April 2013

Hermann Gschwandtner: An Agent of Transformation

HT: How has your role as the South Asia Field strategy coordinator changed your work?

HG: The biggest differences are more administrative work and more concentration on developing the local leaders. While I've always seen this as important, my position demands that I give it more focus.

HT: Give us a quick overview of the South Asia Field.

Should Yours Be a Multi-ethnic Congregation?

Recently, Holiness Today (HT) spoke with Roberto Hodgson (RH), multicultural ministries director for the Church of the Nazarene, about raising awareness of changes in the ethnic and social make-up of communities, and how local churches can reach people as they adjust to life within those communities.

70 Years on the Sea

Two of the widest smiles arrived at our door one Sunday morning, wearing their Sunday best. I was wearing my pajamas. Travis and Katherine Evans had come to my house to pick us up for church. While Katherine assisted my sister, Travis patiently helped me brush my teeth, comb my hair, and get dressed. It takes a lot of love and dedication to invest in children in such a way.

Q&A: Finding a new pastor

Q: What happens when a church has to find a new pastor?

A: When a pastoral vacancy occurs there is a smooth process provided in the Church of the Nazarene. The district superintendent, who knows the church, its history, and the people, is the critical link between the church and a new pastor and will begin formulating a list of potential candidates.

Teens and Bullies: Coping Tips

Bullying happens for so many reasons. Sometimes, kids are hurting and focus their anger on other students. Jealousy is a factor. But sometimes, bullies strike because they want to show off, or someone puts them up to it. Once the process starts, it can be hard to stop it.

Here are some tips to help you know if you are being bullied, and then, what to do about it.

At School

Bullying happens in several forms:

In This Together

In the context of a recent conversation with a student about theology, we discussed the difference it makes when our approach to the Bible and theology emphasizes individuals or the community. Of course, God cares about both. God created us as unique individuals and cares for our individual needs. However, we often overlook the fact that God created us for community.

We are built to be part of a community: namely, the community of God known as the Church.

Talking with Scott Daniels

What is the best part about being raised a preacher's kid?
Every person in the two generations before me, on both sides of my family, are or were Nazarene ministers. The best part is that I can go almost anywhere in the world and automatically have people to whom I have heart and history connections.

While growing up, did you ever get in trouble in church?

The Great Escape

On Good Friday each year in the Philippines, we observed tens of thousands of religious pilgrims walking many miles, passing our seminary campus, to get to a holy site in Antipolo City. "Flagelantes" beat their bare backs with whips till their blood flowed. Some pilgrims struggled to carry heavy crosses. Other presented their bodies to be nailed to crosses.

Margarita's Message

Eight hours north of Guatemala City is a town called Fray. Near Fray is the remote village of Maguila, which does not appear on most Guatemalan maps. Simply getting to Maguila requires a 25-minute car ride on dirt roads or a 50-minute walk through the rugged terrain.

Our group arrived at the village earlier in 2013 on a rented school bus anticipating great things. At the same time, we had no idea what to expect.