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Nicaragua Moravian Church News Letter Year 2004

Three hundred and five voting delegates representing the five districts of our Church, came together at Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas, from January 19-26. This was the synod that had the wives of the ordained ministers come with voice and vote, thus making us all aware that women truly deserve their rightful place and especially so for the wives who labor side by side with their husbands in the service to Christ and His Church.

The five elected members of the Provincial Board, each representing their district were:

Rev. Gonzalo Paiz - Central, Rev.
Ofelia Alvarez - Río Coco,
Pastor Edgar Manuel - The Mines,
Sister Amalia Bell - Occident,
and Rev. Steadman Bent - South.

Brother Bent became the President of the newly elected Provincial Board. It was not until the 15th of March that the outgoing Provincial Board, handed over the leadership of the Church for the next three years. Our Bishop William Webster officiated at the turn over, thus challenging each of the five members to give of our best to the Master.

Although we may not wish to hear the dark side of this new Administration, it is but fair to say that the outgoing Administrator, Bro. Gerald Green, painted a realistic picture of the financial status of the Church. No funds on hand, plus a large amount of cash needed to pay outstanding bills. We are trying to do the best with the present situation and for such we appeal to all of our Congregations to be faithful with the Provincial Assestment assigned along with the special offerings, such as 10% from the Harvest and the Watchnight Offering. We extend our sincere thanks to those Congregations that faithfully support the Province; without your help we could really not make it.

Important Events

As the year comes to a close we would highlight some of the important events under our leadership.

DEATHS: These are they who have gone ahead to be with their Lord and Master.

Juliana Justo de Alfred -- 2nd of January (wife of pastor Willimack Alfred)
Angela Sánchez de Crawford -- 16th of March (wife of pastor Emiliano Crawford)
Ana Emiliano Vda. de McDavis -- 08th of April (wife of pastor Herbacio McDavis)
Adela Spellman de Taylor -- 22nd of April (wife of Rev. Joe Taylor)
Enriqueta Wiggins de Cleban -- 22nd of June (wife of Rev. Santos Cleban)

PASTORAL CHANGES:

A: Retirements
Thanks to God for their labor of love. They now join the list of those that have retired from active service. Rev. & Mrs. Higinio Morazán, Rev. & Mrs. Serminio Nicho, Rev. & Mrs. Guido Herrera, Rev. & Mrs. Feliciano Martínez, Rev. & Mrs. Berno Fedrick, Rev. & Mrs. Yurentín Toledo, Rev. & Mrs. Joaquín Webb, Pastor & Mrs. Bonel Roosevelt, Pastor & Mrs. Rubios Wilson, Rev. & Mrs. Guilmor Ricardo, Rev. & Mrs. Juan Martínez, Rev. & Mrs. Lorenzo Nicho, Pastor & Mrs. Reynaldo Zacarías, Pastor & Mrs. Cándido Taylor.

B.Calls
Accepted: Rev. Nanivan Wilson to Waspám, Rev. Ofelia Alvarez to Provincial office Bilwi, Rev. Naboth Zacarías to Saupuka, Rev. Marcelo Borge to Bilwaskarma, Rev. César Samuel to Bilwi, Rev. Nilio López to Maniwatla, Rev. Jonathan Samuel to Awastingni, Rev. Huberth Coleman to Corn Island, Rev. Manuel Lazo to Bilwi, Rev. Joe Taylor to Laya Siksa, Rev. Santiago Brautigam to Prinzapolka, Rev. Rodney Wilson to Karawala. Pastor Lencho Navarrete to Sangnilaya.

C. Ordinations
Our Bishop Webster has ordained 5 lay pastors. 3 in Puerto Cabezas the 21st of November, and 2 in Waspám, Río Coco the 5th of December. Their names are: Guillermo Devis from Central District. Manistero Devis and José Zamora from The Mines. Nilio Wilson and Narváez Rufus from Río Coco.

Theological Seminary:
Our Bishop William Webster receives our heartfelt appreciation for a job well done as Director of our Seminary. Graduation of 5 with the Bachelor of Theology degree and 18 with Certificates, took place in Bilwi, May 14th. Bachelor Degree: Abel Salazar, Cleto Tucker, Polencio Solano, Gabriel Mercado and Rubicio Reginald.

Certificate for 2 years at Seminary: Eliseo Simons, Rolando Castillo, Richard Méndez, Keneth Borge, Ronald López, Gómez Parista, Herminio Delmont, Ronald Davis, Rogelio Zacarías, Oswaldo Bálgamo, Alfonso Bell, Cardocio Taylor, Leborio Meregildo, Delancin Miguel, Stanley Müller, Yepto Rufus, Watson Gutiérrez, Galeano Martínez. Most of these are serving a congregation and a few are still waiting a call.

We are honoring the request of the Provincial Synod, thus releasing Bro. Webster from the Seminary, so as to be better able to serve as Bishop of the Province. In early January 2005, he will have his office at the Provincial Building. Rev. Pablo Downs will become the new Director of the Seminary and Rev. Ofelia Alvarez the new Dean. Both will be installed on January 16th, 2005.

Information on Schools and University

John Amos Comenius High School in Bilwi and Moravian High School in Bluefields :
The School year is at a close and 97 students will graduate from our Provincial High School in Bilwi, and 111 students from Bluefields; 21 accountants among them. Our blessings accompany these who will either move on to higher studies or seek a job. Congratulations!!

Thanks to the Director Lic, Daisy Perryman Tathum and Sub-Director, Lic. Cesáreo Bello, for dedicated and sacrificial service to this Center of Learning. For the new Year 2005, these have been chosen to be their substitute: Lic. Rufino Romero and Lic. Lisaida Arosteguí (wife of Bishop William Webster).

The Hedley Wilson High School:
The Santa Trinidad Moravian Church, is pleased to announce the first graduation exercises of their High School “Bishop Hedley Wilson”, on Saturday, November 27th. Congratulations to 18 gentlemen and 4 ladies.

Bicu-Cium Agreement:
The Provincial Board and the Bluefields Indian and Caribbean University Chairmen signed an agreement, in order to walk together for the next three years. This important event took place in Bluefields, the 13th of October. This made it possible for 150 thousand Cord. to be allocated towards the maintenance of the Cium building.

College Students with Leaders visit us from Sweden:
Twelve ladies and four young men with their Faculty teachers visited both North and South Zelaya, from 21st of September to 23rd of October. We were pleased to have them along with our dear friend, the Rev. Bertil Widen.

Canadian Eye Specialists visit Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas

Twenty Canadians, 12 women and 8 men, arrived at Bilwi’s Airport with lots of baggages, containing about 2000 eyeglasses, eye drops and all the needed equipments for testing the eyes. The following day, Monday through Thursday they worked 10 hours per day, giving new sight to 840 persons. We have learned once more how we can be of service to others. Thanks to this team of Volunteers.

Advent and Christmas:

Jesus the Christ, God’s Messiah has come to us, born in the humble manger at Bethlehem. Like the Shepherds and the Wise men we begin anew to make our journey to find our Emmanuel (God with us).

He is worshipped and adored in our Churches and Chapels, the places where together with other believers, we lay before Him our will and our devotion. However, let us not forget that He calls us to go out into the highways and byways of life, where we will find the lonely, the sad, the bruised cause by the many afflictions of sin. Take a moment to do the following, this Advent and Christmas Season: Hold the cold shivering hands of young and old who need the warmth of a friend.

Speak words of Scripture to those who have lost the way and need to turn their eyes back to Jesus. Tell somebody about the one you may not be able to help. Fill up the baskets of those you meet with Christ’s love, so that many homes may be brightened with the glory of Jesus, this Christmas of 2004.

2005 - YEAR OF EVANGELISM

The Provincial Board is calling on all our Congregations 197 total, to let the year 2005 be called the year of Evangelism. Let this text guide us in preparation for what God has instored for us Moravians:

“Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts,
cause thy face to shine;
and we shall be saved”
Psalm 80:19

Please write and let us know your plans with dates and send us a report of how many gave their hearts to the Lord Jesus. Each Congregation will plan for this event with Bible Study and Prayer. The Lord has helped us thus far and we rejoice in praising His name. Our Province continues to say “Thank you” to the following ones who financially and prayerful support the work of the Church:

The United Church of Canada
The Covenant Church of Sweden
The Moravian Church Foundation
The Board of World Mission
Moravian Church of North America
The German Moravian Church (Bad Boll)
Christian Churches of Holland