SLC Central Welcomes African Congregation

Salt Lake City Central Church of the Nazarene is located in a diverse area near the heart of the city.  Within a mile's distance of the church building are people representing around one hundred different languages and cultures.  As the church has sought to minister in its unique context, Pastor Jeremy Johnston received a phone call from Pastor Tito, an African pastor who had been leading a growing congregation and who was seeking connection with an established church in the area.  This newly-developing group now meets in SLC Central's building for worship on Sunday afternoons, and Pastor Jeremy and other leaders at Central are working with them as partners in the Gospel.

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Published: September 24 2021 September 24 2021

• Congregation
• Church Planting/Renewal

Block Party at Boise Euclid

Boise Euclid has a vision to reach their community for Christ.  Pastor Sam Bartolome at her team hosted a block party on Labor Day 2021, inviting people from the surrounding six blocks to join them, and they had a great turnout.  Several Boise State University students made their way out of the nearby frat houses for burgers, hot dogs and sides, along with a gift bag from the church.  Euclid's recent building remodel and landscaping have made their location more inviting, and they have added a Student Study Center lounge as a place for people to come.  The church also continues to build relationships through its partnerships with BSU, CRU, and AA.

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Published: September 09 2021 September 09 2021

• Congregation
• Facility

Swahili Congregation at Boise Five Mile

Several years ago at its annual NMI Convention, the district was challenged to consider a new perspective with this question:

What will we do when the world comes to us?

Ten years ago, Nazarene missionaries in Tanzania ministered to refugees fleeing from the Congo, some of whom eventually made their way to Idaho.  They found another Nazarene ministry, this time at Boise Five Mile.  Pastor Ben Turner and the Five Mile congregation welcomed these new friends from Africa and opened their facility for a Swahili-language service.  A year has passed since that time, and the two groups have officially merged to become one church with two congregations.  One of the leaders, Pastor Rehema Asumani, is now developing in ministry as part of the Five Mile staff.  We praise God for how He is working through the local congregations and the global church to share the good news of Jesus.

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Published: August 25 2021 August 25 2021

• Congregation
• Church Planting/Renewal

District Camp Meeting 2021

District Camp Meeting 2021 was blessed by the dynamic duo of Pastor Scott Shaw (District Superintendent) and Dr. Verne Ward (Director of Global Missions) speaking about the Good News and the work of the gospel, both around the world and in our own lives.  In addition to the great music, preaching, and food at Trinity Pines, the Spirit of God was evident in meaningful conversations and the joy of shared experiences during that time together. We are so grateful for an amazing campground with such natural beauty, and for the joy of Jesus together -- including with marshmallows in Olympic fashion!  Thank you for all who joined us this year.

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Published: August 15 2021 August 15 2021

• Congregation
• Camps/Retreats
• Missions

Boise Euclid Welcomes Pastor Sam Bartolome

Euclid Community Church in Boise recently welcomed Rev. Sam Bartolome as their new pastor.  Pastor Sam and her husband Tom served at Boise Five Mile Church of the Nazarene for five years, and Pastor Sam continues as assistant for the NNU Graduate School of Theology.  Pastor Sam hasn't let any grass grow under her feet since her July 4 start at Boise Euclid, as she is already working with the church leadership to develop new vision for connecting with the nearby community and with students at Boise State University.  They have also been hard at work developing a welcoming space by remodeling the building, tearing out old shrubs, and updating the landscape around the church building.  Boise Euclid wants to shine the bright light of Jesus in their community as they partner together in God's vision for the future.

All are invited to join them for a block party in the church parking lot to connect with the neighbors on Labor Day -- September 6, 2021, starting at 1pm. 

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Published: August 10 2021 August 10 2021

• Pastor
• Congregation
• Facility

Girls' Camp 2021

What a fantastic year for Girls' Camp!  Campers in grades 4-6 spent an incredibly full week exercising their faith and their bodies at Believercise.  The amazing directors, Ashleigh Loeber and Anneke Wolfe, brought together a great team that led the girls in hikes, crafts, cabin games, recreation, and even a group Believercise dance.  Along with the activities, the girls spent time learning each day as an exercise to help grow and strengthen faith in Jesus.  A number of young ladies added a stake to the Trinity Pines Stake Garden as a symbol of their salvation through Jesus.  It was a great week -- and they are already looking forward to next year!

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Published: July 17 2021 July 17 2021

• Camps/Retreats

Boys' Camp 2021

Grady Harmon and Jayson Martindale directed a great boys' camp (grades 4-6) at Trinity PInes, joined by a host of volunteers who invested all week in the lives of the boys.  Pastor Grady reports:

Summer camp was a huge success!  We had the best week with 66 of the best campers around.  This year we focused on what summer camp is all about and broke it down into five main themes: being in God's creation, being in the midst of God's love, being challenged to grow, being one in brotherhood, and being sent out to share.  God really showed up this week as sixteen boys committed their lives to Christ or felt called into ministry.  Praise God!  We also spent the week playing games, singing songs, competing in a pinewood derby and earning Camp Cup Coins for the inaugural Camp Cup Challenge.  The Cabin Leader All-Stars were crowned Camp Cup champions after defeating the Camp Staff Elite in an epic dodgeball match.  We had such a great week at camp and can't wait until next year!

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Published: June 26 2021 June 26 2021

• Camps/Retreats

Concert Outreach at Nyssa

Pastor Steve Wilson has an amazing God-story -- ask him about it to find out more!  But here is the abbreviated version --

Pastor Steve was helping his daughter buy a car in nearby Ontario, where he connected with a tough-looking salesman.  As they talked, Pastor Steve discovered that the man was a gang-member-turned-Jesus-freak and had a rock band -- the "Misfit Army Ministry Team, based out of Nampa/Boise -- that shares their testimonies and the good news of Jesus along with their music.  One thing led to another and Pastor Steve invited the band to Nyssa for a free concert in the church parking lot, offering hot dogs, water, and food baskets from the Nyssa Food Pantry.  Around 100 people attended the event, fifteen went forward for prayer, and six were baptized on the spot!

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Published: June 24 2021 June 24 2021

• Church Planting/Renewal

Genesis Camp 2021

Genesis Camp once again created the perfect camp experience for our young campers!  Campers in grades 1-3 spent three days and two nights at Trinity Pines experiencing a variety of activities including chapel, the rock wall, crafts and snacks at the Jubilation Station!  This year's theme was The Cove, and campers (with their guardians) learned that God supplies all of our needs through Jesus -- even when stranded in The Cove!

This incredible camp was made possible by directors Sara Ross and Scott & Kym Slater, in addition to all the adults who participated with the kiddos.

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Published: June 12 2021 June 12 2021

• Camps/Retreats

District Assembly 2021: Empty Hands

God spoke to Moses from within a burning bush in the desert, calling him to lead the Israelites out of slavery.  It was overwhelming call.

Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The Lord did not appear to you'?"

Then the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?"

"A staff," he replied.

"The Lord said, "Throw it on the ground." (Exodus 4:1-3a)

During the opening service of the 2021 Intermountain District Assembly, Pastor Scott preached from this passage as he spoke about our posture and attitude in the face of difficult circumstances.  What do we have in our hands, and what might God call us to do with those things?  Click here to listen:

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Published: April 29 2021 April 29 2021

• Sermon
• Assembly