District Superintendent Report 2008

      Our mission “To Make Christlike Disciples in the Nations” calls our attention to a most fundamental truth in the New Testament. This truth was the leading method for church growth throughout the history of the early church. Their entire attention was aimed at making Christ known through preaching, teaching, evangelizing, fellowshipping, and praying. God honored them for their faith and work. This report is recognition of the many churches who have diligently prayed and worked for the Lord to make Christlike disciples. We are most honored to have with us Dr. Jim Diehl, our general superintendent, and his lovely wife, Dorothy. They have served the church in many areas and are loved much by all. Thanks also to Dr. Diehl for his kindness shown to my son and his family while they lived in their hometown of Denver, Colorado. It is also a great privilege to have Dr. Dan Boone and Denise as our guests. They are providing tremendous leadership at Trevecca and we are proud of them! To all of you who are here as a pastor, delegate, or friend of the assembly, we are honored and we welcome you!

       John Wesley thought the act of Christian conference was a means of grace. Our prayer is that you will experience the presence of God today and that it will be a means of grace.

       Our theme comes from this little phrase: Lead the Way. This is what I believe the Apostle Paul is saying to his son in the gospel, Timothy. He is discipling Timothy and challenging him to “lead the way.” First and Second Timothy are the record of discipleship from which we get our pattern of ministry. In “Chic” Shaver’s little book,

      Hear Paul in 1 Timothy 6:11-12, “But you, man of God . . . pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called . . .” This is a letter from someone who is leading another into a deeper walk with Christ. It is making a disciple. It is following up on the details of Timothy’s life. It is paying attention to the attitudes and actions of a young man that Paul cared about deeply. It is hard work. It is satisfying. It is disappointing. It is fulfilling. It is time-consuming. It is challenging. It is our mandate. I had the privilege of preaching at a church in Ohio two months ago. This was our first time back to the church since I pastored them eighteen years ago. God helped me see again the value of investing in others as we observed the growth and leadership of those that we discipled. They are the leaders today and God is using them. They are not the problems in their church. They are the problem-solvers. I ask you, pastor, which group would you rather have in your church? I call you to lead the way in 2008-09 in recruiting and training those in your church who are willing. We will provide pastors this vital 50 training so that they will be equipped for this eternal work. Presently, I am striving to give myself to six of our fine pastors. These are the Mission Area Directors: Craig Baird, Aaron Coffey, Barry Stephens, William Bonee, David Seymour, and Greg Story. Our MAD meetings are scheduled quarterly. We will be meeting again in two weeks studying the book of Hebrews and hopefully learning how to preach from this powerful book and how to live what we preach. Their responsibility is to take what they have learned and share it with the other pastors of their mission area. I challenge you to lead the way.

District Achievements

• Total raised: $6,924,066 (+$313,774)

• Total membership: 6,288 (+94)

• Sunday School attendance: 3,226 (–205)

• New Nazarenes: 348 (–23)

• Morning Worship attendance: 4,125 (+45)

• NewStarts: 2—Huntsville First Hispanic and Scottsboro Hispanic

• World Evangelism Fund: $374,485 (+$23,641)

• District Fund: $226,870 (–$68,105)

• Pensions and Benevolence: $84,341 (–$22,186)

• Trevecca Nazarene University: $137,051 (–$34,000)

       As you can clearly see, we have stumbled in the area of giving to others. The stakes are too high for us to miss the mark at this point. Let us not forget that God is with us when we share with others. To be a good steward in today’s world requires 20 percent not the 10 percent of Old Testament times. In fact, New  estament giving means that we give it all to God. Sometimes He asks for it all. Help me understand how any church can have money in the bank and yet not give their fair share to others. Please pray for me as I become an ambassador of one to see that we are 100 percent in 2008-09.

Thanks to Our Team

• Ralph Brown, district SSM chairperson, a visionary and an excellent organizer.

• Fred Faith, district NMI president, passionate for missions! Has four Work and Witness trips planned this next year!

• Daniel Medders, district NYI president, a human dynamo with a great heart for the youth.

• Leonel Alvarado, district Hispanic coordinator and trainer for ministry. We cannot do without this great leader in the Hispanic community.

• Bill Lancaster, camp administrator, a hard-working retired district superintendent who knows what he’s doing and has continued operating the camp in the black!

• Raymond Clarke, camp coordinator, a man who has given his life for the camp.

• William Bonee, district secretary, he brings expertise and commitment to this job.

• Margaret Crawford, district treasurer, she is a careful caretaker of the funds—a copastor—a full-time employee in secular work. Blessings on Margaret.

• Randy Crawford, District Studies Board secretary, this is a difficult job in which Randy has excelled.

• Ruth Burleson, health insurance manager and church planting fund treasurer, she serves with a high level of efficiency and kindness.

• District Advisory Board: Sam Michael, Jimmy Perry, Jimmy Lee, Gary Scales, Carroll Smith, Barry Stephens, Greg Story, and Randy Crawford. These are great men.

• SS Statistical Secretary, Tim Hullett, he continues to get 100 percent reporting.  Thanks, Tim!

• Sunday School Zone Chairpersons—Don Studdard, James McGraw, Michael Johnson, William Bonee, Lewis Martin, and Fred Montgomery. Great job!

• Jerelyn Rickey, office administrator, she’s the best. I thank God for her daily.

There are many others who make the district work possible. You will receive your reward some day since you have done it all in Jesus’ name.

Those Leading the Way

Outstanding Buddy Church Award

Bill Golden—Anniston; Randy Rathmann—Arab Harvest; Randy and Margaret Crawford—Boaz First; Aaron Coffey—Cullman First;  Bill Golden—Anniston; Aaron Coffey—Cullman First; Fairview—James McGraw

NewStart Award

James McGraw—Fairview; Scott Lowry—Huntsville First; Ken Norris—Scottsboro

General Superintendent’s Award

James McGraw—Fairview

New Nazarenes

Huntsville Alpha y Omega Vicente Osorio-Guarcas 30

Piedmont David Ingram 24

Cullman First Aaron Coffey 21

Albertville Hispanic Juan Menchu 17

Huntsville First Scott Lowry 17

Union Hill Tim Estus 17

East Gadsden Michael Johnson 16

Birmingham Center Point Hispanic Luis Arguedas 14

Birmingham Pleasant Grove Don Studdard 14

Mount Zion Gail Grimaud 13

Total Amount Raised

Huntsville First Scott Lowry $1,028,621

Gardendale David Parrish 552,743

Cullman First Aaron Coffey 522,676

Jasper First Greg Story 402,969

Birmingham First Craig Baird 341,668

Birmingham Pleasant Grove Don Studdard 203,902

Church at Mercy Hill Barry Stephens 182,479

Sheffield First Scott Sessions 179,818

Faith Phillip Sessions 172,704

Birmingham Center Point To be supplied 162,930

All Apportionments Paid

Albertville Hispanic, Anniston First, Arab Harvest, Athens Hispanic, Baileyton First Hispanic, Berry, Birmingham First, Birmingham Pleasant Grove, Boaz First, Briarwood, Cordova, Cullman First, Decatur Hispanic, Decatur Spring Avenue, East Gadsden, Fairview, Faith, Fayette, Fort Payne Iglesia del Nazareno, Gardendale, Hartselle, Hickory Grove, Huntsville Alpha y Omega, Huntsville First, Huntsville Southeast, Jasper First, Madison First, Mary’s Chapel, Mount Zion, Muscle Shoals, Nauvoo, New Beginning, Nitrate City, Parrish, Rogersville First, Salem, Saragossa, Sheffield First, Union Hill, and Wilson Chapel

10 percent Churches—Missions

Anniston Bill Golden 12.44%

Arab Harvest Randy Rathmann 20.36%

Birmingham First Craig Baird 10.87%

Birmingham Forestdale Dwight DeNegley 10.59%

Boaz First Randy Crawford 11.74%

Briarwood Tim Davis 16.55%

Cullman First Aaron Coffey 20.91%

East Gadsden Michael Johnson 12.80%

Faith Phillip Sessions 20.15%

Florence First To be supplied 10.33%

Gardendale John D. Parrish 11.92%

Grace Chapel Willis Harbison 11.62%

Hartselle David Melton 11.59%

Hickory Grove Frank Wilson 14.03%

Huntsville First Scott Lowry 12.85%

Mary’s Chapel To be supplied 10.98%

Muscle Shoals William Bonee 10.03%

Nitrate City Roland Hargrove 12.36%

Salem Carroll Smith 17.33%

Saragossa Greg Tinker 16.30%

Union Hill Tim Estus 13.89%

These pastors and churches represent those who have intentionally focused on others. Certainly this is in line with Scripture that says, “Give and it will be given to you” Luke 6.38. Again, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously . . . And God is able to make all grace abound to you” 2 Corinthians 9:6,8. This giving represents the giving of our lives so that others may know the grace of God in their own lives. Richard Pageant of Gardendale, a plant manager by trade, committed himself to one mission a month to help a needy church with any repairs. This is compassionate ministry! Thanks, Richard, for leading the way.

My Accountability

• Preached 77 times, participated in or preached 8 funerals, held 3 revivals, led in 2 communion services, preached at 2 homecoming services.

• Conducted 32 board meetings.

• Led 10 pastoral reviews.

• Dedicated 4 buildings, dedicated 1 baby.

• Conducted 1 seminar on the SHAPE of your ministry.

• Met with the District Advisory Board 4 times plus 2 conference calls.

• Met 2 times with the District Credentials Board, 1 time with the Board of Nominations, and 3 times with the Finance committees.

• Attended 5 special prayer meetings.

• Met with Sam Michael 12 times regarding church properties.

• Personally met in 15 different pastoral conferences.

• Met with pastors as a group from 4 mission areas.

• Conducted 1 Centennial Celebration training session for all district pastors. Contact Scott Lowry at Huntsville First about great resources for Centennial Celebration.

• Conducted 5 church meetings.

• Attended 2 District Superintendent Conferences (3 days), 2 SE District Superintendent on con-ferences, 2 TNU trustee meetings (2 days).

• Attended 5 Camp Board meetings.

• My wife and I planned and led Ministers’ and Wives’ Retreat in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, planned and led the Ministers’ and Wives’ Christmas dinner in Guntersville, Alabama, planned and led the District Advisory Council Christmas dinner at Hartselle, Alabama.

• Travelled approximately 40,000 miles in a car.

• Led 3 Mission Area Directors’ meetings.

• Went to New York City for a Work and Witness trip June 28-July 7, did the devotionals and worked with everyone sorting clothes, cleaning, and repairing.

• Met with a lawyer 2 times concerning issues on the district.

• Signed dozens of documents for different properties and Rolling Hills Camp.

• Made 15 hospital visits across the district.

• Led 1 calendar meeting and attended 2 District SSM Board meetings.

• Made and received over 4,000 phone calls according to the count on my phone.

• Attended the SE Regional NMI Conference at Ridgecrest, North Carolina.

• Attended the Lay-Retreat, the Primary and Junior camps, TNT at the NYI Winter Retreat, and a service during the Missions Tour with the Schmelzenbachs.

• Attended every service at District Campmeeting, Rolling Hills Camp.

• Attended Improve Your Serve at Jasper First.

• Attended the South Alabama District Assembly.

• I welcomed these new pastors to our district: Craig Baird of Birmingham First, Michael Johnson of East Gadsden, Tom Martin of Russellville First, David Parrish of Gardendale, David Melton of Hartselle, and Gerald Woods to restart Trussville.

• I golfed 9 times—not enough!

• Lead the church in evangelistic prayer meetings that intentionally pray for children, young people, moms and dads, and everyone else who needs Christ in their lives. Also pray for those who are already a part of your church by making a complete prayer list.

• Lead the church in locating and contacting people who need Christ and the church. Outreach is still at the heart of our mission.

• Intentionally recruit a few who desire to become disciples through the sharing your life and the Word of God with them. Discipleship is God’s plan.

• Intentionally prepare a budget that gives away 20 percent of your income to others. Become an “others church.” Remember, “It is possible to give away and become richer. It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the generous man shall be rich” (Proverbs 11:24-25)

• Intentionally plan the biggest celebration in your churches’ history for our Centennial Celebration. We will never have this chance again. We cannot miss the opportunity to tell the city/town about our Nazarene heritage, our holiness message, and what we offer our community. The materials you received are very clear about what you can do. There are more materials than you can use. Begin to meet now with your people and discuss what your church can do during this once-in-a-lifetime event. Let us know what you are planning, and we will pass it on to the district family through the web site: www.alabamanorth.org.

• Never forget that we need to constantly start new churches because people in the world will more readily attend a new church. New churches have always been God’s plan. You may be ready to assist a NewStart or begin a NewStart out of your church. Let the Lord speak to you about this. Call us and we can give you direction concerning the steps needed. Pray that God will help us to develop NewStart pastors so that we can send them out equipped to plant a new church.

To recap, there are six challenges: Prayer, Outreach, Discipleship, “Others Church,” Centennial Celebration, and New Churches. Dr. Diehl, you can count on this district to accept this challenge. We believe that God has sent you to us for this important time in the life of our district. We will lead the way. Can we express our appreciation for Dr. Diehl and what he means to all of us?

Final Word

I have never been more excited about this ministry. God has promised great blessings on those who put their trust in Him and I trust Him! When you return home, remember what God has spoken to you, then, put it into practice. Don’t lose those truths you have received. My wife, Jerelyn, and I count it all joy to serve you. Pray for us and call us if we can assist you in any way. God bless the Alabama North District Church of the Nazarene.  

Respectfully submitted,

N. GREG RICKEY