Opportunities for the Church in a Post-election Season Scott Sauls, author of “A Gentle Answer: Our Secret Weapon in an Age of Us Against Them” says: “I think it’s wonderful that whenever we have a presidential election, the next season we go into is a season of Advent, which emphasizes that the government will be on Jesus’ shoulders and of the increase of his reign in government there will be no end. He is the one that’s not voted out. He is the one that’s not dethroned. He is the one that doesn’t have a term limit. Read More Report on Abba Ministries God is continuing to change lives through Celebrate Recovery, Abba Homes and Manna House. Watch this short video and rejoice in the God’s work through your Compassionate Ministries Center. WATCH VIDEO Manna House is still distributing food using a drive-thru format. They are serving over 120......

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Be Strong and Courageous! Eight months of dealing with Covid-19 has taken a toll on us emotionally, physically, relationally, financially and spiritually. The suffering and uncertainly are real. We have had our share of personal anxiety and interpersonal quarreling. I have been reading in the book of Joshua this week and have been reminded that having our lives turned upside down is not unique to people who live in 2020! The children of Israel had left Egypt with an amazing act of deliverance, but then they wandered in the desert for 40 years (8 months of Covid-19 is hard enough!). During these 40 years they often grew angry at their leaders and questioned God’s ability to provide. As the book of Joshua begins, the children of Israel are told to take another bold step – to cross the Jordan River, trusting God to give them victory over the fortressed......

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Jesus Is Building His Church Mark Bane, USA/Canada Director of Evangelism/New Starts It seems the topic of most conversations, news shows, articles and books in the past eight months have been COVID-19 related, and for good reason. As I was praying this morning for our church and your leadership, I was directed to a passage. Occasionally I read various translations to get a comprehensive view of perspectives on a text. This one from the Jerusalem Bible helped today and I pray it encourages you as well. Matthew 16:18b, “I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.” JB A few thoughts that encouraged me as I read: He will build His Church: Although these are challenging times, there have been much worse times and He built His Church in those times. Tertullian reminded the Church, “the blood of the Martyrs was the......

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Pastors, We Love You Excerpt from the letter of the Board of General Superintendents to pastors and leaders on Oct. 16 Love one another. It is this love that should define the Christian community. This is the month of October and the time that we celebrate pastor appreciation. I think that holy love ought to be seen in the ways in which we love and appreciate our pastors. This year has probably been the most challenging year in ministry that our pastors have ever faced. In a brief period of time, everything about how we “do” church changed. Our pastors had to learn how to minister without getting to see their congregations face to face. Week after week, they have had to preach into a camera lens, wondering whether God was using them to touch the lives of their people. Even as we have gathered again in worship, your......

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Dear NEO family,  “I have to confess, it has been hard for me to pray for revival in America with faith. It seems like we are too broken and too apathetic about the things of God.” These were my words to the men gathered for the Promise Keepers Virtual Event a few weeks ago. It is not that I don’t long for revival, but I honestly have not been confident of a third great awakening sweeping across our land. But revival sure is needed! Your District Advisory Council affirmed that the number one priority for the NEO District for this year is corporate and individual repentance, which is always a prelude to revival. Little did we know how that emphasis would be sweeping across our world in the upcoming months. “The Return”, a call for 120 cities and 120 thousand believers to be a part of a Global Upper Room......

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The Call to Repentance I have been reading Our Watchword & Song: The Centennial History of the Church of the Nazarene this week. The Texas Holiness Association, which later merged with the Church of the Nazarene, issued the following statement applying holiness to the most deplorable social situation facing the nation, race. Read More More About Repentance The Benham Brothers (Jason and David) shared these insights that relate to repentance at the recent Promise Keepers’ Virtual Event: Boldness without Brokenness makes a Bully. Brokenness without Boldness makes a Bystander. Brokenness with Boldness makes a Bridge between heaven and earth. Mark Bane, Evangelism and New Start Director, USA/Canada CON shared on a recent visit to our district: “In many areas, the church needs to repent for the sin of omission – we have been guilty of neglecting the lost. We are content speaking to the church and not upset about......

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The Call to Repentance An attitude of repentance is crucial in our initial coming to Christ for salvation. The New Testament apostles called both Jews and Greeks to respond in “repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). To become a Christian, a person must repent – turn away from – an old way of life and turn to Christ for forgiveness and salvation. Yet repentance does not end there. Read More The Return Your District Advisory Council affirmed that the number one priority for the NEO District for this year is corporate and individual repentance. That is also the heart of many church leaders around the world. “The Return” is a call for 120 cities and 120 thousand believers to be a part of a Global Upper Room and pray, fast and wait on the Lord for 10 days, Sept. 19–28. During 10 days of a......

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