Nazarenes in the News is a compilation of online news articles featuring Nazarene churches or church members.

 

Arizona Nazarene a living testimony to Celebrate Recovery program 

Sedona, Arizona

By Pastor Jim Cunningham, Jr., Special to The Villager

(Verde Independent, June 1) I met Theresa Antionette Colaianni Settembrino (Teree) while she was in her 18th year of Methadone addiction, all 80 pounds of her, and months from death. 

To see her today healthy, substance free, vegan, vibrant, bubbling over, so full of life, happy, content — you would never believe her story. 

But I saw her then, witnessed her transformation, and I believe it. Teree is now married, the chef at Canyon Villa Bed and Breakfast, a successful artist operating "CRUSHED & NOW POLISHED," a board member at her church, and co-leader of a local 12-Step program with her husband.

For the rest of this story, click here. 

Note: Pastor Cunningham was asked by the monthly newspaper to start writing a column introducing a local resident to the community. Teree was his first choice as a subject. 

 

Kansas pastor, family to appear on Family Feud

Topeka, Kansas

(The Topeka Capital-Journal, May 27) A Topeka family made it through a series of auditions and soon will be appearing on the “Family Feud” television game show.

Branson and Carmen Roberts and their grown children — Megan Roberts, Tyler Roberts and Austin Roberts — departed May 23 for taping May 24 and 25 in Atlanta.

...

In Kansas City, the Roberts family and others competed in a mock “Family Feud” game, acting excited and giving each other high-fives.

After the mock game was taped, the Roberts’ family met one-on-one with producers, going through interviews that included requests such as “Tell us something about you that makes you unique.”

Among the answers, daughter Megan said a photograph of her face adorned the cover of Girl Scout cookies boxes for 12 years.

Branson, Carmen’s husband, told the producers he was born in Bethlehem, Pa., and was raised in Nazareth, Pa. — “so that meant I was destined to be a minister.” In fact, he is in the clergy, as pastor of Topeka’s First Church of the Nazarene, 1001 S.W. Buchanan.

For the rest of the story, click here.

Oklahoma church member receives award for work in rural healthcare

Alva, Oklahoma

(The Alva Review-Courier, June 9) Tim Starkey was recognized last week by the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma for his work in rural medicine. Starkey received “Rural Administrator of the Year” at the awards luncheon during the 2016 Spring Rural Health Conference in Norman.

Starkey is the CEO of Great Salt Plains Health Center Inc., a federally qualified health center with sites in Cherokee, Medford, and Enid. GSP Health provides medical, dental and behavioral health services to the sparsely populated areas of rural northern Oklahoma. Starkey has nearly 30 years of health care experience as a laboratory technician, laboratory manager, hospital COO, and hospital CEO.

For the rest of the story, click here.

Note: Tim is a member of the Alva Church of the Nazarene,  where he plays percussion in the praise band, teaches Sunday School, and serves as NYI president. He also serves on the Oklahoma District Advisory Board.

 

PLNU ballpark gets a new field

(PLNUSeaLions.com, June 10) After receiving a new scoreboard earlier this year and new seats last summer, Carroll B. Land Stadium, America's Most Scenic Ballpark, is beginning another round of improvements, this time to the field itself.

With the grass on the field being over 40 years old and many other aspects of the field itself in need of improvement, construction was started within a week after the final game of 2016. The process began by removing the field turf around home plate and the outfield grass. The infield grass was pulled then pulled out and repurposed sod the area on the west end of the PLNU track.

Over 50 truckloads and 1,300 cubic yards of soil were brought in to level the entire playing surface of Carroll B. Land Stadium. The irrigation lines have also been rerun and improved. The system controls are now completely digital to allow for more specific watering patterns, as well as being equipped with moisture sensors.

For the rest of the story and photos, click here.

Texas church celebrates 100 years

Port Arthur, Texas

(The Port Arthur News, June 3) One hundred years is a long time. Especially for a church to be around for a century.

That’s the case, however, for the Port Arthur First Church of the Nazarene at 4004 Memorial Blvd.

“It’s amazing we’ve reached 100 years,” said the Rev. Ed Wittung, pastor of the church. “Most churches don’t reach 50 or 60 years because young people move away.”

For the rest of the story, click here. 

 

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--Compiled by NCN News