Richard Sowder began serving August 1 as the new national coordinator for Nazarene Disaster Response.

Sowder joins the USA/Canada Regional Office to work collaboratively with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries USA/Canada under the direction of its coordinator, Althea C. Taylor.

Sowder brings a broad range of skills and leadership to this role. He has served the Global Church of the Nazarene for many years as a pastor in Oklahoma and Kansas and as a district superintendent in Australia.

He has also worked for Nazarene headquarters as the human resource director as well as in other leadership roles under World Mission, now Global Mission.

Richard and his wife, Ellen, were instrumental in providing early leadership in the development of RV Work & Witness, now known as ROAM. They helped to develop that ministry using RV members to coordinate and build churches in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, and to volunteer service at campgrounds and churches throughout the U.S.

Richard also served for 20 years in the United States Army, retiring with the rank of major. In 2007, he retired from the pastorate but remains active in the local church and on his district in Oklahoma, where he has served as the Nazarene Missions International president since 2004.

He continues to serve on the boards of various nonprofit, community, and ministry organizations and as the president of the Board of Directors for the Family Health Center of Southern Oklahoma.

“Richard Sowder is a welcomed addition to the team,” Taylor said. “He brings strong leadership skills and a heart for ministry. In a time when the Church of the Nazarene is facing some of its most challenging times financially, Richard brings a spirit of collaboration and a passion to see the church work together to serve those who have been impacted by devastating circumstances. Richard’s vision for mobilizing the church across ministry disciplines and effectively using resources to meet the needs of the hurting is an asset to how we are leading in compassionate ministries.”

Sowder assumes the role held by Steve Creech, who served faithfully as the national director and led during the church’s response to Hurricane Katrina. Creech transitioned from his role as national director in April 2011, but remained in an interim position until a new coordinator could be named.

“A Christ-centered Samaritan mindset calls us to energetically meet the needs of the hurting, and the broad scope of lifestyle-compassion offers limitless prospects for service,” Sowder said. “As a ministry opportunity, Nazarene Disaster Response resonates perfectly with my understanding of Jesus’ teaching of the work of His Church. My personal experiences in various Christian service including disaster response and compassionate ministries have nurtured a strong desire to be personally involved and further to help match similarly committed Nazarenes with the work our Lord has laid before them.

“I hope to honor my Lord by serving in a coordinative role to encourage and maximize our NDR resource capacity—building relationships, developing partnerships, offering effective training and team building, and building on the accomplishments of such as J.V. Morsch, Steve Creech, and Mark Berry in recent years, to continue to facilitate the great heritage of our church to offer a heartfelt, passionate response in times of disaster that is timely, visible, viable, and tangible.”

J.V. Morsch, former district superintendent, preceded both Creech and Sowder as a liaison for Nazarene Disaster Response prior to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

For more information on how you can get involved with NDR call 800-306-9950 or visit the website, www.nazarenecompassion.org and click on NDR.
--Nazarene Compassionate Ministries USA/Canada