MNY District Family,

Greetings in the grace and peace of Jesus the Christ!

There are so many wonderful and beautiful things happening across the district. While I have had the opportunity to visit more than 20 churches, I want to share two recent experiences: 1) the dedication of the new church building for our God’s Flock Christian Fellowship congregation in Fort Lee, NJ and 2) the organization of Manatial de Vida (Richmond Hill, Queens) as an official congregation. Both events were wonderful times of celebration and fellowship.

What I find beautiful about both celebrations is the model of shared ministry. Beyond the sacrifice of God’s Flock congregation and the assistance of the district staff, I was encouraged by the generosity of the Maranatha Church of the Nazarene, allowing them to worship in their building while construction occurred, and general contractor Edwin Elias (lay member at Templo Emanuel) who provided support, encouragement, and direction throughout the project. It is beautiful to witness collaboration in ministry.

Manantial de Vida (Richmond Hill, Queens), pastored by Rev. Jonathan Aguiliar, shares a ministry space with First Church of the Nazarene (Rev. Tony and Rev. Ruth Autar) and First South Asian (Rev. Aneel Mall). The collaboration, communication, and encouragement they share as pastoral leaders and congregations provides a vibrant example for a ministry model of shared space.

Finally, I want you to know you are remembered in my prayers. Additionally, each Tuesday the district staff gathers to do two things: 1) read and study Scripture and 2) pray for you (our clergy and congregations) by name. If you ever have specific needs or words of praise you would like to share with us, please forward them to me. We will pray specifically for you!

Partners in mission and prayer,

Pastor Jeff

Hispanic women of MNYD gather for worship, fellowship and encouragement

Saturday, September 21, over 300 of our hispanic women from across the Metro New York District, representing 20 churches, gathered together at Jehova Shammah Church of the Nazarene in Stamford, CT. The theme was Moments: Everything Has It's Time, reflecting on Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "For everything there is a season, a time for every matter under heaven."

Thank you to the incredible women who planned and lead this special event, and to Jehova Shammah for hosting them!

In addition to this program, Palmer Institute will also be offering the Supervised Ministry Course for those who are in the course of study toward ordination. This class is one of the twenty five courses required to be ordained. If you currently have a district license and have not taken this course yet this is a great opportunity to enroll now. This class will begin Thursday, October 17th via Zoom, and will be offered in both English (Rev. Dr. Jeff Barker) and Spanish (Rev. Paola Paniagua). Please contact Pastor Christine for more information or to register - [email protected].

Koinonia: A Taste of Fellowship

We are thrilled to introduce our new initiative, "Koinonia: A Taste of Fellowship," designed to create a vibrant, Christ-centered haven for international students and Youth in Manhattan. Koinonia seeks to ignite a flourishing community for international students in Manhattan — a place where faith blossoms, friendships are

forged, and every heart finds its home in the boundless love of God the Father. Our mission is to establish a missional space where students and youth can gather, break bread, and deepen their walk with Christ.

Our first gathering was at Appa's Pizza, bearing the name of the Father, which is more than a dining spot; it's a place where God's grace and love are poured out generously. Through this initiative, we are devoted to nurturing spiritual growth, building meaningful connections, and offering steadfast support to every student who enters this house of fellowship. We will be gathering here every Monday from 3-5pm beginning Monday, September 30th. For more information, please contact Philip Park - [email protected].

Beulah Church of the Nazarene Celebrates 100th Anniversary!

This year, we commemorate 100 years of God’s faithfulness to us at Beulah Church of the Nazarene. This occasion calls for a special celebration! We have three events scheduled for October 11th – 13th and will most appreciate your participation:

           100th Anniversary Gala                                October 11, 2024 @ 7 pm

           A Walk Down Memory Lane                       October 12, 2024 @ 4 pm

           Grand Service Celebration                         October 13, 2024 @ 10am

All are welcome to join us as we celebrate this momentous occasion. The celebration will include lots of special memories and photos, special music, an inspiring message, and a great opportunity to catch up with our extended church family. We hope to welcome many of our friends who have attended Beulah Church over the years. If you know someone you think would like to attend, please invite them.

The 100th Anniversary Gala is a ticketed event costing $150.00 per person. Please use the following link to purchase your tickets: 

https://brushfire.com/beulahnazarene/100thanniversarygala/577370

For further information on any of the above events, feel free to contact us: [email protected] or call the church office (718)-756-2310.

• We celebrate with the God's Flock congregation on the dedication of their new church home in Fort Lee, NJ! Joined by district staff, Rev. Dr. Samuel & Angela Vassel, and friends from across the district, it was a joy-filled celebration of the long two years it took to complete this project.

• Congratulations to Queens NY Central Church who celebrated their 41st year of service to their congregation and community!
  

  
  

• Don't forget to join us every Thursday morning at 7AM via Zoom [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8260812852] as we continue to pray for our district!

I October 7 | Lay Ministry Certificate Program Begins

November 2 | Celebrating Missions

November 8 - 10 | The Calling Weekend

December 7 | Pastor's Christmas Gathering