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Invitation to Black Ministries Pre-assembly Servicepdf-download-icon

Dear Pastor/leaders,

In conjunction with Indianapolis Shepherd Community COTN, Black Ministries is sponsoring a Pre-General Assembly Dinner and service, Thursday, June 8, 2023, at Shepherd Community COTN, 4107 East Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46201. This service will be a special celebratory service for Black Ministries and a time for fellowship among our Black pastors and leaders. We would like to invite you, and any delegates that may accompany you to General Assembly, to attend this service.

Dinner The evening will begin with a plated dinner at 5:30PM, which will wrap up between 6:30 - 6:45PM. There is no cost to attend dinner, but you must pre-register to attend. You must email Executive Pastor Kelly Noe at: Kellyn@shepherdcommunity.org to register. Phone: (317) 375-0203.

Evening services 
The evening services will begin at 7:00PM with Dr. Fili Chambo, General Superintendent, as our featured speaker. Special music will be handled by Minister Cassandra Trotman. Proceeds from the offering will go towards the Dr. Charles Johnson Scholarship fund at Trevecca Nazarene University. We would like to raise $5000 to help fund the scholarship for this legendary leader who led the Meridian Fitkins Memorial Church of the Nazarene for 60 years and commissioned over 50 pastors and leaders in that span. I am challenging you to bring or send a generous special offering. Many have already committed to give $100 or more. If you do your very best, I am sure we will reach our goal.

Be sure to pass this message along to others!

Blessings,

Rev. Dr. Charles A. Tillman, Sr.
Black Ministries Facilitator
Church of the Nazarene
USA/Canada

 


 

Engagement with the Black Strategic Readiness Team

The Black Strategic Readiness Team (BSRT) was established by the 1968 General Assembly (then named the “Black Council”) as a resource to help develop strong Black leadership and to guide the church regarding issues of race. Throughout the intervening years, they have worked tirelessly for the Black Church of the Nazarene in the United States. The names and faces of the Council have changed, but today, the members are second and third generation Nazarenes who have a deep love and commitment to the message of scriptural holiness and the Church of the Nazarene.

Organized by the BSRT and supported by the USA/Canada Region, a National Black Nazarene Conference meets bi-annually and celebrates the life and work of the numerous Black Churches of the Nazarene in the United States and Canada. Desiring to enhance the commitment of the denomination to Black Nazarenes and their communities, the Board of General Superintendents has been specifically engaged for the last 18 months in strategic planning and prayer with the BSRT. Additional funding has been provided to Black ministries to help foster real and lasting change for the future of the church.

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Statement Toward Racial Justice and Righteousness
Black Strategic Readiness Team
Church of the Nazarene USA/Canada

Click here


National Black Nazarene Conference COVID-19 Statement

Due to the health and economic impact of the coronavirus, I am sorry to inform you of the decision to cancel the National Black Nazarene Conference.

Participants who have already registered will receive a full refund to your credit card within 7-10 business days. No action is required to receive the refund.

We invite you to continue to join us in praying for the individuals and families impacted physically and financially by this crisis, as well as for the frontline healthcare and social service workers who are responding to it. We strongly urge you to continue to do your part to minimize the spread of the disease; be a good neighbor to those who are suffering and offer support to those who are most vulnerable.

If you have additional questions, please contact Dr. Charles Tillman, Black Ministries Facilitator, or Rev. Janice Ballard, our Global Health Consultant.

Be safe, and continue to look to Jesus Christ, our living hope.

 

Meet our Black Ministries Strategic Readiness Team (SRT) 

Charles Tillman

The Black Strategic Readiness Team, led by facilitator Dr. Charles Tillman, meets annually to pray, plan and strategize for their perspective ethnic group in the USA/Canada.  The team is comprised of Black pastors that have been approved by their District Superintendent and the Multicultural Ministries Director.

Click here to contact the team facilitator. 

The Black Ministries Strategic Readiness Team shall help districts and local congregations in the following manner:

  1. To provide a voice for African-American and Black members of the Church of the Nazarene.
  2. To strengthen Black churches in the Church of the Nazarene.
  3. To identify potential target areas where new congregations could be started.
  4. To train and nurture leaders of our churches for gospel-inspired service to the Black community.
  5. To provide support for institutions that strengthen our community.
  6. To provide relevant ministry for our youth and young adults.
  7. To empower laity for present-day ministry.
  8. To create denominational and district partnerships for service and evangelism.
  9. To be active advocates for racial justice at home and abroad.
  10. To provide spiritual nurture for our members. To enhance clergy-lay ministry partnerships.

Mission & Strategic Plan of Action

Black Ministries exists to support districts, pastors, local churches, and leaders in the task of making Christlike disciples among Black groups in the U.S. and Canada. 

The mission statement for Black Nazarene Ministries is to help the Church of the Nazarene develop strategies for reaching black communities through the starting of new churches and the implementation of inclusive discipleship and culturally-specific leadership training programs. We articulate this mission through what we call Project H.O.P.E., or Helping Our People Evangelize. Members of the Black Mission Team help to create a focus group that is advisory in its capacity, visionary in its strategy, reconciliatory in its mission, and prophetic in its message. Here’s our strategic plan of action:

  • Identify, develop, and recommend at least 25 emerging Black leaders in leadership positions on the Local, District, and General levels.
  • Declare the first Wednesday of each month for prayer and fasting for Nazarene Black Ministries, the BSRT, and the Black Ministries Facilitator 
  • Establish a partnership between Nazarene higher education and church placement through internships 
  • Start 20 new churches in four years 
  • Continue the National Black Nazarene Conference to encourage, support and equip our churches, leaders, and laypeople. Additionally, host the 2nd annual Black Pastors and Leaders Conference in 2019. 
  • Establish strong communication with the offices of Pensions and Benefits and Clergy Development to adequately inform Black pastors of helps and benefits.

 Black Ministries 2022

Black Map

Includes: Black and West Indian

110 Congregations

15,616 Total Members 

4,700 Average Worship Attendance

Click here for more statistics from cultural group reports.

 

Ministry Resources

Photo Albums

2016 NBNC
2010 NBNC
2007 Rogers Cunningham Bowman Ministerial Institute
2005 Rogers Cunningham Bowman Ministerial Institute

Videos

2010 NBNC "Rain on Me" sung by the Brooklyn Community Worship Choir
2010 NBNC "Souled Out" sung by the Brooklyn Community Worship Choir
2010 NBNC - "He Reigns" sung by the KC Blue Hills Choir
2010 NBNC - KC Blue Hills Choir
2010 NBNC - "In Your Favor" sung by the KC Blue Hills Choir

Video and Audio Recordings

Leadership Development with Charles Tillman
Remembering Clarence Bowman with Roger Bowman
Learning from Black Worship with Joe Warrington
Resurrection—Cecilia

Sermons/Speeches

What Makes the Great "Great?" or The Struggle for Recognition by Dr. Roger Bowman
Acts 1 - 5 by Dr. Samuel Vassel at the M3 Conference

Nazarene Black Ministries History

A Case for Black History Month by Charles Tillman
Roots by Stan Ingersol
History of Blacks in the Church of the Nazarene" compiled by Dr. Oliver Phillips
There All Along by Brandon Winstead
Color Us Christian by Dr. Roger Bowman
"So Built We the Walls" by Ora Mae Jackson
When God Calls by Warren L. Maye
"Dr. Charles Johnson Receives MNU's 2014 MLK Living Legacy Award"
Rev. and Mrs. Clarence Bowman Picture
Dr. Hurn and Dr. Roger Bowman
Clarence Bowman - 1963 - Photo
Friendship Founders Day 2017 - Memphis, Tennessee