August 2014

Our Global Church

Rencetly, I attended my first General Board session for the Church of the Nazarene. I must tell you, I was impressed! Of course the organization and execution of the meeting by the many dedicated staff members of the General Secretary's Office impressed me. That goes without saying. But that's not what I'm talking about. Several key impressions surfaced in the meeting and social times that greatly impressed me about our global church.

Starting Over in Cuba

The time, January 2001. The place, Havana. The event, the Cuba District's 32nd annual district assembly. As delegates gather to elect a new district superintendent, 33-year-old Leonel Lopez, the rector of the Nazarene Seminary, washes the seminary car because he is to pick up Ruben Fernandez, the regional educational director, at the airport.

Leonel never finishes the task. The district secretary interrupts him, "Congratulations, you've just been elected district superintendent. General Superintendent William Prince wants you to come into the assembly so he can meet you."

Migdalis Palmero Lopez

How did you come to faith?

I made a personal commitment to follow Christ at the age of 12, but my family always made Christian service a part of our lives. For 27 years churches were closed, prayer meetings were for outreach and family times.

Once you had a church, where was it?

My father arranged to borrow another church building, which was open, and we had to walk 20 miles (32K) there and back. Others joined in the walk, regardless of rain or mud. We made the walk fun.

What is a skill you wish you had?