The Church of the Nazarene in Guam began with a fellowship of lay American military personnel in 1966. Local broadcast of the radio program “Showers of Blessing” led to the formation of a Nazarene fellowship. Over the years, this fellowship grew in number and ministry. The fellowship purchased the property and broke ground for a sanctuary in 1969. The church became fully organized in December 1971. In 1972, the congregation added a parsonage, and later in 2002, a new sanctuary. “All of this was made possible through Alabaster offerings and the generous gifts of members, districts, and friends,” said Pastor Ackerman.
The anniversary service honored nine people with certificates of recognition and appreciation for 20 years of membership and faithful service to the Lord. Harry and Tina Lee received the Distinguished Service Award for their many years of service to the church. The church also honored Joe and his wife, Terry, and their daughter Mary as good neighbors who have watched over the church and its property for many years. The service ended with a liturgy of rededication and recommitment of the church property and buildings for the next generation.
In November 2019, five people from Living Hope Church of the Nazarene in Saipan completed the Christian Life and Witness course sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA)in preparation for Rev. Franklin Graham’s visit to the island February 21, 2020, for the Marianas Festival of Hope. The outreach event was put together by the BGEA in association with over thirty churches in the northern Marianas region of Micronesia. Guam is participating with its own event two days later.
“It all started with Yutu,” said Helen Ann Bucher. Helen Ann and her husband, Rev. Dave Bucher, have been in Saipan since 2001. Rev. Bucher is pastor of Saipan Living Hope Church of the Nazarene. The Buchers also work for the Public-School System in Saipan. “Super typhoon Yutu was a devastating typhoon that hit us one year ago in October 2018,” said Helen Ann. “Many people lost their homes in the storm and were afraid for their lives. Samaritan’s Purse brought relief supplies after the storm.”
While they were in Saipan doing relief work, some of the Samaritan’s Purse workers asked if Operation Christmas Child (OCC) boxes could be delivered here. While the devastation prevented delivery of OCC boxes at Christmas, soon after the first of the year, Saipan’s churches worked together to register children. Distribution of the OCC boxes happened close to Easter, 2019. Then, as OCC was drawing to a close, an announcement was made that Franklin Graham would like to come to the island to see things for himself. The churches invited him to come. Out of this visit, the Marianas Festival of Hope was created. Planning for the event began last spring, with city-wide prayer meetings all summer, culminating in meetings this fall geared to prepare Christians to both share their faith and to disciple those who make a commitment to Christ.
“The churches have really come together this past year,” said Rev. Bucher. Some thirty-five Protestant churches have joined hands to reach out to the 52,000 people on the island with the gospel of Christ. Most of the churches are small, typically under 50 in attendance. The enthusiasm and love being shared across denominational, ethnic, and cultural lines has been an encouragement to the people at Saipan Living Hope Church of the Nazarene. “Working together with the other island churches has built our confidence and created a sense of camaraderie among us,” said Rev. Bucher.
Helen Ann Bucher, missionary to Saipan
Blossom George agrees. She and her sister, Pearl, attend Living Hope and have been going to the teen events sponsored by the organizers of the Marianas Festival of Hope. Blossom said, “We meet so many school friends there. I am encouraged that there are lots of Christians in school. We didn’t know about each other before.”
Helen Ann said, “That has been one of the biggest and best side effects of this whole thing, our fellowship and our strengthened ties with the other churches. Who knew something as horrible as Yutu could bring about something so good in our community!” God truly causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose for them (Rom. 8:28 NLT).
– Submitted by Janet Wilkins, Philippines-Micronesia Field Communications Coordinator