Dr. Larry W. LeonardDistrict Superintendentlwleonard@midsouthnaz.org 2017

Fall has come slowly this year with higher than normal temperatures and little or late change in the color ofthe leaves. However, it has not been slow among our district family! The months of October and November areextremely active on the MidSouth District. God has been blessing us in many and varied ways. I am happyto share with you some of the exciting ministry that has been and is taking place.DISTRICT RETIRED MINISTERS’ RETREAT:Each fall we sponsor a retreat for all our retired ministers andspouses at Camp Garner Creek. Dr. Talmadge Johnson, directorof this gathering, provides capable leadership in selecting speakersand musicians for this event. This year Wally and Ginger Laxsonprovided the special music, and Dr. Steve Hoskins, professor atTrevecca Nazarene University, was the guest speaker. Dr. Hoskinswalked us down the memory lane of life on a church camp ground and its effects on the history of theChurch of the Nazarene. We had great laughs, inspiration, and challenge. We greatly appreciate the manyyears of service provided by our host of retired MidSouth pastors.NEWLY RENOVATED YOUTH CHAPEL AT CAMP GARNER CREEK:Throughout his tenure as ministry and facility director of Camp Garner Creek, Rev.Jeff Jackson has initiated many improvements, including our new climate controlledtabernacle, outdoor basketball courts, gazebo, new picnic pavilions, outdoor mountainBible study pavilion, and dorm improvements. Most recently, a renovation of the youthchapel is almost complete. The new platform and new pulpit are constructed entirelyfrom materials out of the old tabernacle. In addition to new LED lighting and fresh paint,a beautiful new wood burning fireplace has been added this intimate worship center

PARTNERSHIP IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI: The Houston Fellowship, Houlka, and Bent Knee Churches of theNazarene in northeast Mississippi have recently interacted with one another in fruitful partnership for increased effectiveness in ministry. The Houlka church and the Houston Fellowship church each voted to merge these two congregation into onefor greater productivity. The District Advisory Board unanimously voted to approve their request to merge. The newly mergedchurch, Houston Fellowship, also requested to donate the former Houlka church building to the Bent Knee church, a cowboychurch plant approximately one year old, the District Advisory also approved this request unanimously. It is soexciting to see partnership in action to advance the Kingdom of God.SOUL CARE FOR PASTORS: Our MidSouth ministers are invited to attend the annual Pastor’s Soul Care event November13 and 14 at Camp Garner Creek. This special time is designed to strengthen the personal spiritual life of our pastors. This year Dr. Chris Adams and Dr. Rick Underwood, psychologists, will speak to our ministers regarding mental health and spiritual vitality. This event will strengthen each church as pastors receive encouragement and spiritual enrichment.DISTRICT CHRISTMAS DINNER: Christmas is upon us! Hard to believe, but true. This year we will once again have ourChristmas Dinner for Pastors, Elders, Deacons and Full-Time Paid Ministerial Associates and spouses. We are sponsoring twoevents this year. On Thursday, November 30, 6:00 PM, we invite all who wish to go to Mississippi, to meet at Table 100(100 Ridge Way, Flowood, MS 39232.) On Friday, December 1, we invite all who wish to come to Camp Garner Creek(700 Sam Hollow Rd., Dickson, TN 37055) to join us at 5:00 PM for appetizers with the meal to begin at6:00 PM. Each of these meals is free to you. We have made arrangements with Camp Garner Creek to have roomsavailable to those who wish to come on Friday and leave on Saturday. Please make your reservation to either of theselocations by contacting Tina (tdiehl@midsouthnaz.org) or Sherri (sherri@midsouthnaz.org) in the DMRC.

will provide a wonderful place for people to meet in the presence of the Lord. Thank you, Jeff and Angie, for your wonderful work.

Dr. Rondy Smith has been awarded the Mackey Leadership Award from Trevecca Nazarene University. Rondy Smith (’85) has a long Trevecca history. After graduating from the University with her bachelor’s degree, she worked as the assistant director of the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies degree completion program, the Bachelorof Arts in Management and Human Relations. After working in the corporate world for a number of years andcompleting a doctorate at Vanderbilt University, Smith returned to Trevecca in 1991, developing the curriculum for, and then serving as the founding director of Trevecca’s master’s program in organizational management. After about 10 years, Smith experienced a call into ministry. She served in her local congregation, Hermitage Church of the Nazarene,for 14 years. During that time, Smith founded Rest Stop Ministries, a long-term residential restoration program for women survivors of sex tracking. She left the church to become the first CEO of Rest Stop Ministries in 2015.

Rev. Jason Underwood has been awarded the First Chapter Award from Trevecca Nazarene University.A 2003 graduate of Trevecca, Jason Underwood serves as the youth pastor at Gateway Community Church in Brentwood,TN, a position he has filled since 2007. Underwood and his wife, Stephanie, are both graduates of Trevecca. Since graduation,Underwood has devoted his life to training, equipping and encouraging others to make a lifelong commitment to JesusChrist. In addition to his ministry at Gateway Community, Underwood currently serves as the district NYI President for MidSouth NYI and serves on the MidSouth SDMI council. From 2009-2015, he served as the director of TNT@TNU. He has also directed summer camps for Tennessee, Florida and MidSouth NYI and led several mission trips both inside and outside the United States. He and Stephanie (’01) have three daughters, Ashtyn, Avery and Addyson.

Happy

Thanksgiving!

Rev. Michelle LunsfordSDMI Chairmanmichelle@thelunsfords.net

Sunday School

Make the Connection

People of Prayer • Engaged in the Word • Making Christlike Disciples

midsouthnaz.org sdmiusacanada.orgfacebook.com/MIDSOUTHSDMI

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2018January 26-27: NazaTween (retreat for 4th-6th grade students)March 3: Improve Your Serve - equipping & encouraging in discipleship leadershipApril 2-5: Prime Time Retreat

The Discipleship Place offers many of their resources at no cost. The on-line format allows participants to engageaccording to what fits their schedule, working at their own pace. There is even an option for your churchto receive a customizable, discipleship mobile app in partnership with Back to the Bible. Iencourage you to visit The Discipleship Place, peruse what they offer, and prayerfully considerwhat of their tools and resources might benefit your local discipleship ministries.

The Discipleship Place website: thediscipleshipplace.orgDiscipleship Place Facebook: facebook.com/TheDiscipleshipPlace

Do you know about The Discipleship Place? This resource is intended to equip laypersons for ministry in local settings such as church, community, family,and workplace. The Discipleship Place offers training for service in children,youth, and adult ministries, and for roles such as SDMI Superintendent.

They offer a variety of training courses, as well as resources for studies designed forindividuals, small groups, and congregations. Webinars are presented regularly, suchas this upcoming session: The Real Story of Pornography’s Impact on Youth, with Dr.David Blair and Pastor Dean Inserra, November 7 at 1:00 p.m. central time andNovember 16 at 7:00 p.m. central. Their Leadership Tools menu offers downloadablearticles and handouts for various areas of ministry.

You can also sign up to receive devotionals via email.

The MidSouth SDMI team will be working over the next several months on Improve Your Serve 2018. Watch this newsletter, as well as our Facebook page, for details about this event following the holidays. We appreciate your prayers for God’s guidance as we plan for this day of equipping and encouraging in discipleship leadership.

Mrs. Mary FriedemanNMI Presidentmaryfriedeman@gmail.com

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Thank you for your speedy and generous response to the urgent call for more Crisis Care kits when one of our warehouses was completely emptied in theaftermath of Hurricane Harvey. I’ve received reports of 150 boxes (900 CCK’s) sent from churches across our district. If your church hasn’t submitted a CCK tally, please email the number of boxes to maryfriedeman@gmail.com.

Special thanks to MidSouth District NMI Vice-President Sonya Nixon Gotshall for organizing transport of boxes from a drop-off point at Nashville Donelson and to Kyle Laferriere, NMI president at Hendersonville COTN, who volunteeredto drive a truck to the warehouse in MD. A total of 92 boxes were included in that truckload. Churches from theClarksville, Columbia, Nashville North, and Nashville South mission areas contributed to this effort.

Please be planning now - personally and corporately - for the special Thanksgiving offering for the WorldEvangelism Fund. WEF provides support for global missionaries as they evangelize, plant churches, trainlocal leaders, and minister through educational institutions and facilities. Our Nazarene presence in 162world areas provides the infrastructure for programs like child sponsorship, Alabaster, andWork & Witness. When crises arise and churches and individuals send funds for specific needsand projects, WEF has already laid a foundation globally that enables quick response. It ensures thatwe have boots on the ground, people already in place, and resources at the ready.

Generous giving to the World Evangelism Fund enables us to engage in partnership with our brothersand sisters around the world in faithfully fulfilling Jesus’ commission to every believer:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonand of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

WORLD EVANGELISM FUND

THANK OFFERING

Rev. Jason UnderwoodNYI Presidentjason@gccnaz.org

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#wearemidsouth

MIDSOUTH MOMENTUMIt is always a special time when the MidSouth family gathers together. On November 17th - 19th the NYI will cometogether for this years Momentum event. This event allows students to compete in arts and sports categoriesas they recognize their gifts are “From God, For God”. It’s a powerful experience to see students from all overthe MidSouth join together to celebrate as one family.

It’s officially fall in the mid-south! The smell of pumpkin spice can be found from coffee to cookies, the leaves will be changing soon, and before we know it the mornings will be crisp and cool. I spent most of my childhood growing upin Florida, I never truly had the chance to experience the changing of the seasons. When the temp dropped to 65 webroke out winter coats! After spending more than half of my life in the mid-south I still look forward to the changingof the seasons. The change in the weather serves as a reminder that we often experience seasons in our own lives aswell as in ministry. No matter what season of life we find ourselves in we hold on to the hope that we serve aGod that knows the future.

NYI AT SOUL CAREThis year we are offering a designated time for NYI leaders to gather during soul care we will meet on Sunday evening November 12 at 7:00 PM. To register for the NYI event please e-mail Jason@gccnaz.org.

The Pastor’s Soul Care event is Monday and Tuesday, November 13-14 at Camp Garner Creek. This year Dr. RickUnderwood and Dr. Chris Adams will be speaking to us about mental health, family, and church balance. You can registernow by contacting the DMRC at (615) 255-2929.

I love you and there’s nothing you can do about it!

Attendance Report for September

Capitol Mission Area SS AMBread of Life Community ............. 4 ...........................12BridgePoint ...............................NR ......................... NRBrookhaven First ......................NR ......................... NRCrystal Springs ............................ 7 .............................7DaySpring Community............. 290 .........................318Hazelhurst ................................. 11 ...........................18Hillside Community .................... 19 ...........................18Meridian Fitkins Memorial........ 150 .........................270Meridian Northside .................... 17 ...........................27New Beginnings Christian ........NR ......................... NRNew Vision ................................. 38 ...........................68Quitman ....................................NR ......................... NRVicksburg First/Vicksburg Hisp. . 40 ...........................51

Clarksville Mission Area Clarksville First ........................ 167 .........................290Clarksville Grace ..................... 160 .........................332Clarksville Hope Riders Biker .... 14 ...........................37Clarksville Korean...................... 55 ...........................95Clarksville Park Lane ............... 100 .........................127Dickson Lighthouse .................. 42 ...........................60Dover ........................................NR ......................... NRErin .......................................... 184 .........................263Fulton......................................... 20 ...........................38Gray’s Chapel ............................ 42 ...........................54Griffin’s Chapel .......................... 48 ...........................76 Jason Chapel............................. 80 .........................141Long Creek .................................. 0 ...........................30Paris .......................................... 36 ...........................38Pine Hill ..................................... 47 ...........................79Waverly .................................... 183 .........................279Woodlawn Community............... 83 .........................124

Coastal Mission Area Crossroads .............................. 114 .........................190Gloster ....................................... 37 ...........................25Gulf Coast Family ...................... 83 .........................116Gulfport ........................................ 0 ...........................10Hattiesburg First ........................ 29 ...........................49Laurel Bresee ............................ 13 ...........................16Laurel First................................... 9 ...........................17LifePointe Community ............... 21 ...........................23Long Beach Community .............. 4 ...........................13 Magnolia .................................... 16 ...........................28Palabra de Vida ........................NR ......................... NRPrentiss.....................................NR ......................... NRVictory Praise & Worship Ctr ..... 85 ...........................30Waynesboro Trinity .................... 18 ...........................22

Columbia Mission AreaColumbia First ..........................NR ......................... NRColumbia Grace....................... 503 .........................556Elmore ....................................... 40 ...........................65Fly .............................................. 64 .........................102Harmony .................................... 44 ...........................68Jones Chapel............................NR ......................... NRLewisburg First .......................... 29 ...........................52Mount Wesley-Akin .................... 22 ...........................36Nashville New Life Korean .......... 12 ...........................15Pleasant Point ..........................NR ......................... NRSavannah .................................. 15 ...........................16Spring Hill Restoration Comm ... 85 .........................165Summertown ............................. 17 ...........................19

Hills Mission Area Bent Knee Cowboy ...................NR ......................... NRClarksdale.................................... 5 ...........................10Cleveland First........................... 41 ...........................45 Columbus First .........................NR ......................... NRDivine Grace Sunflower ............NR ......................... NR

SS AMFellowship.................................. 22 ...........................35Grenada First............................. 23 ...........................22New Albany ................................. 6 .............................8Oxford/Oxford Hispanic ............. 95 ...........................70Pearson Chapel ......................... 49 ...........................71Ripley Hispanic .......................... 16 ...........................35Rosebloom ................................ 35 ...........................59Sentobia N.O. Nabors ..............NR ......................... NRStarkville Wesley Comm. ........... 10 ...........................24Tupelo .......................................NR ......................... NRUnion ......................................... 15 ...........................23Way of the Cross ....................... 17 ...........................18

Memphis Mission AreaColonial Hills .............................NR ......................... NRCovington .................................. 16 ...........................24Crossroads Community ............. 47 ...........................61Dyersburg .................................. 18 ...........................20Iglesia Libertad en Cristo ........... 10 ...........................10Memphis Calvary ..................... 340 .........................369Memphis Eastside ..................... 18 ...........................68Memphis Emmanuel .................. 56 ...........................95Memphis Faithful Believers ......NR ......................... NRMemphis Friendship .................. 46 ...........................80Memphis Grace ....................... 143 .........................183Memphis Holiness Tabernacle .NR ......................... NRMemphis Hope Tabernacle ........ 24 ...........................27Memphis New Hope .................. 34 ...........................52Memphis Refreshing Springs ...NR ......................... NRMillington ................................... 25 ...........................25

Nashville North Mission AreaAshland City Faith Comm. ......... 58 ...........................91Gallatin .................................... 142 .........................259Gallatin Hispanic.......................NR ......................... NRGoodlettsville ........................... 289 .........................506Hendersonville ..........................NR ......................... NRHermitage ................................ 259 .........................512Highland .................................... 18 ...........................23Joelton ....................................... 19 ...........................22Madison ..................................... 11 ...........................23Madison Hispanic .....................NR ......................... NRNashville First (Bethel Campus) ........ 44 ...........................89 Nashville First (Main Campus) ....... 605 .......................1029Nashville Inglewood................... 19 ...........................37Nashville Whites Creek ............. 24 ...........................38Old Hickory ................................ 50 ...........................74Portland ..................................... 97 .........................181Springfield.................................NR ......................... NR

Nashville South Mission Area Brentwood Concord Comm. ...... 85 .........................109Franklin Comm of Faith ............. 62 .........................156Gateway Community ............... 215 .........................310Kingston Springs ......................... 7 ...........................15Nashville Bell Road ................... 26 ...........................67Nashville Blakemore .................NR ......................... NRNashville Christ.......................... 30 ...........................63Nashville Community Fellowship ... 14 ...........................25Nashville Donelson .................... 18 ...........................25Nashville First Calvary Korean .. 25 ...........................67Nashville Glencliff Hispanic ....... 63 .........................120Nashville Grace ....................... 244 .........................328Nashville Kaleo .......................... 18 ...........................35Nashville Trevecca Comm. ..... 495 .........................728Nashville Trinity ......................... 23 ...........................34Nashville Westwind Comm ........ 12 ...........................12TOTAL ................................... 6743 .....................10511

Attendance Report for October

Capitol Mission Area SS AMBread of Life Community ............. 0 .............................6BridgePoint ................................ 15 ...........................36Brookhaven First ....................... 15 ...........................23Crystal Springs ............................ 8 .............................8DaySpring Community............. 179 .........................316Hazelhurst ................................. 11 ...........................13Hillside Community .................... 17 ...........................19Meridian Fitkins Memorial........ 143 .........................265Meridian Northside .................... 15 ...........................29New Beginnings Christian ........NR ......................... NRNew Vision ................................NR ......................... NRQuitman ....................................NR ......................... NRVicksburg First/Vicksburg Hisp. . 42 ...........................47

Clarksville Mission Area Clarksville First ........................ 164 .........................268Clarksville Grace ..................... 159 .........................318Clarksville Hope Riders Biker .... 17 ...........................49Clarksville Korean...................... 50 ...........................90Clarksville Park Lane ................. 99 .........................129Dickson Lighthouse .................. 43 ...........................52Dover ........................................NR ......................... NRErin ...........................................NR ......................... NRFulton......................................... 25 ...........................32Gray’s Chapel ............................ 42 ...........................51Griffin’s Chapel .......................... 39 ...........................96 Jason Chapel............................. 66 .........................117Long Creek .................................. 0 ...........................19Paris .......................................... 35 ...........................45Pine Hill ..................................... 46 ...........................81Waverly .................................... 176 .........................273Woodlawn Community............... 83 .........................136

Coastal Mission Area Crossroads .............................. 153 .........................172Gloster ....................................... 40 ...........................30Gulf Coast Family ...................... 76 .........................113Gulfport ........................................ 0 ...........................17Hattiesburg First ........................ 25 ...........................45Laurel Bresee ............................ 12 ...........................18Laurel First................................... 8 ...........................17LifePointe Community ............... 18 ...........................18Magnolia .................................... 15 ...........................28Palabra de Vida ........................NR ......................... NRPrentiss.....................................NR ......................... NRVictory Praise & Worship Ctr ..... 23 ...........................32Waynesboro Trinity ...................NR ......................... NR

Columbia Mission AreaColumbia First ..........................NR ......................... NRColumbia Grace....................... 479 .........................569Elmore ....................................... 39 ...........................63Fly .............................................. 64 ...........................79Harmony .................................... 35 ...........................60Jones Chapel............................NR ......................... NRLewisburg First .......................... 23 ...........................44Mount Wesley-Akin ...................NR ......................... NRNashville New Life Korean .......... 13 ...........................15Pleasant Point ........................... 11 ...........................12Savannah .................................. 23 ...........................25Spring Hill Restoration Comm ... 70 .........................160Summertown ............................. 13 ...........................16

Hills Mission Area Bent Knee Cowboy .................... 26 ...........................44Clarksdale.................................... 5 .............................9Cleveland First........................... 46 ...........................50 Columbus First .........................NR ......................... NRDivine Grace Sunflower ............NR ......................... NR

SS AMGrenada First............................. 29 ...........................31Houlka ......................................... 9 ...........................11New Albany ................................. 6 .............................8Oxford/Oxford Hispanic ............. 96 ...........................69Pearson Chapel ......................... 45 ...........................71Ripley Hispanic .......................... 16 ...........................27Rosebloom ................................ 36 ...........................60Sentobia N.O. Nabors ..............NR ......................... NRStarkville Wesley Comm. ............. 8 ...........................23Tupelo .......................................NR ......................... NRUnion ......................................... 11 ...........................21Way of the Cross ....................... 15 ...........................15

Memphis Mission AreaColonial Hills .............................NR ......................... NRCovington .................................. 11 ...........................13Crossroads Community ............. 40 ...........................70Dyersburg .................................. 18 ...........................22Iglesia Libertad en Cristo ........... 14 ...........................14Memphis Calvary ..................... 355 .........................370Memphis Eastside ..................... 33 ...........................68Memphis Emmanuel .................. 55 ...........................96Memphis Faithful Believers ......NR ......................... NRMemphis Friendship .................. 48 .........................125Memphis Grace ....................... 165 .........................192Memphis Holiness Tabernacle .. 25 ...........................65Memphis Hope Tabernacle ........ 28 ...........................30Memphis New Hope .................. 35 ...........................60Memphis Refreshing Springs ...NR ......................... NRMillington ................................... 25 ...........................25

Nashville North Mission AreaAshland City Faith Comm. ......... 60 ...........................90Gallatin .................................... 119 .........................251Gallatin Hispanic.......................NR ......................... NRGoodlettsville ........................... 285 .........................549Hendersonville ........................... 79 .........................183Hermitage ................................ 230 .........................558Highland .................................... 18 ...........................21Joelton ....................................... 20 ...........................27Madison ..................................... 10 ...........................23Madison Hispanic ...................... 74 .........................108Nashville First (Bethel Campus) ........ 52 ...........................87 Nashville First (Main Campus) ....... 607 .......................1054Nashville Inglewood................... 21 ...........................38Nashville Whites Creek ............. 23 ...........................48Old Hickory ...............................NR ......................... NRPortland ................................... 102 .........................212Springfield.................................. 22 ...........................31

Nashville South Mission Area Brentwood Concord Comm. .....NR ......................... NRFranklin Comm of Faith ............. 62 .........................150Gateway Community ............... 201 .........................327Kingston Springs ....................... 10 ...........................19Nashville Bell Road ................... 23 ...........................52Nashville Blakemore .................. 16 ...........................34Nashville Christ.......................... 30 ...........................46Nashville Community Fellowship ... 21 ...........................31Nashville Donelson .................... 19 ...........................34Nashville First Calvary Korean .. 29 ...........................67Nashville Glencliff Hispanic ....... 56 .........................153Nashville Grace ....................... 216 .........................381Nashville Kaleo .......................... 18 ...........................37Nashville Trevecca Comm. ..... 406 .........................688Nashville Trinity ......................... 26 ...........................39Nashville Westwind Comm ........ 12 ...........................12TOTAL ................................... 7133 .....................11407