NEWSLETTER.

The Value of APR and District Assembly It’s the most wonderful time of the yearWith the APR loomingAnd 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 allWith those annual meetingsAnd reports you’re completingTill the District Secretary callsIt’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…

The Finish Line is in Sight! While pastoring in Kentucky, I became a fan of the Kentucky Derby. I loved it all—the hats, the southern pastels, the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home,” and the voice of Dave Johnson calling the race. I’d get chills when the horses rounded the final turn and he’d utter his famous catchphrase: “And down the stretch they come!” The SCO District church year ends February 28, and we’re coming down the stretch! Here are three ways to finish well: District Zone Tour Coming Mark your calendars! November 8-11, we’re bringing a Zone Tour to…

What if the biggest Kingdom impact you make could come from a small, sustainable shift? January is famous for big, bold resolutions. We try to overhaul everything at once—new habits, new systems, new goals—only to find ourselves discouraged when the momentum fades by February. Most of us don’t lack passion. We lack sustainability. And that’s why I’ve been thinking less about dramatic change and more about directional change: the kind of subtle shift you can actually maintain. Recently, I was on a flight and noticed a small adjustment in our heading not long after takeoff. It wasn’t a sharp turn—barely…

NDI Equip – February 21 Are you ready to be inspired, refreshed, and equipped for the work of discipleship? Are you ready to connect with like-minded leaders who are learning together? Join us for NDI Equip, a powerful half-day designed to strengthen leaders, encourage pastors, and ignite the church to fulfill Christ’s call to make disciples in your setting. Date: February 21, 2026Place: Logan Church of the NazareneTime: Registration @ 8:30 AM; First Plenary session @ 9:00 AM; Lunch concludes by 1:30 PM.Cost: $10 Register Here: Discipleship – South Central Ohio District This year we are thrilled to welcome Daryl…

A Christmas Prayer for the South Central Ohio District Gracious and Loving Father: At this holy Christmas season, we come before You with hearts full of thanksgiving. We praise you for the many ways you have blessed the churches of the South Central Ohio District this past year. We thank you for lives that have been transformed by the Gospel, for those who have come to faith in Christ, for those who have publicly declared their new life through baptism, and for the ways our pastors and churches have focused on The One. We rejoice over stories of transformation, healing,…

Moving Into the Neighborhood: Rediscovering Our Incarnational Mission in Columbus “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood…” John 1:14a (Message) This Advent we remember that Christ did not shy away from the messiness of our world. He stepped into our broken lives, bringing light, hope, and redemption. As Nazarenes, we believe we are called to do the same—to be a holiness people who move into neighborhoods and embody Christ’s presence among those who need hope most. We hold fast to the conviction that Christ can transform even the most broken neighborhoods, but the church must be…

District Office to Relocate from Grove City to Hocking Hills Retreat Center After several months of careful discussion, prayer, and planning, the District Advisory Board has reached a significant and forward-looking decision: the District Office will relocate from its current location on Hoover Road in Grove City to the Hocking Hills Retreat Center (HHRC) in Logan. This move represents not only a strategic shift in how our district operates, but also a renewed commitment to stewardship, accessibility, and unity. The Grove City office has served the district well for many years. The land was a gift from Grove City Church…

“And every prayer we prayed in desperation, The songs of faith we sang through doubt and fear…” These lyrics have been the prayer of my heart recently. I’ve been asking God: Do You still move like You did before? Can You really provide when the need feels too big to name? Nearly 2 years ago when Lower Lights Ministries opened the Child Enrichment Center (CEC), it didn’t make sense to many. We were told it wasn’t a smart investment—an early learning center on a block with a tough reputation? In a building that once had black mold? Serving families facing…

In the Church of the Nazarene, we are called to be a connected people—united in mission, faith, and generosity. One of the most tangible ways we express that unity is through our participation in denominational allocations. These vital contributions—such as giving to the World Evangelism Fund (WEF), Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Nazarene Pensions, and the South Central Ohio District—are more than financial transactions. They are acts of faith that create lasting kingdom impact. The World Evangelism Fund (WEF) is the lifeline of global missions in the Church of the Nazarene. Every gift supports missionaries, church planting, compassionate ministries, and leadership development in 165 world areas. When…

NDI Equip coming in February! Are you ready to be inspired, refreshed, and equipped for the work of discipleship? Are you ready to connect with likeminded leaders who are learning together? Join us for NDI Equip, a powerful half-day designed to strengthen leaders, encourage pastors, and ignite the church to fulfill Christ’s call to make disciples in your setting. Date: February 21, 2026Place: Logan Church of the NazareneTime: Registration @ 8:30 AM; First Plenary session @ 9:00 AM; Lunch concludes by 1:30 PM.Cost: $10 Register Here: Discipleship – South Central Ohio District This year we are thrilled to welcome Daryl…