Dr. Larry W. LeonardDistrict Superintendentlwleonard@midsouthnaz.org 2016

november

Like 35 million other Americans, Gay and I voted in early polling. On Election Day, November 8, the majority ofAmerican voters headed to the polls to cast their vote for the future leaders of our country. Early that day, I wasprayerfully compelled to write a special message to our pastors to encourage them to be godly leaders at avery divisive time in our nation's history.

Here is a portion of that message: We are all particularly aware of the unusual politic rhetoric that has taken place over the past few months. We havebeen assaulted with messages of anger via TV, web, radio, and newspapers. On social media we have been bombardedwith heated opinion, personal philosophy, irate innuendo, and downright carnal meanness. This election has succeededin straining, at the least, and dividing, at the worst, relationships between family, friends, and even Christian brothers andsisters. Regardless of how others voted, we must remember their choices are their prerogative within our system of free expression.

As district superintendent I am asking our pastors to model the love of Jesus in your personal conversations,your comments from the pulpit, and to those who will read your posts. We do not have to agree with others.They don't have to agree with us. But in all things, unlike our nation, the Body of Christ must not be divided.

Political analysts, strategists, and historians paint a bleak picture of our national future. They predict the deep dividethat now exists in our nation will not only not be solved on Election Day but also that these deep fractureswill last well beyond. Many talk in terms of years of a divided nation, and some predict that it could takeas much as a decade to heal divisions that have been created and exacerbated in only the past year.

If you are like me, you have friends and family who are on both sides of the political landscape. Christiansof both political persuasions feel equally strongly that God wanted their candidate to guide our future.

In establishing a foundation of freedom of religion, our forefathers kept a healthy separation of church and state. That protects our right to worship as we choose. It keeps our focus in the church where it should be: on spiritual matters and not on political ones. These are the reasons we do not enter into political debate or campaigning within the church.

However, the Word of God does give clear directives of how we are to respond to political matters as His Body: "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good andpleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

I pray that you will make the Lord pleased by the way you represent Him to all who are in contact with you. We are themessengers of reconciliation, God's leaders to whom our churches are looking for the proper example of holiness & grace.

What I did not know when I wrote the words above to our pastors was how deeply the division would become followingthe election. Thousands have taken to the streets to express their opinions. Literally millions more who do not protest outwardlyare expressing their disappointment and even outrage within their circle of family and friends, especially on social media.

While we do not want to emphasize the division, we cannot ignore the fact that within the Christian communitythere are varying opinions of the outcome and about where our nation is headed.

And so I feel compelled to share with you the message above and to direct the entire MidSouth District family to prayer,reconciliation, unity of spirit and love, and adherence to the authority of the Scripture:

"Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers overa multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:7-8).

June 21 ~ 30, 2017Indianapolis, Indiana

for more information visithttp://ga2017.com

MIDSOUTH PASTORAL TRAINING:

PREACHING THEOLOGY FROM A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE - DR. DAVID BUSICJANUARY 12 9:00am - 2:00pm

PREACHING CHRIST IN THE CURRENT - DR. DAN BOONEMARCH 2 9:00am - 2:00pm

PREACHING THE RESURRECTION - DR. Dwight GunterMARCH 30 9:00am - NOON

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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As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him andestablished in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. ~ Colossians 2:6 7

November comes and our thoughts turn toward giving thanks. We count our blessings – which as Christians are always farmore than we deserve – and express gratitude to our Lord. I’m glad we have a season that focuses our perspective thisdirection. I’ve learned that although I know gratefulness is to be a regular part of my walk of faith, I still need to bereminded of it. Paul reminds us in his letter to the church at Colossae that cultivating gratitude is an aspect ofdiscipleship. The more faithful we strive to be and the deeper we grow in Christ, the more our thanksgiving will abound.

Counting my blessings this season, I name you among them. I’m thankful for the opportunity the Lord has given meto pray for you and serve you. I’m thankful to be part of a great MidSouth SDMI team. And I am thankfulfor all you are doing in your local church Sunday school and small group ministries to make and developdisciples at home and abroad. May the Lord, who is faithful, bless and keep you as he continues to transformyou more and more into the image of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to equip you for every good work.

Nazatween East & West: January 27-28Lock-in event for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. Additional details will be available closer to the date vianazkids.org and www.facebook.com/midsouthnazkids.

Women’s Breakaway: Nashville: January 28

SPARK Retreat for Children’s Ministry Leaders: February 9-11MidSouth will be hosting one of these regional events at Garner Creek Campground. Details and registrationat http://equiptoengage.org/spark

Improve Your Serve: March 4Hosted at Nashville First (TN), Memphis Calvary (TN), and Hattiesburg First (MS).

Men’s Retreat: March 10-11 @ Garner Creek Campground

Prime Time Retreat: April 3-5 @ Garner Creek Campground

Women’s Breakaway - Memphis: April 22

Global SDMI Convention: June 21-24, 2017 in Indianapolis, IN ga2017.com/sdmi

Mark your calendar for these events coming after the holiday season…

Mrs. Mary FriedemanNMI Presidentfriedy@bellsouth.net

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Work & Witness: Ecuador......A MidSouth District Work and Witness team traveled to Santo Domingo, Ecuador, Oct. 24-31. The nine-person team, from eight different churches, began restoration of the district campground there. On this trip they worked on renovating the restrooms.

Thanksgiving Offering is our giving to the World Evangelism Fund fuels the Nazarene missionaryeffort worldwide. In this season of family, feasting, and giving thanks for all we’ve received, let’s open our hearts to what God wants us to give to support our family of missionaries and our Nazarene brothers and sisters around the world. This year’s Thanksgiving offering will be taken on November 20.

Families, Sunday School classes and small groups, or church congregations can adopt an NCM project. Set up a “CompassionTree”, from which people can select a child to sponsor. And let’s make sure our LINKS missionaries feel loved and cared for. May we be a people who, like Abraham, are blessed to be a blessing!

Compassionate Ministries

As we prepare for holiday gift giving, let’s rememberthe least and the lost around the world. Plan ahead nowto incorporate compassionate giving into yourChristmas celebration.

The next team will be going March 14-22, 2017. Deadline to register for that trip is is November 30 for the $1,150 per person rate. After November 30th, the price will increase. All ages are welcome.

To read more about the recent Work and Witness trip, in an article on the North Andean Field Prayer and Praise FB page: “Cake and a Box of Food” visit http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5a48d63790ef154edfcbfa13e&id=4eb5f9c24f

Rev. Jason UnderwoodNYI Presidentjason@gccnaz.org

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Momentum is always a special time when the MidSouth family gathers together. On November 11th-13th the NYI came together for this year’s Momentum event. This event allows students to compete in arts and sports categories as theyrecognize their gifts are “From God, For God”. Nearly 800 students and adults gathered for a beautiful weekend hostedby Trevecca Community Church. The competition was amaz-ing, the laughs and energy from the students was contagious, and the presence of God could be felt from the athletic fields to the classrooms. Our weekend opened with worship led by Refuge from TNU as well as a challenging message from

It’s officially fall in the Mid-South! The smell of pumpkin spice can be found from coffee to cookies, the leaves are changing,and the mornings are crisp and cool. I spent most of my childhood growing up in Florida, I never truly had the chance to experience the changing of the seasons. When the temp dropped to 65 we broke out winter coats! After spending more than half of my life in the Mid-South I still look forward to the changing of the seasons. The change in the weather serves as a reminder that we often experience seasons in our own lives as well as in ministry. No matter what season of life we findourselves in we hold on to the hope that we serve a God that knows the future.

former major league baseball player Josh Anderson. After night and day competition both Friday and Saturday, wegathered together for Sunday morning worship as one. It’s a powerful experience to see students from all over theMidSouth join together to celebrate the Sabbath. Dr. Tim Gaines, assistant professor of theology at TNU, shared apowerful challenge to end the week allowing us to understand how we all fit into the Kingdom of God. There areso many to thank for their leadership to make this event a reality. I would like to thank – Jamin Wentworth,Stephen Kihnley, Jennifer Geiger, and Dianne Shamsabadi. This team did incredible work!

TNT@TNU

Momentum is step one of this great opportunity. If you qualified or would like to join in the fun, TNT@TNU will be held March 30th-April 1st. Registration due February 1st.

Want to see pics from this weekend and other great events?

Instagram: midsouthnyiFacebook: midsouthnyiWeb: midsouthnyi.com

Attendance Report for October

Capitol Mission Area SS AMBread of Life Community ............. 8 ...........................25BridgePoint .................................. 6 ...........................31Brookhaven First ......................NR ......................... NRCrystal Springs .........................NR ......................... NRDaySpring Community............. 280 .........................335Hazelhurst ................................. 10 ...........................12Hillside Community ...................NR ......................... NRMeridian Fitkins Memorial........ 160 .........................280Meridian Northside .................... 15 ...........................29New Beginnings Christian ........... 0 ...........................46New Vision ................................. 57 ...........................76Quitman ....................................NR ......................... NRVicksburg First ........................... 23 ...........................35Vicksburg Hispanic .................... 15 ...........................10

Clarksville Mission Area Clarksville First ........................ 216 .........................301Clarksville Grace ..................... 201 .........................396Clarksville Hope Riders Biker .... 21 ...........................49Clarksville Korean...................... 50 ...........................95Clarksville Park Lane ................. 91 .........................123Dickson Lighthouse .................. 29 ...........................41Dover ......................................... 58 ...........................98Erin .......................................... 191 .........................259Fulton......................................... 23 ...........................38Gray’s Chapel ............................ 50 ...........................43Griffin’s Chapel .......................... 36 ...........................63 Jason Chapel............................. 85 .........................141Long Creek ................................ 25 ...........................35Paris .......................................... 33 ...........................31Pine Hill ..................................... 45 ...........................75Waverly .................................... 165 .........................278Woodlawn Community............... 81 .........................135

Coastal Mission Area Crossroads .............................. 105 .........................165Gloster ....................................... 41 ...........................26Gulf Coast Family ...................... 70 .........................101Gulfport ........................................ 0 .............................8Hattiesburg First ........................ 24 ...........................47Iglesia Taller del Maestro ..........NR ............................NRLaurel Bresee ............................ 20 .............................20Laurel First.....................................NR ............................NRLifePointe Community .................... 26 ............................. 31Long Beach Community ................... 3 ............................... 3 Magnolia ........................................NR ............................NRPalabra de Vida .............................NR ............................NRPrentiss..........................................NR ............................NRVictory Praise & Worship Center .... 38 ............................. 49Waynesboro Trinity ........................NR ............................NR

Columbia Mission AreaColumbia First ........................... 32 ...........................61Columbia Grace....................... 508 .........................543Elmore ....................................... 27 ...........................59Fly .............................................. 45 ...........................78Jones Chapel............................NR ......................... NRLawrenceburg Grace ................. 51 ...........................70Lawrenceburg Vaughan ...........NR ......................... NRLewisburg First .......................... 23 ...........................45Mount Wesley-Akin .................... 22 ...........................38Nashville New Life Korean .......... 19 ...........................32Pleasant Point ............................. 0 ...........................10Savannah .................................. 18 ...........................22Spring Hill Restoration Comm . 124 .........................202Summertown ............................. 15 ...........................18

Hills Mission Area Bent Knee Cowboy .................... 23 ...........................49Clarksdale.................................... 6 ...........................11Cleveland First..........................NR ......................... NR Columbus First .......................... 12 ...........................17

SS AMDivine Grace Sunflower ............... 8 ...........................18Fellowship.................................. 29 ...........................50Greenville First ............................ 9 ...........................11Grenada First............................. 27 ...........................22Houlka ......................................NR ......................... NRNew Albany ..............................NR ......................... NROxford/Oxford Hispanic ............. 77 ...........................68Pearson Chapel ......................... 55 ...........................68Ripley Hispanic .......................... 23 ...........................45Rosebloom ................................ 35 ...........................60Sentobia N.O. Nabors ..............NR ......................... NRStarkville Wesley Comm. ............. 9 ...........................24Tupelo ........................................ 12 ...........................15Union ......................................... 11 ...........................30Way of the Cross ....................... 17 ...........................21

Memphis Mission AreaColonial Hills ................................ 8 ...........................25Covington .................................. 17 ...........................22Crossroads Community ............. 32 ...........................50Dyersburg .................................. 16 ...........................23Iglesia Libertad en Cristo ........... 14 ...........................14Memphis Calvary ..................... 343 .........................391Memphis Eastside ..................... 23 ...........................62Memphis Emmanuel .................. 55 ...........................94Memphis Faithful Believers ......... 7 ...........................24Memphis Friendship .................. 52 ...........................81Memphis Grace ....................... 124 .........................175Memphis Holiness Tabernacle .. 40 ...........................75Memphis Hope Tabernacle ........ 18 ...........................28Memphis New Hope .................NR ......................... NRMemphis Refreshing Springs .... 10 ...........................31Millington ................................... 25 ...........................25

Nashville North Mission AreaAshland City Faith Comm. ......... 51 ...........................86Gallatin .................................... 141 .........................272Goodlettsville ........................... 265 .........................493Hendersonville ..........................NR ......................... NRHermitage ................................ 279 .........................502Highland .................................... 18 ...........................24Joelton ....................................... 14 ...........................17Madison ..................................... 13 ...........................26Madison Hispanic .................... 120 .........................112Nashville First (Bethel Campus) ........ 58 .........................106 Nashville First (Main Campus) ....... 598 .......................1094Nashville Inglewood..................NR ......................... NRNashville Whites Creek ............. 25 ...........................43Old Hickory ................................ 62 ...........................77Portland ..................................... 94 .........................173Springfield.................................. 20 ...........................26

Nashville South Mission Area Brentwood Concord Comm. .....NR ......................... NRFranklin Comm of Faith ............. 65 .........................152Gateway Community ............... 210 .........................324Kingston Springs ......................NR ......................... NRNashville Bell Road ................... 29 ...........................50Nashville Blakemore .................. 25 ...........................55Nashville Christ.........................NR ......................... NRNashville Community Fellowship ... 20 ...........................30Nashville Donelson .................... 21 ...........................28Nashville First Calvary Korean .NR ......................... NRNashville Glencliff Hispanic ....... 46 .........................128Nashville Grace ....................... 242 .........................346Nashville Kaleo .......................... 22 ...........................25Nashville Trevecca Comm. ..... 479 .........................672Nashville Trinity ......................... 25 ...........................40Nashville Westwind Comm ........ 13 ...........................13TOTAL ................................... 7277 .....................11251