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Feb 17, 2026 Leave a Comment

SCO District Newsletter 2.17.2026

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The Value of APR and District Assembly

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

With the APR looming

And staff members assuring you, “Yes, it’s been quite a year!”

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

It’s the hap-happiest season of all

With those annual meetings

And reports you’re completing

Till the District Secretary calls

It’s the hap-happiest season of all.

I could go on, but I’ll spare you the pain. I’m also guessing most of you don’t see this as the most wonderful time of the year. For some of you, administration and collecting reports seems further from the Gospel than anything else you do in the whole year. For some, it’s a painful reminder of just how difficult of a year it has been. Others of you wonder if anyone even cares, does anyone even look at these Annual Pastor’s Reports.

There are a handful of you who genuinely enjoy gathering the data, comparing it to previous years, and celebrating what you’ve seen God accomplish over the past year—while casting vision for the days ahead. I’ve been in each of those points of view at one point or another in my tenure as a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene.

Why? Why do we keep these statistics? Why do we need to have an APR? How does any of this matter and what impact does it make in my life as a pastor or in the life of our local church? There are a couple, maybe a few things I would suggest.

First, pastor, you are not alone. You are a part of a global church, who serves locally. You are connected to every pastor in the Church of the Nazarene, and more specifically on the SCO District. That means we have support and even accountability built into our roles. Every lead pastor around the globe is filling out an APR and representing their local fellowship at a District Assembly.

I would also mention this time of year needs to be put into perspective. If you see it as a chore and an obligation, you are losing sight of being a part of the collective of story tellers across the globe celebrating the goodness of God. If you realize, even in a year that might not have been the best, that God is building His Kingdom, you rejoice with our brothers and sisters whose stories give us hope.

The year end reports and then our gathering for assembly is a time to gather, be inspired, strengthen relationships and even begin new ones. It’s a time to both reflect on what has been, while we look forward to where God may be calling us as a district, a local church, and kingdom people. New initiatives, new ministries, and new churches, while finding ways to strength churches who’ve come through a pandemic, a changing culture, and aging communities. Assembly is that gathering that reminds us that God is still God, still calling men and women, and ready to infill our local churches to further the kingdom.

So, you’ll have to excuse me if I think it is, the most wonderful time of the year.

Kevin Angel

SCO District Secretary

districtsecretary@sconaz.org

NEWS FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT

Hope Community

Grateful for the chance to worship at Hope Community with Pastor Kevin and Marsha Seymour. Their ministry continues to bless so many.

Huge Cheers for These Awesome SCO Bible Quizzers!

Saturday, February 7, our SCO family came together at Faith Memorial church in Lancaster for the second quiz meet of the Genesis season.

We had 13 churches participate with 52 kids in red level and 52 kids in blue level. Some of the churches who couldn't make it due to weather are doing make-up quizzes with their kids as well.

We are so thankful for the leadership of our district quiz director, April Litman!

These kids are diving deep into God’s Word and it is a joy to see them show off what they have learned at the quiz meets. We look forward to being back together on March 14 at PickNaz!

EQUIP Discipleship Conference

There’s still time to be part of an impactful day of ministry training with featured speaker Daryl Cripe this Saturday, February 21. Registration remains open—lunch registration is the only portion that has closed. Use the QR code to reserve your spot today.

2026 SCO Women’s Conference – March 7

WE ARE AT CAPACITY!

Over 320 women have registered!

District BLAST

District BLAST is Saturday, March 21st at Heritage Church of the Nazarene in Circleville, OH. Registration is open and the cost is $35 per person. Please make sure to register by March 6th. Click here for the information packet and registration details. Please contact Pastor Caleb Dexter, our BLAST Director, with any questions at caleb@m1naz.com.

March 8 – Logan 6:00 pm

March 9 – Hilliard 7:00 pm

March 10 – Marietta First 6:30 pm

March 11 – Grace Life 7:00 pm

March 12 – Hebron 7:00 pm

Exciting Mission Tour

Coming in March!

Help spread the word to your congregations. Zone tours allow our missionaries to share their ministry and build relationships across the district. We’re thrilled to feature Roberto and Rhesa Rodriguez, faithfully serving at the USA/Mexico Border.

March 15 – Cornerstone 6:00 pm

March 16 – Ironton First 7:00 pm

March 17 – Obetz 6:00 pm

March 18 – Jackson First 7:00 pm

March 19 – New Hope 7:00 pm

RESOURCE HIGHLIGHTS

SCO District Office

Mailing/Physical Address Updates

SCO District Office

PO Box 788

30682 Chieftain Drive

Logan, OH 43138

The district office phone number will remain the same: 614-539-6812

Pastor’s Leadership Day

A quick reminder for everyone who’s registered: Pastor’s Leadership Day is coming up this Thursday, February 19, at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. It will be a meaningful day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration—looking forward to seeing you there!

Your church’s first impression now happens online. Long before someone walks through your doors, they explore your website. It’s where they learn who you are, connect with your mission, and decide whether to take the next step.

Empower your ministry with a beautifully crafted, done‑for‑you website. The Church of the Nazarene has partnered with Ministry Designs to offer every USA/Canada church an affordable, high‑quality website—professionally built for you.

USA/Canada

Church of the Nazarene

Nazarene Web

For more information follow this link:

Free Websites for Nazarene Churches, Fast Setup and Modern Designs

UPCOMING TRAINING: Staff Management Tips for Pastors

When you envisioned your calling to shepherd a flock, managing staff—whether lay, volunteer, or pastoral—may not have been at the top of your mind! Yet managing people is one of the most challenging aspects of ministry, and most of us learn through trial and error.

Join us for a practical 90-minute training session designed to equip you with actionable management strategies that can help you lead more effectively and reclaim valuable time in your week.

What We'll Cover:

· The key differences between management and leadership

· How to conduct effective one-on-one conversations

· A framework for providing constructive feedback

· Best practices for delegation

· And more!

Session Details:

· Topic: "What Can a Pastor Learn About Management?"

· Facilitator: Mark Runals, member and board member at Columbus Northwest, with extensive management experience across multiple teams

· Format: By Zoom (session will be recorded for those unable to attend live)

· Duration: 90 minutes

· When: Thursday, March 26, 2026

· Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

This training will focus on practical tips you can implement immediately, with just enough management theory to provide context. Whether you're new to staff management or looking to refine your skills, this session promises valuable insights for your ministry.

The training is free – Register here.

Hello Nazarene Ministry Leaders,

We are praying for the Lord’s abundant blessing on your districts, churches, and local communities as the 2026 Easter season approaches. Now is the time to unite with thousands of Nazarenes across the USA and Canada for the 2026 Half-Million Mobilization — praying from Easter through Pentecost and beyond for the Spirit’s leading and empowerment as we focus on Becoming Christlike Disciples.

Please click here to access helpful resources, including the Mobilized for Becoming Christlike Disciples prayer journal (available to order in English and download in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian-Creole, French, and Korean), as well as a free 8-week sermon series available in those same languages.

Stay tuned, as we will have children resources coming soon!

Will you join us in this focused season as we seek to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world? Let’s not leave even one behind!

Serving together,

USA/Canada Regional Team

SCO NDI to Offer Scholarships

Applications are due March 15, and recipients will be announced at the NYI Convention this spring.

South Central Ohio NDI is excited to offer scholarships for students pursuing an undergraduate degree at MVNU or NBC. This opportunity is open to graduating high school seniors and adult learners who are active members of a Nazarene church on the SCO district and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference is given to students pursuing education, social work, or vocational ministry, but all eligible students are encouraged to apply.

The application can be found here:

South Central Ohio District

Northwestern Ohio • South Central Ohio

North Central Ohio • East Ohio

Whether you feel called to pursue ordination or want to be better equipped to serve in your local church, the East Central School of Ministry exists to help you deepen your understanding of God’s Word, grow in theological knowledge, and develop practical ministry skills for effective service.

The East Central School of Ministry is a multi-district partnership providing a clear and accessible pathway for those responding to God’s call to pastoral ministry and ordination.

Program Overview

Classes are part of the new Church of the Nazarene non-degree Course of Study
All 21 courses meet academic requirements for those seeking ordination
Classes are 8 weeks long and meet once a week via Zoom
Each class requires approximately 15 hours per week, including class time, reading, assignments, and practical ministry experience
Courses are facilitated by ordained pastors from the four partner districts
Denomination-developed content is delivered through MVNU’s Learning Management System (Moodle)

Cost & Scholarships

$175 per class
Scholarships are available through participating districts and local churches for those serving in local ministry, reducing the overall cost

Class Schedule

All 21 classes are offered over a 3-year cycle
One of the two required classes (of the six needed for a first-time District License) is offered annually
Two classes per session are offered across five sessions each year:
Spring A • Spring B • Summer • Fall A • Fall B

Registration & More Information

Learn more: School of Ministry
Register for classes: School of Ministry Class Registration

Questions?

Contact Jeff Fiorita, East Central School of Ministry Coordinator
jeff.fiorita@nwoteam.church
Call or text: 937-631-6829

Click here for more information: 2026 Global Week of Prayer – Church of the Nazarene

As the 2026 Global Week of Prayer approaches, NMI would like to invite the church to pray for the needs of our global churches and districts with requests from the regions.

This is the 30th year of the Global Week of Prayer, and we have some new and exciting resources to share with you!

May this week be a sacred time as we serve as the global missions advocate in every local church, nurturing a spirit of missions and mobilizing into action, impacting people around the world. Thank you for praying!

February 19: Pastor’s Leadership Day at MVNU

February 21: Equip Conference – This event will be for all Pastors, Staff members, NDI Presidents, and anyone at your church who is interested in making disciples. Register here.

March 7: Women’s Conference (HHRC): “The Story of Martha and Mary”

March 8 – 19: Zone Mission Rally – with Roberto and Rhesa Rodriguez

March 21: NYI District BLAST – Circleville Heritage Church

April 18: NMI/NYI Convention – Circleville Heritage Church

April 17 – 18: MVNU Women’s Auxiliary Spring Conference

April 26 – 27: SCO District Assembly

June 14 – 17: Junior-High Camp – HHRC

June 17 – 20: Senior-High Camp – HHRC

July 1 – 7: Nazarene Youth Conference (NYC)

July 12 – 19: District Camp Meeting

July 19 – 25: Children’s Camp

Global Week of Prayer – March 1 – 7 2026, will focus on one world region each day.

“270 Window” (inside the I-270 Outerbelt in Columbus) as a strategic location for the planting of new congregations.

The One – Pray that the Lord would keep in front of us those who are searching and need Jesus as their Savior. May the Holy Spirit provide opportunities for conversations and connections with them.

NYC – July 1 – 7, 2026 – Pray that the Lord would begin working in the lives of the students and leaders who will be attending, and that adequate resources to attend will be available for all hoping to attend.