Dr. Dwight M. Gunter IIDistrict Superintendentdgunter@midsouthnaz.org

AprilMarch

The Grand Canyon is spectacular … and that is an understatement! All who have visited can verify the overwhelming reality of that remarkable place. Karan and I caught a sunrise there on our first visit back in the summer. It was a holy moment.

However, the day before we visited the Grand Canyon, we took a little self-guided tour through Walnut CanyonNational Monument. Ever heard of it? Probably not.

Walnut Canyon is a place where “cliff dwellers” from ancientcultures once lived. We walked the trails and saw the remainsof their homes, the places where life was lived. It was a culture…a civilization … truly a way of life that is no more. All thatremains are the ruins.

That memory came flying into my mind and crashed in on our culture today. What will be said of our culture, our people, our time? Will there be a record of how we lived and related to one another beyond ruins? Will it reflect love, justice, and peace?

What will be said of our churches? Will we leave a legacy of holy love?

As I’m pondering these questions another image slowly emerges. It is an enduring image. One that takes ruins and restores them. It is the image of the cross. The cross looked like all was ruined, but we know differently.

And, I hear the words of Jesus to Peter — “I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” All is not lost. All is not ruined. In fact, life happens!

We don’t really know what culture will be like thousands, even hundreds, of years into our future. In fact, we don’treally know what will happen in subsequent generations totoday. But, we do know that Jesus is going to build His church.

My prayer is that our way of life is one that endures, one of Holy Love for God and our neighbors.

Rev. Eduardo LelliHispanic Ministries Coordinatorelelli@midsouthnaz.org

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“To inspire, empower and nurture the development of a “culture of multiplication”of new Hispanic congregations

Rev. Crystal PettySDMI Chairmancrystal.petty@outlook.com

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People of Prayer • Engaged in the Word • Making Christlike Disciples

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DISTRICT CHILDREN’S MINISTRIESFor connection and resourcing checkout nazkids.org

Save the Dates:District Children’s Quiz –Saturday-March 21st Don’t forget to check out the Exodus Material for 2021 WORLD QUIZ INDIANAPOLIS JUNE 2021

CHILDREN’S CAMPS—Mark your calendars NOW! Early Bird Registration Deadline—April 27

June 22-26: Tween Camp

June 29-July 2 : Early Elementary Camp

Sage Retreat - Due to the recent concerns over the coronavirus the Sage Retreat will not take place at this time. Futher details will be communicated later.

Memphis Women’s Ministry Winter Break-Away - Memphis Holiness Tabernacle March 21, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 16

More information can be found at https://www.midsouthnaz.org/womens/

Spring Has Sprung and we are in the season of Lent!

Hopefully you found the great resource that The Foundry published called Lenten Postcards, if not check it out andplan for next year. As we prepare for this season and the next take a moment to think of ways you can plan to beintentional with discipleship in your Sunday school, small groups, bible studies, and all areas of worship.To be in prayer, engaging in the word and intentionally making Christlike disciples.

Don’t forget to make plans...District Family Camp @ CGC May 26th-31stDistrict Assembly with Breakout sessions on May 28th-29th

DISTRICT FAMILY CAMP –MAY 26TH-31ST KIDS MISSIONS JAM-SATURDAY MAY 30TH

Mississippi Magnolia Event– March 21st at DaySpring CommunityRegister at EVENTBRITE.COM search for GROWTH WEEKEND

Mississippi Oak Men’s Weekend March 21ST @ Foundry Church, Flowwood, MS Register at EVENTBRITE.COM & Search GROWTH WEEKEND

Mrs. Becky FarleyNMI Presidentbeckyjo.farley@gmail.com

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MidSouth Links familyJoe & Beth Heath-----------------------Joe and Beth Heath love connecting people with what God is doing on the Africa South Field and finding ways that they can be a part. They also enjoy helping to equip, empower and train leaders and potential leaders.

The MidSouth District not only has the privilege to support them as oneof our Links families, but we are so honored to have them touringour district on deputation in Mississippi this month THEN as speakers at The MidSouth District Assembly at the end of May!

Below is their deputation tour schedule. Please support them by attending any of the following services!You will be so glad you did!

•Sunday,March2211a.m. Pearson Chapel COTN, 512 Co Rd 24, Houston, MS 38851

•Sunday,March22:5p.m. Mission Area Rally at Rosebloom COTN, 8666 Cascilla Road, Cascilla MS 378920

•Monday,March237p.m. Mission Area Rally at Meridian Fitkins COTN, 1110 Dr. Charles Johnson Ave, Meridian, MS 39307

•Tuesday,March24.6p.m. Mission Area Rally at Hattiesburg First COTN, 3501 Broadway Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39402

•Wednesday,March256:30p.m. Mission Area Rally at Crossroads COTN, 6150 Firestone St, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

•Thursday,March266:00p.m. Mission Area Rally at Gloster COTN, 933 Captain Gloster Drive, Gloster, MS 39638

•Saturday,March2810a.m.-1p.m. KidsJam at DaySpring Comm. COTN, 1100 Business Park Dr., Clinton, MS 39056

•Sunday,March2910a.m. Bridgepoint COTN, 148 Michel Street, Brandon, MS 39042

Rev. Jeremy BylerNYI Presidentjeremybyler82@gmail.com

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Wow! The Winter has gone and Spring is about to break out in front of our eyes in no time! I hope and pray that this newsletter finds you well and eager to embrace all that the next season has in storefor you and the students in your family, church, and community.

NYI Convention - Save the date! april 22 @ 7PMDue to some scheduling conflicts with District Assembly and our desire to see participation in this event grow; we are stepping outside of the box and hosting a Digital Convention for the first time!

Our goals in hosting a digital convention are to give voice to and include as many of our churches and NYIdelegates as possible. We hope that by holding our convention in a digital format, you will be able to gather with your local NYI or join with a church or two in your area in order to be digitally present to see Recap Videos,Receive the Presidential and Finance Reports, and to participate in the voting process that will elect ourMidSouth NYI Council for 2020/21 and our delegates to the General Assembly/Global NYI Convention in 2021.

Much more information will be coming your way soon. For now, we want you to:•Markthisdateonyourcalendar• Let us know that you are interested in “Hosting” the convention at your location and if you are planning to partner with any churches close to you.• Make sure we have a Valid Email address so that we can communicate these details and get you set up for the actual convention.

We look forward to having you and your students involved in the First Digital MidSouth NYIConvention, so please, communicate with us so that we can help make sure that you don’t miss out.

QUIZZING Congratulations to our MidSouth Quizzers who completed their District Quiz in February at ConcordCommunity Church!

The team from Nashville Grace are the Experienced League champions for 2019/20 and the team from Erin are the 2019/20 champions of the Novice Division.

We are very proud of the incredible work that these students have put into studying the word of God and look forward to having even more teams involved in Bible Quizzing next year!

CAMPStart planning now to be part of this INCREDIBLE time of worship, fun, and MIDSOUTH FAMILY!!

HighSchoolCamp-June1-5MiddleSchoolCamp-June8-12

Due to the global and local concerns from COVID-19, TNU and theTNT executive council are postponing TNT@TNU and pursuingalternative dates and options.

Rev. Finley KnowlesCGC Executive Directorfinleyknowles@midsouthnaz.org

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New for 2020Multi-Generation Family Retreat: A Respite Weekend

A laidback weekend where the main event is time to spend with your family,friends, and/or yourself. Meals are provided. Opportunity for activity andgames are on your schedule. Devotional times for spiritual refreshment are offered, or you may choose private quiet time. All in all, it will be a fun weekend spending time with new or old friends from all age groups.

Activity Options•GolfCartRides •RookTournament •ChildcareCo-op •Zipline•Hiking •ScavengerHunt •FamilyCooking •PersonalReflectionGuide•Conversation •DevotionalTimes •Horseshoes •MorningCalisthenics•AthleticFieldsandGameTablesareOpenforBusiness •Best-practicesRoundtables:Avarietyofroundtableswillbescheduled.Youpicktheone(s)thatappealtoyou,i.e. parenting, investing, estate planning, and reading the Bible.

Cost per Person: $182 for 1st person in the room $50perpersonforeachadditionalperson(childrenunder3,nocharge)

Costincludes2nightsinJohnsonLodgeand5meals

Register at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/MGFRetreat

Signupwithagroupoffriendsorfamily.Only45roomsareavailable,sopleaseregisterearly.

Menu and sign-ups for meals at Family Camp & District Assembly

Let us know you are coming!

Register at www.campgarnercreek.org/Family_Camp_District_Assembly

You are invited to “Invest in CGC” as a monthly ministry partner. It is fun to be part of the way God supplies resources for His work! Giving is easyat www.CampGarnerCreek.org. Look for the “Invest in CGC” graphic.

If you would like help setting this up please contact Katie(katiegardner@midsouthnaz.org) or Finley (finleyknowles@midsouthnaz.org) at615-446-3279.

Attendance Report for January

Capitol Mission Area SS AMBridgePoint ................................ 20 ...........................30Brookhaven First ....................... 17 ...........................18DaySpring Community............. 221 .........................282Foundry ....................................... 0 .........................109Hazelhurst ................................. 10 ...........................12Hillside Community ...................... 4 ...........................10Meridian Fitkins Memorial........ 129 .........................222Meridian Northside .................... 14 ...........................23New Vision ................................. 25 ...........................70Quitman ..................................... 22 ...........................32Vicksburg First/Vicksburg Hisp. . 34 ...........................38

Clarksville Mission Area Clarksville First ........................ 155 .........................386Clarksville Grace ..................... 178 .........................397Clarksville Hope Riders Biker .... 16 ...........................45Clarksville Korean...................... 65 .........................100Clarksville Park Lane ................. 73 .........................114Dickson Lighthouse .................. 32 ...........................49Dover ......................................... 41 ...........................83Erin .......................................... 109 .........................233Fulton......................................... 34 .........................108Gray’s Chapel ............................ 35 ...........................58Griffin’s Chapel .......................... 42 ...........................60 Jason Chapel............................. 68 .........................106Long Creek ................................ 17 ...........................17Paris .......................................... 27 ...........................37Pine Hill ..................................... 52 ...........................74Waverly .................................... 214 .........................284Woodlawn Community............... 42 ...........................83

Coastal Mission Area Crossroads .............................. 130 .........................259Gloster ....................................... 37 ...........................30Gulf Coast Family ...................... 69 .........................107Hattiesburg First .......................NR ......................... NRLaurel Bresee ...........................NR ......................... NRLaurel First................................. 11 ...........................19Magnolia .................................... 11 ...........................22Palabra de Vida ........................NR ......................... NRVictory Praise & Worship Ctr ..... 49 ...........................38Waynesboro Trinity ...................NR ......................... NR

Columbia Mission AreaColumbia First ........................... 25 ...........................37Columbia Grace....................... 472 .........................633Elmore ....................................... 50 ...........................76Fly .............................................. 58 ...........................98Harmony .................................... 37 ...........................54Jones Chapel............................. 59 ...........................75Lewisburg First .......................... 31 ...........................58Mount Wesley-Akin .................... 13 ...........................32Pleasant Point ............................. 0 .............................7Savannah .................................. 12 ...........................14Spring Hill Restoration Comm ..NR ......................... NRSummertown ............................. 16 ...........................15

Hills Mission Area Bent Knee Cowboy ...................NR ......................... NRClarksdale.................................... 4 .............................6Cleveland First........................... 37 ...........................47Columbus First .......................... 10 ...........................14Fellowship.................................. 23 ...........................44

SS AMGrenada First............................. 20 ...........................35New Albany ................................. 8 .............................8Oxford/Oxford Hispanic ............. 47 ...........................74Pearson Chapel ......................... 90 ......................... 111Ripley Hispanic .......................... 15 ...........................20Rosebloom ................................ 41 ...........................62Sentobia N.O. Nabors ............... 14 ...........................23Starkville Wesley Comm. ........... 14 ...........................18Union ......................................... 10 ...........................14Way of the Cross ....................... 14 ...........................18

Memphis Mission AreaCovington .................................. 10 ...........................15Crossroads Community ............. 29 ...........................57Iglesia Libertad en Cristo ............. 7 .............................7Memphis Calvary ..................... 264 .........................362Memphis Eastside ..................... 34 ...........................78Memphis Emmanuel .................. 54 ...........................97Memphis Friendship .................NR ......................... NRMemphis Grace ....................... 152 .........................165Memphis Holiness Tabernacle .. 32 ...........................65Memphis Hope Tabernacle ........ 31 ...........................50Memphis New Hope .................. 50 ...........................76Memphis Refreshing Springs .... 10 ...........................36Millington ................................... 25 ...........................25

Nashville North Mission AreaAshland City Faith Comm. ......... 56 ...........................86Gallatin .................................... 147 .........................172Gallatin Hispanic........................ 29 ...........................67Goodlettsville ........................... 140 .........................401Hendersonville ........................... 65 .........................101Hermitage ................................ 367 .........................546Highland .................................... 16 ...........................21Joelton ....................................... 19 ...........................30Madison ..................................... 13 ...........................51Madison Hispanic ...................... 51 ...........................86Nashville First (Bethel Campus) ........ 47 ...........................93 Nashville First (Main Campus) ....... 537 .........................872Nashville Inglewood................... 17 ...........................35Old Hickory ................................ 37 ...........................83Portland ................................... 103 .........................203Springfield.................................. 21 ...........................26

Nashville South Mission Area Concord Community ................ 140 .........................182Franklin Comm of Faith ............. 60 .........................151Gateway Community ............... 155 .........................298Kingston Springs ....................... 12 ...........................24Nashville Bell Road ................... 45 ...........................85Nashville Blakemore .................. 16 ...........................29Nashville Christ.......................... 17 ...........................37Nashville Community Fellowship ... 18 ...........................20Nashville Donelson .................... 14 ...........................19Nashville First Calvary Korean .. 26 ...........................59Nashville Glencliff Hispanic ....... 90 .........................135Nashville Grace ....................... 160 .........................341Nashville Kaleo .......................... 26 ...........................57Nashville Trevecca Comm. ..... 340 .........................370Nashville Trinity ......................... 15 ...........................36Nashville Westwind Comm .......... 7 .............................7

TOTAL ................................... 6627 .....................10904

Attendance Report for February

Capitol Mission Area SS AMBridgePoint ................................ 22 ...........................29Brookhaven First ....................... 15 ...........................25DaySpring Community............. 184 .........................298Foundry ..................................... 56 .........................115Hazelhurst ................................. 12 ...........................13Hillside Community ...................... 8 ...........................12Meridian Fitkins Memorial........ 128 .........................223Meridian Northside ...................NR ......................... NRNew Vision ................................. 32 ...........................65Quitman ..................................... 32 ...........................45Vicksburg First/Vicksburg Hisp. . 44 ...........................45

Clarksville Mission Area Clarksville First ........................ 146 .........................350Clarksville Grace ..................... 159 .........................361Clarksville Hope Riders Biker .... 12 ...........................38Clarksville Korean...................... 55 .........................110Clarksville Park Lane ................. 90 .........................119Dickson Lighthouse .................. 28 ...........................37Dover ......................................... 42 ...........................78Erin .......................................... 127 .........................242Fulton......................................... 36 .........................114Gray’s Chapel ............................ 39 ...........................75Griffin’s Chapel .......................... 40 ...........................69 Jason Chapel............................. 63 .........................107Long Creek ................................ 19 ...........................19Paris .......................................... 37 ...........................30Pine Hill ..................................... 48 ...........................74Waverly .................................... 218 .........................270Woodlawn Community............... 47 ...........................96

Coastal Mission Area Crossroads .............................. 136 .........................257Gloster ....................................... 20 ...........................32Gulf Coast Family ...................... 60 .........................105Hattiesburg First .......................NR ......................... NRLaurel Bresee ...........................NR ......................... NRLaurel First................................. 12 ...........................17Magnolia .................................... 14 ...........................29Palabra de Vida ........................... 6 ...........................46Victory Praise & Worship Ctr ..... 51 ...........................28Waynesboro Trinity .................... 19 ...........................19

Columbia Mission AreaColumbia First ........................... 28 ...........................36Columbia Grace....................... 455 .........................621Elmore ....................................... 51 ...........................76Fly .............................................. 56 ...........................89Harmony .................................... 39 ...........................63Jones Chapel............................. 66 ...........................83Lewisburg First .......................... 30 ...........................59Mount Wesley-Akin ...................... 8 ...........................26Pleasant Point ............................. 0 ...........................11Savannah .................................. 16 ...........................18Spring Hill Restoration Comm ..NR ......................... NRSummertown ............................. 11 ...........................15

Hills Mission Area Bent Knee Cowboy .................... 18 ...........................29Clarksdale.................................... 4 .............................6Cleveland First........................... 37 ...........................46Columbus First .......................... 13 ...........................17Fellowship.................................. 23 ...........................51

SS AM Grenada First............................. 18 ...........................26New Albany ..............................NR ......................... NROxford/Oxford Hispanic ............. 35 ...........................78Pearson Chapel ......................... 89 .........................118Ripley Hispanic .......................... 11 ...........................16Rosebloom ................................ 40 ...........................60Sentobia N.O. Nabors ............... 27 ...........................24Starkville Wesley Comm. ........... 13 ...........................20Union ......................................... 11 ...........................15Way of the Cross ....................... 12 ...........................14

Memphis Mission AreaCovington .................................... 8 ...........................16Crossroads Community ............. 28 .......................... 56Iglesia Libertad en Cristo ............. 7 .............................7Memphis Calvary ..................... 278 .........................401Memphis Eastside ..................... 36 ...........................75Memphis Emmanuel .................. 54 ...........................96Memphis Friendship .................NR ......................... NRMemphis Grace ....................... 181 .........................158Memphis Holiness Tabernacle .. 30 ...........................65Memphis Hope Tabernacle .......NR ......................... NRMemphis New Hope .................. 39 ...........................60Memphis Refreshing Springs .... 11 ...........................39Millington ................................... 25 ...........................25

Nashville North Mission AreaAshland City Faith Comm. ......... 61 .........................100Gallatin .................................... 154 .........................169Gallatin Hispanic........................ 23 ...........................75Goodlettsville ........................... 174 .........................366Hendersonville ........................... 55 ...........................98Hermitage .................................NR ......................... NRHighland .................................... 13 ...........................19Joelton ....................................... 23 ...........................29Madison ..................................... 10 ...........................56Madison Hispanic ...................... 45 ...........................76Nashville First (Bethel Campus) ........ 46 ...........................94 Nashville First (Main Campus) ....... 550 .........................961Nashville Inglewood................... 18 ...........................44Old Hickory ................................ 42 ...........................89Portland ................................... 109 .........................204Springfield.................................. 21 ...........................27

Nashville South Mission Area Concord Community ................ 147 .........................186Franklin Comm of Faith ............. 64 .........................170Gateway Community ............... 199 .........................302Kingston Springs ....................... 12 ...........................29Nashville Bell Road ................... 66 ...........................95Nashville Blakemore .................. 14 ...........................23Nashville Christ.......................... 26 ...........................39Nashville Community Fellowship ... 20 ...........................25Nashville Donelson .................... 15 ...........................22Nashville First Calvary Korean .. 22 ...........................55Nashville Glencliff Hispanic ....... 83 .........................130Nashville Grace ....................... 158 .........................389Nashville Kaleo .......................... 24 ...........................58Nashville Trevecca Comm. ..... 332 .........................454Nashville Trinity/Trinity Hisp ....... 12 ...........................40Nashville Westwind Comm .......... 7 .............................7

TOTAL ................................... 6410 .....................10638