Long-term holistic solutions - Districts Nazarene Missions ...

Verne Ward III
new Global
Mission director
By NCN News
Overland Park, Kansas - The Church
of the Nazarene has a new leader
for Global Mission.
Verne Ward III, director of the
denomination’s
Asia-Pacific
Region, was
elected director
of Global
Mission during
a plenary
session at
the church’s
General Board
meetings on
February 24.
Ward succeeds Louie E. Bustle
as director. Bustle, who has served
as director of World/Global Mission
for the past 18 years, is retiring this
month.
“We are excited about the
election of Dr. Ward,” Bustle said.
“He is a great leader and has served
the church in missions well.”
Part of the Global Ministry
Center’s Senior Leadership Team,
the Global Mission director
oversees all missions endeavors in
the denomination across the globe.
The Board of General
Superintendents elected Ward as
Asia-Pacific regional director in
2005. Prior to the 2005 election
Verne and his wife, Natalie, were
missionaries for 21 years in Papua
New Guinea and Verne served as
director for the Melanesia Field for
11 of those years.
-- Reprinted with permission from
NCN News. u
Y E A R 9 , I S S U E 2 • M A R C H 2 0 1 2
H E L P I N G
HANDS
Helping Hands supports children in a child development center in Bangladesh. Helping Hands paid to
rebuild it after a cyclone hit Southern Bangladesh. Photo courtesy Helping Hands e.V.
By Dorli Gschwandtner
Eurasia Region Communications
When a cyclone slammed into
southern Bangladesh, it
flooded a river that swept
away Kakoli’s family home and all their
belongings, and
caused damage and
loss throughout their
small coastal village.
Kakoli’s father was
desperate. How
would he feed his
family?
A local relief ministry that partners
with Helping Hands e.V., in Germany,
was ready to help. For six weeks they
assisted Kakoli’s family and their
“We’re so glad that Kakoli
can attend the CDC. She’s
learning so much and is
also getting healthier...”
~ Kakoli’s mother
Celebrating 20
years of practical
compassion
neighbors with food aid. Later Kakoli’s
father decided to go to the capital to
look for a job. Before he left the village,
he enrolled his daughter in the local
child development center (CDC), partly
funded by Helping Hands, which also
paid to rebuild the center after the
cyclone.
“We’re so glad that
Kakoli can attend the
CDC,” her mother
says. “She’s learning
so much and is also
getting healthier,
as she receives a
nutritious meal in the
center every day.”
And Kakoli is happy: “In the center
we also dance and sing and hear stories. I
really enjoy that!”
see “HANDS” • page 4

Abhaya’s Story
Western Nepal -- For nine days,
Abhaya could not sleep.
The elderly missionary
named John had turned her thoughts and
beliefs upside down.
Abhaya was devout in her worship of
numerous gods in western Nepal, and
her father-in-law was a priest in the local
religion. Her husband and her parents
were also devout worshippers of many
gods. And until she met John, Abhaya,
who was 26 at the time, had never given
any other spiritual path a second thought.
John had stayed in her home as a guest
for a week, and during that time he had
talked to her about Jesus and asked her
to consider following Him. He’d bought
her a Bible, but she wasn’t interested in
reading it. Then he invited her to join
him on one of his home visits, and she
agreed.
John took her to the home of a man
with a mental illness. The man was very
sick, but none of his family members
were willing to care for him. Abhaya
watched as John prayed over the man,
who was confined to a bed. Startled, she
watched as the sick man gave a giant
yawn, then sat up, suddenly full of energy
and healthy. John then bathed the man,
gave him a haircut, trimmed his nails and
brought his physical hygiene up to date.
Abhaya was moved by the missionary’s
By
Gina Pottenger
Eurasia Region
Communications
gentle care for the sick, lonely man.
Before John left, he told her that he was
praying and fasting for her.
Now he was gone, and Abhaya was
alone in her house, as her husband,
Dinesh, was out of the country on
business. And she sat alone on her bed
at night, torn between her dedication to
her religious beliefs and her doubt over
whether there might be something true
about this Jesus.
On the ninth night, around 1 a.m., she
was sitting on the
bed with her eyes
closed, thinking
and questioning for
what seemed like the
thousandth time. A
white, bright glow
filled her eyelids, and
she opened them
in alarm. But looking around the empty
bedroom, there was no light.
That’s when she knew: God had given
her an answer. She felt light, almost like
she could float away. Abhaya found the
Bible that John had bought for her and
began to read it.
The next time she talked to her
husband on the phone, she told him that
she now believed in Jesus and wanted to
go to church. Dinesh refused. Yet, she
couldn’t stay away, and soon she found
Abhaya was moved by the
missionary’s gentle care for
the sick, lonely man. Before
John left, he told her that
he was praying and fasting
for her.
YOUR story
OUR story
GOD’S story
herself at the independent church John
had been involved with and prayed to
accept Christ.
When Dinesh finally came home, she
“preached” to him. He had been exposed
to the story of Jesus Christ while he was
working abroad. So it only took two
months before he accepted Jesus as his
own savior.
Things weren’t so easy with other
family members, however. Her mother
cried and cried. Her father was less
disturbed, but not
supportive. It was
most difficult with
Dinesh’s father,
Kalash, however.
As a religious
priest, having his
son and daughterin-law
abandon the
family religion to follow just one God was
like a slap in his face, even though they
tried to share with him.
Kalash, who lived with the couple
since his wife had died from a snake bite,
directed most of his anger at Abhaya,
verbally tormenting her and criticizing
everything she did. He refused to eat the
food she prepared, and grew angry when
she closed the family’s small grocery store
to attend worship services and other
church activities. see “ABHAYA” • page 3

ABHAYA: Other family members accept Christ
from page 2
One day, Kalash gathered the
neighbors around him and, in an attempt
to embarrass Abhaya, declared that he
could no longer live with his son and
daughter-in-law because of their new
religion. However, he didn’t actually move
out.
No matter what Kalash said or did,
Abhaya continued to
dutifully carry out all
the responsibilities
that the Nepalese
culture expected of a
wife – and more. Her
quiet perseverance
began to have an
effect.
Three years ago, through Abhaya’s
and Dinesh’s persistent witness, Kalash
accepted Christ as his savior. The
experience transformed him. Although
in Nepal there are strict barriers between
what constitutes “women’s work” and
“men’s work,” Kalash cheerfully helps
Abhaya with her work, despite the
cultural boundaries that would ordinarily
prohibit him from doing so.
The family knew Rev. Manu, a
Nazarene leader in Nepal. He introduced
them to the Nazarene denomination,
and the family helped to plant the first
Nazarene church in western Nepal.
Dinesh is now a pastor of three
Nazarene churches that they have
planted, and is the area coordinator
for western Nepal. Abhaya teaches
Sunday school, and also teaches in a
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries child
The Nazarene Youth Conference (NYC)
for the Eurasia Region will be held 31 July
to 5 August 2012 at a seminary campus in
Chennai, India.
The conference is open to anyone
from ages 15 to 29 who is part of
Nazarene Youth International (NYI) in
Eurasia.
The theme for the event is “C5 –
Called – Christ – Community – Cause –
Cxxxx.” It is an invitation to explore what
it means to be “Called to be like Christ,
loving others in our world” in such a mix
of cultures and perspectives.
There will be services focused on
worshipping God as well as seminars
related to the theme and a range of other
topics. There will also be free time for
Three years ago, through
Abhaya’s and Dinesh’s
persistent witness, Kalash
accepted Christ as his
savior. The experience
transformed him.
development center (CDC).
Although it is illegal to provide
Christian teaching in the CDC, they
are allowed to integrate Bible stories
into the lessons for illustration. As a
result, about half of the children who
receive educational assistance at the
CDC now also attend the Nazarene
church. Recently she
was elected NMI
president at one
church.
The missionary
named John is gone,
but Abhaya carries
on his ministry to
the sick.
“Many sick people come in my house,”
she said. She provides healing care and
invites them to accept Christ for spiritual
healing as well. “Many of them come
from far away.”
It’s been nine years since Abhaya
sports and sightseeing.
Participants are welcome and
encouraged to join one of the ministry
teams that will be lending a hand around
India in the week(s) following the event;
members of the ministry teams must be
part of the conference.
The conference cost depends on where
you are coming from. Email NYI at nyi@
eurasiaregion.org stating your country of
residence to get a quote. The fee covers
all meals, planned activities and ground
transportation from your point of arrival
in Chennai. A non-refundable deposit
of $25 is due with all applications; the
remaining fee is due at registration on
31 July 2012. Download and fill out the
registration and medical release forms
accepted Christ. Today, her parents are
both Christians. She reflects that it was
Joshua 1: 6-9 that gave her the courage to
become a follower of Jesus:
6 “Be strong and courageous, because
you will lead these people to inherit the
land I swore to their ancestors to give
them. 7 Be strong and very courageous.
Be careful to obey all the law my servant
Moses gave you; do not turn from it to
the right or to the left, that you may be
successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this
Book of the Law always on your lips;
meditate on it day and night, so that you
may be careful to do everything written
in it. Then you will be prosperous and
successful. 9 Have I not commanded
you? Be strong and courageous. Do not
be afraid; do not be discouraged, for
the LORD your God will be with you
wherever you go.” u
All names have been changed to protect
security.
Eurasia Region NYC 2012 registration open
and return them to the NYC team or to
your area NYI leader.
Those from other regions who would
like to attend should enquire by email. If
a participant is not 18 on 31 July 2012, they
must identify which adult attendee will be
responsible for them during the event.
NYC is a gathering of Nazarene youth
from a specific world area. They are held
all over the globe, at different times, with
varying numbers of people from different
places. Young people from different
backgrounds come together to make
friends and to celebrate together what
God is doing in their lives
This year’s event will be the third
regional NYC for the Eurasia Region.
Learn more at eurasiaNYI.org u

HANDS: Driven by compassion
from page 1
It is these individual stories of renewed
hope and loving provision in the face of
disaster or deprivation that are standard
for Helping Hands e.V.
The Nazarene-affiliated nonprofit is
celebrating its 20th year.
Driven by compassion
Nazarenes in Gelnhausen, Germany,
founded Helping Hands in 1992 because
during holidays and on Work & Witness
trips they had seen suffering and knew:
“We cannot just turn away.”
“So what can we do?” they asked, and
began to look for practical solutions.
They started with some aid shipments
to Eastern Europe, providing relief for
needy families, passing on a smile with a
bowl of soup. But soon they understood:
A bag of food and a pair of shoes is not
enough. What people need is longterm,
sustainable assistance and real
Working with
almost exclusively
indigenous staff
ensures that
projects are
culturally relevant
and effective.
transformation.
Twenty years later, Helping Hands has
grown into a multifaceted organization
with a large number of volunteers and
partners the world over, supporting an
increasing number of projects primarily in
South Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa.
Helping Hands e.V. is an
independent and separately registered
organization, but functions as Nazarene
Compassionate Ministries (NCM) in
Germany, ministering in partnership with
NCM and the Church of the Nazarene
International. This relationship gives the
organization access to a large network
of local NCM ministries and Nazarene
congregations in more than 150 countries.
The existing global structure enables
Helping Hands to help quickly, efficiently
and cost-effectively, especially in
disaster situations. Working with almost
exclusively indigenous staff ensures
that projects are culturally relevant and
effective.
In Germany, Helping Hands works
with and through local churches of
the Nazarene to organize fundraising
activities, arrange personal involvement,
raise awareness, advocate and assist
practical NCM ministry in Germany and
implement compassionate concern.
Through the Child Sponsorship
Program, which since 2007 has
experienced a period of particularly
strong growth, Helping Hands has
arranged assistance for more than 100
children in 15 countries. In addition,
hundreds of children are assisted in child
development centers in several countries,
transforming not only children’s lives but
their families and whole communities as
well.
Initially sporadic aid shipments to
one country in Eastern Europe have
developed into a regular Christmas
shipment whose cargo increases by about
20% every year and now reaches two
see “SUSTAINABLE” • page 5
On the web
The Helping Hands website
is available in German (www.
helpinghandsev.org) and English
(www.helpinghandsev.org/eng/
index.html) and offers a variety
of information about projects,
updates, stories of beneficiaries
as well as picture galleries and
videos of some projects, ideas for
fundraisers/activities, and material
for churches (German site only).
•
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•
Meet Gita
Helping Hands staff
and volunteers from
Gelnhausen, Germany,
load a truck filled
with aid packages
for Eastern Europe
as part of their
Christmas shipment.
Photo courtesy Helping
Hands e.V.
Gita is from Bangladesh. Her
husband is a day laborer and
doesn’t earn much, so Gita had
to work as a domestic helper.
But they still didn’t have enough
to pay for their three children’s
education.
Gita was very frustrated. She had
always dreamed of a happy life.
Then she heard about the child
development center (CDC) in her
village, one of the CDCs supported
by Helping Hands. She enrolled her
two boys and soon the children’s
lives started changing.
But Gita was still unhappy. One
day a CDC animator advised her to
join a self-help group. There she
began to save and soon received a
loan to start a micro business. So
she bought an old bicycle for her
husband and established a small
transport business. Soon she had
earned enough to repay her loan
and cover her family’s expenses.
Now Gita is content: “We have
enough money for the whole
family now. The children receive a
good education in the center. And
I have a big dream,” she says, “I
want to buy a van!”
Note: a “van” in Bangladesh is
a small transport vehicle that
consists of a bicycle with a loading
platform attached to it.

SUSTAINABLE: Long-term holistic solutions
from page 4
countries each Christmas.
Helping Hands’ mission is to practice
Christ-like love and compassion by
serving the poorest of the poor with
integrity and professionalism while
seeking long-term solutions. Together
with its partners, the organization
provides assistance regardless of race,
religion or ethnicity and all its programs
are locally planned, implemented and
“Now I’m a successful
businesswoman!
I’m so grateful for
the self-help group.
My life is totally
transformed!”
~ Nomita
evaluated so that people are empowered
to help themselves rather than becoming
dependent or remaining in dependency.
As no administrative costs are
deducted in Germany, 100% of project
donations reach those people that need a
helping hand.
Long-term, holistic solutions
In 20 years, more than 200 projects in
over 40 countries – that’s Helping Hands’
legacy so far.
All Helping Hands projects strongly
emphasize holistic development: not just
“a bowl of rice” but long-term assistance
with real transformation. Projects need
to address all of a person’s needs in order
to change society and effect personal
transformation.
Such as in the case of Nomita. Her
husband is a day laborer and doesn’t
earn much. So they faced a difficult
decision: pay for their daughter’s wedding
or continue the younger son’s school
education. They couldn’t afford both.
Then Nomita joined a self-help group
as part of a community development
project funded by Helping Hands and
the German Ministry of Economic
Cooperation & Development. She
attended useful trainings and also
received several small loans with which
she established a roadside tea shop.
In the shop she earns enough to repay
her loans and also cover all her family’s
expenses.
“Now I’m a successful
businesswoman!” Nomita says proudly.
“I’m so grateful for the self-help group.
My life is totally transformed!”
Helping Hands is not only significant
to those who receive help from the
organization; it offers a meaningful and
effective way for those who give to assist
people far away who they otherwise could
not touch except through prayer.
For instance, one middle-aged woman
from Gelnhausen said, “My ancestors
[roots] are from Romania; I’ve also visited
there to see the area where they lived. I’m
really excited that through the Helping
Hands Christmas shipment I can do
something to help my distant relatives!”
Reaching out with compassion,
serving with integrity, effecting real
transformation ... that’s what Helping
Hands is about: Twenty years of practical
compassion. And the best is yet to come.
u
Left: Nomita is a day-labourer
who joined a Helping Handsfunded
self-help group. She
started a roadside tea shop after
attending trainings and receiving
small loans. Above: The elderly
receive Christmas care parcels
in Bucharest, Romania. Photos
courtesy Helping Hands e.V.
•
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Projects include:
Development: Education and
awareness, health care and
nutrition, programs for economic
development and human rights
advocacy.
Disaster response: Major projects
have included a comprehensive
response after the 2004 Asia-
Pacific tsunami; earthquakes in
Haiti (2010) and Pakistan (2005);
major floods and cyclones in
Pakistan (2011), Bangladesh
(multiple years between 1998
and 2011) and Mozambique
(2000); as well as the long-term
refugee situation in Sri Lanka
(2009) and famine in Eastern
Africa (2011). Projects focus
especially on trauma counseling
and long-term rehabilitation as
well as peace-building in conflict
areas.
Women: Many projects focus on
the empowerment of women
through self-help groups and
improving their social status
through the establishment of
micro businesses.
Children: The majority of
development and disaster
response projects concentrate
on children, through child
development centers,
sponsorships or child-focused
community development.
How can you get
involved?
Donate (generally or towards
specific projects)
Stay informed through the
Helping Hands website, monthly
e-newsletter and other material.
Share information with others.
Get involved in practical ways,
such as packing, sorting or
loading Christmas parcels. (More
information will soon be available
on the website.)

NTC Manchester announces election of new principal
Manchester, United Kingdom -- The Board
of Governors of Nazarene Theological
College, Manchester, England, announced
the election of Deirdre Brower Latz as
the next principal of the college. She will
take on the role following the upcoming
retirement of David McCulloch.
A Canadian by birth, Brower Latz
completed her Bachelor of Arts (pastoral
theology) and Master of Arts (Christian
holiness) at NTC, and her PhD at the
University of Manchester. Her particular
areas of research interest include John
Wesley, Wesleyan theology, contextual
and practical theology, and social justice.
She brings extensive ministry, teaching,
and administrative experience to the
post. Brower Latz has served on the
faculty of NTC, Manchester, since 2000,
most recently as head of the practical
and social theology
subject area. She
served as Global
Nazarene Youth
International
president for
four years and is
in wide demand
as a speaker and
teacher. She was the first woman to serve
as Global NYI president, and the first
non-American to do so.
The election of Brower Latz as the
first woman principal of NTC came on
the same day the first female district
superintendent was elected on the Africa
Region.
“This is another landmark in the
“NTC is blessed to have such
a creative and committed
leader as Deirdre Brower Latz
to take on this role.”
~ David Montgomery
development of the church worldwide,”
said Gustavo Crocker, director for the
Church of the Nazarene’s Eurasia Region.
Brower Latz has pastored in Bristol,
England, and, since 2002, has combined
her NTC post with that of part-time
pastoral team leader at Longsight
Church of the Nazarene, a diverse urban
congregation in Manchester.
Her husband, Andrew, is currently
pursuing research in political theology.
Brower Latz’s election occurred a
century after the ordination of Olive
Winchester in the Parkhead Church of
the Nazarene: the first woman ordained
in any denomination in the United
Kingdom. A conference marking this
event, co-sponsored by NTC, will be held
in Glasgow, Scotland, later this year (May
11-13).
“NTC is blessed
to have such
a creative and
committed leader
as Deirdre Brower
Latz to take on this
role,” said David
Montgomery, chair
of the NTC Board
of Governors. “She embodies the college’s
vision of committed, engaged, articulate
ministry blended with a whole-hearted
love for research that serves the church
and the Kingdom.”
Brower Latz received congratulations
on her election from a multitude
of friends, fellow educators, and
partners in ministry, including General
Deirdre Brower Latz is the first elected woman
principal of Nazarene Theological College in
Manchester. She will take on the role following the
upcoming retirement of David McCulloch. Photo
courtesy NCN News.
Superintendent Jerry D. Porter.
“We celebrate your visionary
Kingdom-of-God leadership over the
years in a variety of assignments,” Porter
wrote. “The Lord has prepared you for
this important leadership role at this
‘school of prophets.’ Be assured of our
enthusiastic and prayerful support!”
-- Reprinted with permission from NTC
Manchester, NCNNews.com u

Plan Easter offering for missions
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}
www.nazarene.org/
easter2012
Promotional tools and information can also be found at:
- http://web.nazarene.org/site/PageNavigator/Easter_2012_Home,
- http://nmi.nazarene.org/10105/story.html, and
- http://www.eurasiaregion.org/index.php/promotion-andinformation/world-evangelism-fund-promotion

“A good name is
more desirable than
great riches; to be
esteemed is better
than silver or gold. ”
~ Proverbs 22:1
(NIV)
All content in Where Worlds
Meet is permissible to be
republished within the
Church of the Nazarene.
Simply include this
statement: “Reprinted
with permission from
Where Worlds Meet; March
2012 issue, available at
eurasiaregion.org.”
Prayer Requests
•
•
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•
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www.eurasiaregion.org
Pray for the NYC Eurasia 2012 in Chennai, India. Pray for the speakers,
workshop leaders, participants and preparation team. Pray that God would open
up doors in finances, vacation time and travel preparations. Pray that through
everything God alone would be glorified and the Holy Spirit would direct each
one involved in this event.
Pray for God to lead Eurasia Nazarenes to give generously to the Easter Mission
offering, April 8, because of what Jesus has done for us.
Pray for the development of writer training workshops and for God to involve
more people in mission communications.
Pray for God to protect and work through Nazarene churches in areas of
turmoil and to shine His light of peace, reconciliation and hope.
Christ commands us to pray for more workers for the harvest in Luke 10:2:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (NIV). Pray that God
would raise up and equip new workers across the region.
Join Eurasia Communications!
Watch Joelle share her experience as a volunteer writer for the Eurasia Region
Communications team in 2011. For two weeks, she traveled across Europe,
reporting on stories of faith and redemption.
If you are interested in volunteering, contact us at whereworldsmeet@eurasiaregion.
org.
Share the link to this video with others who may be interested: www.vimeo.
com/37590816.
Where Worlds Meet is the monthly
newsletter for the Eurasia Region
of the Church of the Nazarene. To
subscribe, e-mail whereworldsmeet@
eurasiaregion.org or visit
www.eurasiaregion.org.
We welcome stories, photos and
prayer requests. E-mail submissions to
whereworldsmeet@eurasiaregion.org
Dennis Mohn, Communications
Coordinator
dmohn@eurasiaregion.org
Gina Pottenger, Editor in Chief
gpottenger@eurasiaregion.org
Ritiksha Lobo, Assistant Editor
rlobo@eurasiaregion.org
Laine Burdick, Video Producer
lburdick@eurasiaregion.org
Gustavo Crocker, Regional Director
gcrocker@eurasiaregion.org
Transforming Our World:
In Christ • Like Christ • For Christ
E u r a s i a R e g i o n a l O f f i c e • P o s t f a c h 1 2 1 7 • 8 2 0 7 S c h a f f h a u s e n , S w i t z e r l a n d
Phone (+49) 7734 93050 • Fax (+49) 7734 930550 • E-mail wherewor ldsmeet@eur asiaregion.or g