SNU PASTOR’S FORUM – RELEVANT RESOURCES FOR MINISTRY
Coming Monday, March 5, 2018 to the campus of SNU, and live streamed to host sites across the South Central Region and beyond, the Spring Pastor’s Forum promises to be packed with great inspiration, practical teaching and resources to encourage you in your calling to ministry.
Presented by the Resource Center for Pastoral Leadership at SNU, the Forum begins at 9:00am and concludes at noon. Cost is only $20 per person for three hours of life-long learning enrichment. Attend on campus in the Royce Brown Business Building, or register to view at a host site, or on your personal computer.
Featured speakers are Dr. Keith Newman, president of SNU, who will be sharing on Live Last Leadership, and Dr. Jim Fitzgerald, chair of SNU’s School of Theology and Ministry, whose topic is Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness: Resources for Preaching and Communion in the Holiness Tradition.
Expanding on the Live Last lifestyle introduced in his inaugural address, Dr. Newman will apply the teaching found in Mark 9:35 to leadership and service in our lives and ministry. Dr. Newman will challenge us to be counter-cultural and Live Last, like Jesus did. Dr. Fitzgerald’s presentation will help pastors provide meaningful connections between their preaching and administration of the sacrament of communion. From giving fresh perspectives on biblical texts for communion sermons, to “how to” scenarios for distributing the elements, this seminar will provide resources and give practical advice for pastors. REGISTER NOW!
FREE BONUS TRAINING! Monday, March 5, 2018 from 1:30 – 4:00 PM, also in the Royce Brown Business Building with live streaming provided.
“Prevention of and Response to an Active Shooter in Houses of Worship”
Presented by the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security’s certified instructor, Jim McBride. There is NO CHARGE for this vitally important training, but you must REGISTER to reserve your seat on campus or at your live streaming site. Learn how to assess your facility, improve security at low or no cost, write an Emergency Operation Plan and implement changes without distractions that alter the worship experience. A MUST for every pastor and his core leadership team!
For more information or to inquire about Forum scholarships, contact the SNU Office of Church Relations at 405.491.6314.
29TH COMMISSION TO MEXICO IMPACTS MONTERREY
Southern Nazarene University’s annual Work and Witness trip for all ages, Commission Unto Mexico (Com2Mex), recently wrapped up its 29th year of outreach. This year’s teams returned with reports of inspiring partnerships, effective ministry and powerful moments of help and healing.
SNU’s 2017-2018 Com2Mex group partnered with nine Nazarene churches in Monterrey, Mexico. Twelve teams supplied basic construction skills, held vacation Bible schools, did community outreach and held open clinics for free medical screening and assistance.
People from all over the United States and Mexico made up this year’s teams, which were commissioned under the theme Go! Learn! Return! Respond! In addition to the great number of local Nazarenes who participated, two physicians from Mexico City came to Monterrey and worked with our medical teams, greatly enhancing their ability to provide effective screening and treatment.
For the 2017-2018 trip there were 174 participants who took part under the auspices of SNU. The majority of those who served were South Central Region Nazarenes and ten participants were current SNU students.
Highlights of the trip were the bilingual morning devotionals at the work sites each day, and the testimonies at the end of the day about the power of working alongside their Mexican brothers and sisters, despite the language barriers. Most often expressed was the sense of accomplishment and encouragement everyone experienced from working together to spread the message of God’s love, and leading people to salvation through Christ Jesus.
In a generous response to a great need, the Com2Mex team, from their personal funds, donated a new wheelchair to a paraplegic man who is a member of one of the Monterrey Nazarene churches. Their gift was a tangible expression of the spirit of Christian love and brotherhood that was present throughout this year’s mission.
SNU’s 30th Com2Mex is already being planned! You can watch for information about the 2018-2019 trip and see photos from this year’s mission at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SNUMexico. Or, learn more about Com2Mex by contacting Prof. Eileen Ruger at eruger@snu.edu.
HONORING A LIFE OF SERVICE – DR. CALEB HERRERA
Southern Nazarene University’s Winter Commencement took place on December 9, 2017. In addition to being Dr. Keith Newman’s inaugural Commencement as president of the university, it was a very special day in the life of a servant-leader of the Church of the Nazarene.
Dr. Newman’s first selection of a Commencement speaker was Rev. Caleb Herrera, Superintendent of the Texas-Oklahoma Latin District, which is part of the South Central Region, Church of the Nazarene. Dr. Newman said, “it took a little bit of convincing, and not because he is not more than capable, but because for as long as I have known him, he has sought to put others first.”
After he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at BNC/SNU in 1976, Rev. Herrera continued on with a Master of Science in Biology at the University of Texas at San Antonio and embarked on a distinguished career as a Researcher in microbiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center, also in San Antonio. While employed full-time in research, he also followed his call to ministry by serving as the senior pastor of the Las Palmas Church of the Nazarene. In 2013, he was elected to the office of Superintendent and began serving as pastor to pastors on his District, most of whom are bi-vocational.
In his Commencement address, Rev. Herrera told the amazing story of his life and how God had brought hope, forgiveness, and guided his parents, and him, throughout his life. He shared about his life-changing decision to attend Bethany Nazarene College, where Godly professors shaped his educational and spiritual experiences, leading to his bi-vocational calling.
Following his address, Rev. Herrera was presented by Dr. Newman for the bestowing of the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. In his presentation, Dr. Newman said, “I have watched your life for many years and I’ve been blessed by the many ways you have served others and demonstrated what our university describes as a Live Last lifestyle.” He concluded by saying, “Thank you for modeling servant leadership for us!”
To view the entire Commencement ceremony, visit http://snulive.com and click on the event under the “On Demand” tab.