Indy NMI

Indianapolis District Nazarene Missions International

From the Field

Help and Healing for Maui

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Help and Healing for Maui!

The TV news has been full of news about the wildfires in Maui.  This disaster has come close to home for Nazarenes as many churches, pastors and laymen have suffered great loss because of these wild fires.
When are brothers and sisters hurt, we do too.  Of course, the first thing we can do is hold our brothers and sisters up in prayer.  God hears the cries of His children and always answers, holding us in our time of need.   Other ways to help are:
  • The Crisis Care Kits supply will need to be replenished (we just sent over 1000) .  We encourage you to send your banana boxes to your regional shipment or take them to the Shelbyville Church.  If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact Sharon Kessler, Manager Director of Fawn Grove Compassionate Ministries   
  • Give to Nazarene Compassionate Ministers Emergency Relief Fund Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Emergency Relief Fund . Having the funds available before a natural disaster is key to the swift response from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and the ability to quickly help those in need.
  • We have also heard from Gail Ragle, Hawaii District NMI President. Gail shared that there are two Nazarene churches on Maui which are providing aid and shelter.  The Pukalani Nazarene church has set up an Amazon registry for people to purchase items and have them sent directly to the church.  Pukalani Amazon Registry
          

Anna’s Story

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From translator to one of first women ordained in Armenia – Anna’s Story

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Sarah Norris for Eurasia Region Church of the Nazarene

In 2009, Anna Jara accepted a role as a translator for a Nazarene Work & Witness team traveling to Armenia. Familiar with Christianity but without a personal relationship with Jesus, Jara bluntly recalls applying for the role, saying with a laugh, “I just needed a job.”

Little did she know that 14 years later, she would be part of a historic moment as one of the first women to become an ordained pastor in Armenia.

Raised in a different tradition, Jara remembers knowing about God but having no relationship with Him.

“I didn’t know anything about Jesus or salvation,” Jara said. “I didn’t even read the Bible.”

Her first day on the job as a Work & Witness translator left her surprised.

“Everything was so strange,” Jara said. “People were praying…the songs were different.”

In the weeks following, she remembers watching the team serve God in unfamiliar ways, challenging her perceptions of Christianity and Christians.

On the last day of the trip, a team member approached her.

“‘The Lord put something in my heart,” Jara remembers him saying. “‘And I don’t want you to think that I am crazy.’”

The man was crying and shared that God was asking him to step into her life as a spiritual father. Jara, who had recently lost her father to a heart attack, was caught off guard by his kindness but expected the promise to go unfulfilled. Once again, God surprised her. Anna’s new acquaintance honored his word, connecting with her often and providing a safe place for her faith to take root.

“We developed this beautiful relationship,” she says.

Her spiritual father prayed with and for her, encouraged her, and walked alongside her as she grew closer to the Lord. Her spiritual father was committed to calling and encouraging Anna. He called her one day, challenging her to prayerfully consider taking the Lord seriously in her life – mentioning that the Lord had unique plans for her and her future. Jara remembers the call as a pivotal point of change.

“This was the moment that I started to take seriously that something different [was] happening in my life,” Jara says. “I think then the Lord started to work in my heart… and then little by little, the Lord started to call me for ministry.”

Native American Christian Academy Wish List

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Would you like to help us prep for the new school year? Our Amazon Wish List contains classroom supplies and items to make dorms a home away from home. Link to the Wish List by clicking below — Take a look at our Amazon Wish List
We also want to provide tool kits for high school students taking advantage of career/tech training at the local college. Isn’t that awesome?! Designated donations or gift cards can make this happen. Thanks in advance for responding to the need and for your continued prayer support!