challenge) website,” said Moore. “I simply set a goal of 300 miles and originally $500.”

For the rest of the story, click here.

 

Oregon church deals with aftermath of wildfires

Molalla, Oregon

(Canby Herald, 23 October) Flames have disappeared, people and animals have returned from evacuations, and property that burned is being addressed.

But though the wildfires that impacted this area are gone, their sting isn't just affecting the buildings and homes that burned. Molalla Nazarene Church served as a hub where first responders gathered and organized during the blazes, as well as a site where those who were displaced rallied before everyone was forced to evacuate Molalla.

Upon returning to the church after the fire danger had passed, Pastor Todd Joyner and his congregation were hit by the damage done to their church even though not a lick of flame touched it. Smoke damage left its own mark on the church, requiring repair.

For the rest of the story, click here.

 

Michigan church uses benevolence fund to help the community during COVID-19

Hillsdale, Michigan

(Hillsdale Collegian, 1 October) Pastor Mike Prince is helping people in Hillsdale with challenges from COVID-19.

Prince, who has 29 years of pastoral experience, has been the pastor at Hillsdale Community Nazarene Church for two years and has seen a greater financial need in the community since the pandemic. With unemployment, many people are forced to ask for help.

“I think the people who are hurting in the community are reaching out more than they ever did,” Prince said.

In response, 20% of the offerings that come into the church now go to the benevolence fund, which are used to meet physical, spiritual, and financial needs. Prince says that anyone can ask for help, even if they are from outside the church community.

Suzette Gow, the administrative assistant and treasurer of Nazarene church, said the benevolence fund has helped provide food, gasoline, and even money for utility bills to people in the community.

For the rest of the story, click here.

 

Kentucky church offers free flu shots as part of 'Give it Away Sunday'

Georgetown, Kentucky

(News-Graphic, 23 October) Georgetown Church of the Nazarene is offering free flu shots as a part of “Give it Away Sunday” to those in the community whose insurance doesn’t cover it, Pastor Mike Justice said. Flu shots will be given out 1 November from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

If someone has insurance and the insurance covers the flu shot, they will go through the provider, Justice said. But if someone does not have insurance or it is not covered, the church will cover the cost.

To register for the shots, people can go to www.gtownnaz.org or call the church office.

Grassroots Pharmacy out of Lexington is providing the flu shots, and community health nurses will be helping administer the shots along with some nurses from the Nazarene congregation.

For the rest of the story, click here.

 

Michigan church provides free Wi-FI for students without internet

Richfield, Michigan

(The Davison Index, 15 October) As students continue learning remotely, Richfield Church of the Nazarene is opening its doors to provide free Wi-Fi access for students without internet connection.

Richfield is offering free high-speed internet access Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m.-8 p.m.  The church has five classrooms Wi-Fi ready for individual families.

For the rest of the story, click here.

 

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--Compiled by Nazarene News