Good News North County

SPECIAL SECTION • HIGHER EDUCATION • SEE PAGES 6-9
Point Loma women
Servant
aiming for No. 1 fi nish
Dr. Gish
Leadership
See page 17 See page 16
still on the job
See page 2

SAN DIEGO COUNTY’S CHRISTIAN NEWSPAPER
FREE
Good News, etc.
February 2010 • Vol. 26, No. 5 North County Edition
San Diegans visiting Haiti return safely
During the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, started,” said Nerly Victor, 19, a student
two members of the only Christian Haitian at Grossmont College. “When we felt it,
church in San Diego were on the next-to- we jumped up in terror. I heard a glass
last day of a month-long vacation that break in the house and everything started
included the wedding of an uncle. They shaking. My brother was up the street
were in the uncle’s home in the outskirts visiting someone, but we saw him running
of Port-au-Prince when the earthquake towards us. My aunt told us to come into
struck, about 5 in the afternoon. the house, but then we heard on the radio
“I was sitting on the porch when it to stay outside.
“It was terrible. All the houses in the
neighborhood fell. They were ﬂ attened,
but our house was OK — the only one. I
thank God — it was a miracle.”
She said everyone she knew in the city
had at least one family member killed
Photo: Andy Flemming
except for her and her aunt and uncle.
Newbreak’s sermon prep team, clockwise from lower left, include Pastor Mike Quinn, Pastor
“God has a purpose for Haiti,” she
Eric Rountree, Pastor Steve Bombaci, Lisa Wachs, Ros Johnson and Pastor Darrel Larson.
said. “I don’t know why, but bad things
happen and God can turn it to good. He
has a purpose. I’m not sure what that is
SERMON PREPARATION
Photo: Terry Schwartz for the country, but I know my faith has
Nerly Victor, right, is glad to be back in San grown through this. You can’t depend on
Pastors share common elements in hearing from God
Diego, and so are her mother Martha Jean tomorrow, because it’s not promised.”
By RICK MONROE
methods, Good News, etc. interviewed a
Pierre, and sister Ruth. Please turn to page 15
husband-wife team, brothers who share the
You know your pastor is in his ofﬁ ce and pulpit, and several “solo” senior pastors
Want to help Haiti? Local efforts strong
doesn’t have any appointments. Surely in an effort to discover their process of
he’ll spend a few minutes answering your determining what to share on Sunday.
Christians — including many from San workers, nurses and more.
question. But the secretary says no. He’s The pastors were also asked just how
Diego — are coming to the aid of the people With people so eager to give, church
studying. they hear from God in determining what
of Haiti, reeling after a 7.0 magnitude leaders are suggesting donations to
Sound familiar? A survey of several to teach — and how they know for sure it’s
earthquake devastated Port-au-Prince established relief organizations.
local pastors revealed that most spend from Him. Their response to this question
and surrounding areas on Jan. 12. With Mickey Stonier, associate pastor at
15-20 hours a week preparing for their was insightful. They know their calling and
the number of dead estimated at 200,000 The Rock Church, said $44,000 had
Sunday sermon, including prayer time, take the responsibility seriously.
— and a more accurate number may never been raised in a little over a week with
devotional reading, outlining, researching Mark Strauss, professor at Bethel
be established — it is one of the most deadly a campaign on the church website.
and ﬁ ne-tuning. The majority of the pastors Seminary in San Diego, has served as an
natural disasters on record. “People really want to give,” he said.
interviewed — especially at smaller interim pastor at numerous churches and
There are reports that as many as 1 million “It’s amazing.”
churches — do it all alone. It’s their is currently teaching a Sunday morning
people are displaced by the earthquake Stonier said $17,0000 was given to
responsibility. class at The Church at Rancho Bernardo.
and in Port-au-Prince, there’s not a single Samaritan’s Purse and $18,000 to World
However, there are also churches that It’s not the main sermon, but rather a one-
multi-story building standing. Injuries are Vision, with the remainder to Fireﬁ ghters
make it a team effort. So rather than the hour teaching from the Book of Luke, more
reportedly in the tens of thousands. for Christ and a special project for families
pastor doing it all solo, these churches get of a hybrid adult Sunday school class for
List of agencies on page 15
in the church.
input from church staff, elders and — at 80 people.
“Our primary goal is to provide funds,”
one church — anyone interested. “Once you have the passage, the key
Local churches are sending thousands
he said. “Haiti doesn’t need a whole lot
In addition to reviewing two of the team Please turn to page 3
of dollars to relief organizations, and both
of people rushing in now and using the
groups and individuals from this area have
supplies and beds that are needed by the
gone to Haiti to help in different ways.
people. There are many well-meaning
Local charity wins $1 million through Facebook
This includes doctors, ﬁ reﬁ ghters, utility Please turn to page 15
A San Diego charity, Invisible Children, is
the $1 million winner of the Chase Community
San Diego CityFest plans moving forward
Giving Facebook competition. The competition
attracted 2 million voters worldwide, and
The Luis Palau San Diego CityFest, with Palau on Tuesday, March 2, at the Marriott featured 100 charities from around the nation
the unofﬁ cial date of Sept. 11-12, is gearing La Jolla. in the second round, which concluded Jan. 22.
up with two local events. A free “Pastors Over 200 churches have pledged to Invisible Children received 123,990 votes from
and Leaders Enrichment Conference” support the festival, which pending ﬁ nal Facebook users for its “big idea” of ending
with Palau and Ken Banchard will be held approval will be held at Mission Bay Africa’s longest running war.
Monday, March 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Grace Park. For information about the CityFest, It was a tight race up until the last minute.
Point Church in Del Mar. “Season of Service” or these March events, Ultimately, Invisible Children beat the second
There is also a fundraising dinner with visit www.sandiegocityfest.com. Please turn to page 20
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