Palmetto Perspectives - December 2022

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QUARTERLY UPDATE | SC NAZARENE DISTRICT | DECEMBER 2022

PERSPECTIVE

Rev. Samuel & Candy Flores
District Superintendent

Bucket Lists, Star of Hope, and the Real Hope!

Just recently Candy, LaNora Jensen, and I went to a Dallas Cowboys' football game. LaNora, our retiring district treasurer (that I will dearly miss), shared that this experience was one of her “bucket list” items. Having had a “life or death” experience in 2022 made me start thinking about the things I wish to accomplish and experience. Although, I really don’t have a “bucket list”, I would want to experience some things before I "kick the bucket". For example, I have never been to the New Year’s Time Square celebration and that could be something that I would like to be part of. Although I am not much of a fan of staying out in the cold, nor of some of the entertainment that is usually programmed, I am a fan of the “time ball” that is dropped and the fireworks spectacular that welcomes the new year.

After consulting with google on the “time ball”, I discovered that this celebration in Times Square has been going on since 1904, however, the dropping of the ball first happened in 1907. I learned of the size and weight of the ball structure. It has gone through at least four redesigns from when it first had 100 light bulbs to its now 32,000 led lamps. I also discovered that the ball is named the Star of Hope. There are millions of people looking at this “star” as the new year begins. Many of them with new resolutions and with hopes to accomplish them or just plain hopes for a better year. I often think of how many have dedicated time, placed effort, and all kinds of investments into this experience that is to inspire hope. Yet, like most resolutions and temporal experiences, they fade with time. There is one “star story” that has not faded with time. In Matthew Chapter 2 we read the story of the three wise men or magi that came from the east to worship Jesus, the newborn king:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Isn’t it interesting that the star that guided these men to Jesus was one that did not drop, instead, it rose? God most often works in unconventional ways and usually in the opposite fashion of how men would. Isn't it amazing that these men came to worship with gifts and that now Jesus is the gift of salvation and hope? If you have a "bucket list" or just a desire for a life changing experience, don't forget to include the experience of salvation that Christ offers. If you haven’t had the experience of being in the presence of Jesus and worshipping Him to the point of renewing hope, don’t let this holiday season pass you by without worshipping Christ. It is so wonderful to know that the experience of these men seeing this star continues to be part of the most extraordinary story and celebration of the ONE who continues to bring HOPE to all that will believe and accept HIM. Jesus is truly the HOPE for your better future!

On behalf of the district office staff, Candy, and I, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year full of true Hope that is only found in Jesus!

Serving God by serving you,
Pastor Sam Flores
South Carolina District Superintendent

PEOPLE

Aswil & Maria Paula Dominguez

Disciples Church

Rev. Eric & Samantha Nahass
Columbia First

Retiro de Parejas with Rev. Jorge Diaz

Rev. Jason Leviner
Lowcountry Community

Rev. Jonathan & Marlene Saenz
Cherrydale Hispanic

Rev. Brian Ortmann
Laurens Cornerstone

Rev. Brian, Emily & Briley Howard
Camden First

Rev. Brandon Watts
Camden First

Rev. Alexander Largo
Greenwood Cristo Reina

Rev. Rodney & Jessica Walley
Charleston Calvary

Rev. Mark Vaughn
Genesis

District Office Staff

SC District's TNU Trustees

Drs. Moody & Nina Gunter

PLANS

Upcoming Events

January 14 | NYI Quiz Meet | West Columbia First
January 20-21 | District TNT | Midland Valley Community
January 28 | Children's Talent/Caravan Roundup | West Columbia Central
February 4 | Children's Quizzing | West Columbia Central
February 11 | NYI Quiz Meet | West Columbia First
February 16-19 | Pastor & Spouse Retreat | DoubleTree by Hilton, Asheville, NC
March 4 | Children's Quizzing Finals | West Columbia Central
March 4 | NYI Quiz Meet | West Columbia First
March 10-11 | Board of Ministry | Gunter Camp & Conference Center
March 31-April 1 | Spring Camp Work Days | Gunter Camp & Conference Center
April 13-16 | TNT@TNU | TNU
April 29 | District Leadership Summit | Gunter Camp & Conference Center
May 5-6 | TNU Commencement | TNU
May 19-21 | Bridge Young Adult Retreat | Gunter Camp & Conference Center
May 31 | End of Church Year
June 9-16 | 30th General Assembly & Conventions | Indianapolis, IN
June 15-18 | Teen Camp | Gunter Camp & Conference Center
June 25-30 | Family Camp | Gunter Camp & Conference Center
July 5-11 | Nazarene Youth Conference | Tampa, FL
July 12-16 | IMPACT Tour
July 16-17 | The Gathering 2023 - SC District Assembly & Conventions | Columbia First
July 19-22 | Preteen Camp | Gunter Camp & Conference Center
July 23-26 | Children's Camp | Gunter Camp & Conference Center

SC NMI NEWS

Dear Nazarene Family,

This NMI Update brings a Merry Christmas to each of you and some news about upcoming Work and Witness opportunities.

Love Your Neighbor is an opportunity for individuals to serve in Indianopolis or here in South Carolina during the General Assembly/summer of 2023. Attached is a letter from our coordinator Rev. Scott Wade concerning this time of service. You can be involved in any one of these three ways:

1. Travel to Indianopolis and serve with Rev. Travis Yarborough in a project that will include volunteers from all over the globe. The cost is $495 for those who will need housing and $300 for those who do not (perhaps you have a friend or family member who is going to the assembly/convention and you could stay with him or her?).

2. Apply to have a project take place at your church or mission area. The information is attached, but we are hoping to have three projects here in South Carolina, but that will require churches to apply for the assistance. These projects should also be community based (in other words, think of ways you can bless the community with the outcome of this project). Funding for the project is primarily the responsibility of the applying church/mission area, but our hope is that other South Carolinia Nazarenes provide the manpower.

3. Travel to another church to work on a local South Carolina project.

See the attached letter for more information or contact Rev. Scott Wade swade@momentumministries.org for more info!

Work and Witness in Argentina with the Radis

A trip is in motion for October 20-30, 2023. If you would like to be on the list to receive information to be a part of this endeavor, Rev. Scott Wade swade@momentumministries.org is your man! As of now, the project tasks include completing a stage in the construction of a district training center and local church. The cost will be approximately $2500-3000, depending on flight costs (It's a long way!).

Please promote these opportunities to your church families and ask everyone to give, pray and go as the Lord leads them.

May God bless you in the weeks ahead and may you find ways to be on mission for Him among your family, friends and communities this season.

You are loved and prayed for,

Pastor Libby
SC District NMI President

PRAYER

PRAYER REQUESTS

Quizzing Events
NYI Events: District TNT, TNT@TNU and NYC2023
Work & Witness Trip to Argentina
Children's Talent Festival
Pastor & Spouse Retreat
Pamela Baltzegar, spouse of Rev. Tommy Baltzegar (Seneca), struggling with health problems
Pastor John Gunter (Lugoff Faith) passed away on Sunday after a long battle with health struggles. Please keep his family in your prayers
Rev. Tim Haynes (Spartanburg First) will have open-heart surgery on December 30th for a heart bypass
Jim Mallory struggling with health problems
Rev. John McGee's (Pelion) father struggling with health problems
Churches going through transitions and in the Pastoral Search Process

PRAISE

Help us welcome Jessica Rojas and her family to the SC District! Jessica has begun serving in the district office as the Finance Officer.

SC District Christmas Banquet

Rev. Samuel & Candy Flores
District Superintendent