Volume 38 Issue 6 Dec 2020

“HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!” by Dr. Mark Berry, D.S. District Superintendent
Dr. Mark D. Berry
With mounting COVID illnesses, death of loved ones, elections, riots, world District Office:
pandemic, and the list goes on…never before have we needed to hear the words P.O. Box 680898
Prattville, AL 36068
“Merry” and “Happy”! These troublesome days are certainly not new, as we Phone 334.365.3188
reflect back on the time when Jesus was born. The Roman government ruled with www.centralgulfcoast.org
an iron fist and God’s people were discouraged and longed for the Messiah. The
three years of Jesus’ ministry were even filled with threats that eventually placed Him on the cross.
At present, we are traversing through uncertain times and, understandably, we don’t like it. During
these days, we need to lean on the Word of God, which assuredly proclaims, “Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave
you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6; and “…Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age.” Matthew 28:20. God’s Word promises that He is with us through the journeys of life and
constantly reminds us that this world is not our home. So, joyfully shout out, “Merry Christmas!” to
everyone you meet!
I could not be prouder of our churches and pastors that have been faithful during these days of strife
and challenge. Below you will find some of the greatest, most devoted pastors in the Nazarene Church.
Keep them in your prayers and let’s look forward with hope to a “New” year.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM THE BERRYS

2020 has been a unique year of ministry and personal challenges all across the district. We are
thankful for the faithfulness of God’s people for continuing to support their local church through thick
and thin. We ask God to honor and bless the steadfast pastors, leaders and laypersons of the Central
Gulf Coast District family! “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so
that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year! – Dr. Mark & Debi Berry

ANNUAL DISTRICT MINISTERS CHRISTMAS BANQUET - TUESDAY, DEC. 8 - 6:30 PM (CST)

The Marriott Legends in Prattville, AL. Pastors and spouses, come dressed in holiday attire for this
festive occasion. COVID guidelines: Face coverings are required and social distancing of 6 feet is
strictly encouraged. Tables will be placed 6 feet apart with only 6 per table. Special Guest: Rev. Terry
Hedges with Amazing Ministries. Special THANK YOU to churches and donors for assisting ministry
couples with banquet and travel expenses!
 Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries
SDMI Chairperson: Brian Aaron
DISTRICT SINGLES MINISTRY UPDATE - Ronda Williams, District Singles Director
2020 has been quite a year! Some good and some bad (more bad than good I’m
afraid). But we are instructed to Praise Him in the good times and the bad times. It
looks like we will not be able to meet for our annual district Christmas outing…and that is very sad to
me. I miss you all very much and really wanted to see you. I have been trying to think of something we
can do to feel connected and here’s my idea: An old-fashioned Christmas card exchange via “snail mail”!
1. Go out and purchase the most craziest cards you can find – or use some old cards that you might not
have used in past Christmas’ – go wild, go funky, go for it!
2. Type or write up a little summary of what has happened to you this year – how you are doing – how
the pandemic affected your life, your ups and downs. Then make copies and send it in each card you
mail. If you don’t have a copier, ask someone at work or church to help you with this.
3. Buy some stamps and get them all mailed by Christmas – if the cost of stamps is a problem, might I
suggest mailing a few each week leading up to Christmas. But don’t delay or let them all build up or
you will be frustrated and broke and then this little “fun” activity will not make you jolly.
Please text or email me if you would like a list of names and addresses so you can be a part of the fun!
If you or if you know of any other Singles who might enjoy receiving some Christmas cheer this year,
please let me know and I will get them added to our list. With the addition of the Panhandle Churches,
there may be a few new Singles that we need to add to our list. And with all that has happened this year,
I would not want to leave anyone out that might need a little extra cheer this holiday season. You can
text me the name and address to 251-363-1341 or email it to me at rlwilla41@hotmail.com.

DISTRICT WOMEN’S RETREAT March 18-21, 2021, Country Cascades Waterpark Resort in Pigeon
Forge, TN. Special Guests: Vance & Jeannie Sharpe. Retreat Theme: “Rise Up—People Get Ready—Jesus
is Coming”. Banquet Theme: Remember America the Beautiful. Cost for 3 Nights Stay: 4ppl/rm $175pp |
3ppl/rm $184pp | 2ppl/rm $200pp | 1 person/rm $400. Send $75 registration fee by Dec. 10 to:
Thelma Patrick, 301 E. Broadway St., Summerdale, AL 36580. The balance is due to Thelma on Feb. 1,
2021. For questions, contact Thelma via email at mcfowler57@aol.com.

News From The District Center

ONLINE EVANGELISM TRAINING WEEKEND for pastors and laypersons. The trainer will
be Rev. Mark Bane, director of Evangelism and New Church Development for the USA/
Canada Region Church of the Nazarene. The online event will be held on January 21-23.
Log-in details are forthcoming through the district Facebook page and through your
pastor.
MOVING MINISTERS MONROEVILLE: Rev. Ken Bowen will conclude his ministry at the church on Dec.
13 and is in transition.
AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY OFFERING is received on the second Sunday in December. It is an approved
10% giving offering. Help get the Word of God into the hands of the most spiritually needy people of the
world. Send checks to: General Treasurer, PO Box 843116, Kansas City, KS 64184. Thank you for your
support of the Bible Society offering!
CHURCH APPRECIATION and gratitude to the churches that honored and celebrated their pastoral
families during Clergy Appreciation Month. District pastors thank you for the many expressions of
kindness and generosity.
HISPANIC MINISTRIES UPDATE: We continue to pray for our Hispanic-Latino brothers and sisters as
they face similar challenges as all churches during the pandemic. We’re thankful for their leadership
and dedication. They have been faithfully and sacrificially distributing clothing and food to those in
need. Thank you to the churches that have invested in these ministries through the Multicultural
Ministries Offering. —Dr. Mark Berry, D.S.
 Nazarene Missions International
NMI President: Diane Thompson
NAZARENE MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL (NMI) is the organization for mobilizing the local
church in missions in the Church of the Nazarene and the denomination’s representative
for missions on the district and in the local church. There is no doubt NMI in the local
church, on the district and globally are facing changes in the way we promote and carry out missions.
Just because COVID 19 has challenged us, we will NOT give up but rather we, as a living organism will
adapt to the challenges we find before us. We do believe God is going ahead of us to pave the way into
the future of missions. Missionaries are working hard even with less income and God is giving the
increase. There are many new missionaries ready and waiting to go when it’s safe and countries open
up. This is exciting news! I ask that you stretch yourselves in the new year personally and as a church to
try new things for sharing the gospel with the lost and for supporting our missionaries who are giving
their all. What we have done in the past may not work in 2021, so with God’s help let’s embrace 2021
with power, strength, and wisdom that comes only from our Heavenly Father. — Diane Thompson
DECEMBER EMPHASIS Nazarene Compassionate Ministries-Child Sponsorship: At present there are 16
churches on our district who are currently sponsoring one or more children through this program.
I applaud those of you who are. May I suggest your church consider promoting NCM with a Child
Sponsorship Sunday, soon? For $30 a month you can give a child the gift of nutritious meals, a quality
education, long-term life skills, and a deep understanding of God’s love. Learn more at ncm.org/sponsor.

Nazarene Youth International

NYI President: April Baggott
We are entering into a season of the year when we take time to come together with family and friends.
We enjoy sharing stories from the past year, participating in traditions and spending time with those we
love. It’s also a time of giving, when we seek to love others even more through practical ways. Yet, this
year has been like none other we have seen in our lifetime and has brought great challenges. We have
learned what a pandemic is and not from a history teacher or textbook. We have experienced the
disappointment of cancelled events, learned to social distance and how to turn a face mask into a
fashionable accessory.
In our churches, we will light a candle on the Advent wreath each week as we celebrate and make
the journey toward Christmas. We will remember the long anticipated arrival of the Messiah that came
that first Christmas and the hope we have in the second coming of Jesus Christ. Advent means “coming”
or “arrival”. The Advent of Christ brought the gift of new life to all who believe and it is for this reason
we can look forward to the arrival of a new year without worry for more of the same challenges. As
2020 comes to an end, let’s celebrate the good things that came from such a difficult year and begin to
anticipate the arrival of a new year that brings with it renewed hope for better days.
TNT 2021 is in the planning process. More information will be sent out in December regarding the
district event. Please send an email to Pastor Susan Broadhead (altntregister@gmail.com) if your church
plans to attend district and regional events.
REMIND APP Text @cgcnyi to 81010 to receive the latest communication for Central Gulf Coast NYI.
News From Trevecca Nazarene University
333 Murfreesboro Rd. Nashville, TN 37210 - Admissions: 800-210-4TNU - www.trevecca.edu
Fall 2020 Alabama South TNU Undergrad Students
Lucas Baggott (Mobile First)
Madison Bowers (Pensacola Ensley)
Benjamin Davis (Millbrook/River Region)
Emily MacAdam (Pensacola Ensley)
Sydney McGowan (Millbrook/River Region)
Courtney Moseley (Millbrook/River Region)
Sydney Rutherford (Landmark)
Quentin Scott (Panama City First)
 REPORTS FSF PAID WEF PAID 2020-2021 ALABAMA SOUTH DISTRICT CALENDAR
MONTHLY CHURCH
RECEIVED/ THROUGH THROUGH DECEMBER
FINANCIAL REPORTS
MONTHS PD. 11/20/20 9/22/20 6 Compassionate Ministries Offering
Bayview 7/7 1,674 801
8 District Ministers Christmas Banquet
13 American Bible Society Offering
Blountstown* 8/0 0 0
Calvert 8/8 6,409 4,283 JANUARY
Capilla de Wallace 8/8 291 0 7 Advisory Board Online Meeting, 9 am
Childersburg 8/<8 3,056 0 9 Dist. NMI Exec. Nominating Mtg 9 am, District
Columbiana 1/1 2,800 1,339 NMI Council Budgetary Mtg 10 am
Cottondale 0/0 0 2,343 14 Assembly Team Online Mtg. 6:30 pm TBD
Crestview* 8/8 1,130 1,156 16 Board of Ministry Online Mtg. and Student
Dothan First 8/8 23,632 11,194
Interviews
21-23 Pastors Online Training, Spkr: Rev. Mark Bane
East Brewton 8/8 9,710 4,762 31 Nazarene Theological Seminary Offering
Enterprise 0/0 0 0
Excel 8/8 18,115 8,664 FEBRUARY
Fort Walton Beach* 6/>6 6,403 4,552 Alabaster Offering Month
God's Glory Min. 3/1 642 0 6 Dist. SDMI Board Nominations/Budget Mtg.
Heritage 6/2 332 0 10am Dist. NYI Comm. Nominations/Budget
Huguley 4/2 800 72 Mtg. 1 pm
Igl. del Naz de Prattville 7/7 586 0 20 Heavenly Star Search, Details TBD
Igl. del Naz de Ft W Bch* 1/0 0 0 21 Global Youth Evangelism Offering
26-27 District NYI Convention, Details TBD
Jackson 0/0 0 0 28 Close of Church Fiscal Year
Lake Martin 8/8 269 129
Landmark 8/8 17,806 9,233 MARCH
Lanett First 8/8 10,276 5,094 29-6 NMI World Week of Prayer
Marianna* 0/0 0 0 1-4 Exponential 2021 Orlando
Millbrook 8/8 11,442 5,492 3-7 Valley Area Indoor Camp Mtg., Details TBD
Millry 8/8 2,345 1,214 5 Auxiliaries Proposed Budgets DUE
Mobile First 7/>7 25,545 11,881 6 Dist. Advisory Brd. Mtg. 9 am
Mobile Parkview 5/5 1,928 972 7-10 Mobile Area Indoor Camp Mtg. Details TBD
9 Assembly Team Online Mtg. 6:30 pm
Mobile Riverside 8/>8 4,016 1,802 14 Turn Clocks Ahead 1 Hour! (DST)
Monroeville 0/0 0 0 18-20 TNU Board of Trustees Meeting
Montgomery Cap. City 4/>4 2,681 2,051 18-21 Dist. Women’s Retreat, Pigeon Forge TN
Montgomery First 8/7 3,254 1,684 23 Ad Hoc Finance Committee Mtg. 9 am
Moundville 7/3 1,229 135
New Providence 8/6 2,000 575 APRIL
Open Arms Min. 4/0 0 0 3 Dist. Finance Nominating Committee Mtgs.
Pace New Faith* 8/8 1,616 1,253 4 Easter Offering for World Evangelism
25 Trevecca Awareness Sunday
Pan City El Gran Yo Soy* 0/0 0 0
Panama City First* 8/8 7,003 4,821 MAY
Pensacola Ensley* 8/8 10,927 8,262 Missionary Health Care Offering
Pensacola First* 8/<8 22,075 17,505 6 National Day of Prayer
Port St. Joe* 8/<8 2,077 1,670 7-8 TNU Baccalaureate/Commencement
Praise Park Min. 8/8 4,922 2,354 11-13 Dist. Conventions & Assembly, Pensacola
First Church
Prattville First 0/>0 5,391 0 17 Advisory Brd. Online Mtg. 6:30 pm
Ridgeville 8/8 6,824 3,373 18 SDMI Organizational Online Mtg. 9 am
Roanoke 7/1 350 400
Robertsdale 8/8 7,293 3,535
Roca Eterna 2/0 0 0
Rock Mills 8/8 9,522 4,554
Selma West Village 3/3 2,385 405
Shawmut First 7/7 10,097 4,273
Spencer 8/8 5,923 3,083
Sylacauga First 6/>6 7,958 3,806
Taylors Chapel 7/>7 1,728 783
The Mount 8/<8 2,588 1,013
Tusc. Cross Pointe 8/8 8,312 3,194
Tuscaloosa First 6/6 11,669 7,164
Tusc. Holten Heights 8/8 13,698 7,850
Tuscaloosa South 6/0 0 0
Valley First 8/8 244 500
*Denotes Florida churches beginning Aug. 1, 2019