Our annual Leadership Conference took place from January19-24th. The theme was “Soul Care: Being Fully Alive as a Minister” which focused on “Spiritual and Emotional Health for Life and Ministry.” It was a blessed time of worshiping and sharing what God is doing in the different corners of our continent.
We had the pleasure of having Dr. Joe Gorman as our conference speaker. He has been pastor of the Golden Church of the Nazarene in Denver, CO for 19 years and is an adjunct faculty member of the online graduate programme at Northwest Nazarene University. Through personal struggles and difficult health issues in his family, Joe developed a passion for helping pastors and laypersons integrate their personal and spiritual lives. Dr Gorman focused his workshops on how ministers need to take care of their own spiritual, physical, personal and familiar life as they also minister to other people. As ministers we deal with all kind of problems, issues and situations but it is also important to take a moment to rest as we also refresh our strength.
Our devotional speaker was Dr. Tim Green. Tim is the Dean of the School of Religion at Trevecca Nazarene University and professor in Old Testament Theology and Literature. At EuNC he is not only known as a very capable and well-loved teacher but also as a powerful preacher of the Word. Dr. Green talked about relying on God and remembering that our identity lies in the fact that “we are the blessed, graced and gifted children of God.” Dr Green emphasized that it is not about what we want to achieve but it is about the journey that we are in. .
The Conference ended with a communion service led by Rector Klaus Arnold and Antonie Holleman. It was surely a special time. “Every time I come back [to Leadership Conference], it gets better and better.” said Guus van Gunst, a part time student from the Netherlands. “Leadership Conference has stolen my heart.” Mark your calendars for next year’s Leadership Conference 2010: January 18-21st.
Immediately following the Leadership Conference was the 2nd annual All-Faculty Meeting as 35 faculty and administrators from around the region gathered together for training sessions and fellowship. As the student body continues to grow in number, with part-time students in 17 learning centers in 17 countries, so the structure and processes are also being developed to further equip leader for ministry.
Snow pants, gloves, hats, jackets, scarves, boots and laughing people filled multiple vans headed for the Alps. It was time for our annual Snow Day at EuNC. Monday, January 26, 56 people including students, faculty and staff from EuNC’s multiple campuses headed to the mountains for a day of fun and bonding in the cold.
They set out from the Busingen campus and once they got to the mountain the group split: some chose to Ski and snowboard, others chose to go sledding on the toboggans, and still others decided a walk through the mountain trails or sitting in the warm lodge was more up their alley. The largest group, however, went sledding. The toboggan run became a place of activity – people racing, crashing, laughing, taking pictures, making videos, and making new friends. Ben-Oni Valentin, a second year student at the Busingen campus, attended the snow day last year and this year. “The best part is when I’m sledding – just doing it,” said Ben-Oni. “The wind and the snow, and you know everybody around you, and they’re all screaming. Also, it’s fun trying to go faster than everybody and then you go slower. The whole thing is great.” There also were many epic crashes on the toboggan run during the day. Second year student, Johanna Radi described a crash she had while riding doubl with Ben-Oni. “We had this one really bad fall. It was just random,” she said. “We were going along and then out of nowhere we just flew off the sled and I landed on a pile of snow. Then I was lying on the ground still and Kristen came and almost ran over my head!” Ben-Oni added “We almost died, but it was cool.” Students and faculty seemed to enjoy the day, and came back fulfilled and exhausted, yet having made new friends and new memories. “I think it’s one of the best days of the year,” said Ben-Oni, “because we do something outside of the school and it’s everybody faculty and students.”
The EuNC family would like to welcome our new students! We have a group of six American study abroad students that will be with us until May; Nathan Reese (Mount Vernon Nazarene University), Christin Schlenker (Mount Vernon Nazarene University), Katelyn Sterner (Mount Vernon Nazarene University), Brady Franklin (MidAmerica Nazarene University), Jenna Redmond (Northwest Nazarene University) and Joanna O'Hanlon (Point Loma Nazarene University).
We also have three students from our learning centres that are now full time students; Lars Ørsøe (Denmark), Signe Bollerup (Denmark) and Sara Schmid (Italy). Last but not least we welcome Gerrie Moriarty and Elaine Davis who are part of Busingen International Church of the Nazarene and recently joined our school as part time students.
What a way to begin the new year! I hope you can “feel” some of the excitement and joy of the first month of the new year - actually the busiest month of the year. When it’s over, all of our faculty, staff, and students are exhausted - nevertheless, you could hear it being said more than once: “It’s worth it! Being with people - being blessed - and passing on blessings from the Lord! It is surely worth it!”
There is an important change in this newsletter that I want to make all of you aware of: Good and bad news. Well, the bad news first. Debora Guting, who had been the editor of the “EuNC … in touch” newsletter for almost two years (as well as serving in other areas of public relations), has resigned that position at the end of 2008. She has some good reasons for that: As she is getting close to graduation, she has decided to get involved in local church ministry in Gottmadingen (youth and church board) and still have enough time for studies, her husband and her two children! We thank Debbie for her excellent work and wish her all the best and the Lord’s richest blessings.
And now the good news: Jennie Johnston, our admissions officer and assessment coordinator, has been willing “to step in” until the end of this school year, and has become the editor of the newsletter. Thank you, Jennie, for your willingness to step in and do this important work “besides” the other tasks you have!
We wish all of you God’s grace and peace in your lives, your families, your work, and your ministry involvement. Please, continue to stay “…in touch” with your school, European Nazarene College In Christ,
Klaus Arnold, Rector
