Nazarenes Celebrate Worldwide Centennial

Local Church of the Nazarene members will join with all Church of the Nazarene followers tomorrow to celebrate the denomination's worldwide Centennial. One church is in Brooksville and two are in Spring Hill.

Tomorrow, Spring Hill First Church of the Nazarene will celebrate with its new senior pastor, Larry Dunn, who has been there since Mother's Day. Several events will mark its Centennial: Three new prospective members had their orientation instruction and there will a baptism service at the parsonage; the worship service will trace highlights of the denominational history; a 100-minute-long potluck dinner will take place at the church following the morning worship service; members are asked to invite friends to church and also to pray for 100 designated minutes in their member homes; children from the church and Little Explorers - its preschool and daycare center - will parade tomorrow in praise and worship; 100 helium-filled balloons with church identification will be released into Florida's blue sunny skies. And yes, the pastor said, no celebration is complete without centennial cupcakes!

Dunn is eager to head the centennial celebration tomorrow, his first as lead pastor position. His wife Lori is also a pastor and serves as the family ministries pastor. Both Dunns formerly led Florida youth ministries in Winter Haven and Clearwater. The current prayer list includes hopes that their Winter Haven home gets sold soon.

Dunn was born in Syracuse, N.Y. and grew up "fighting to go to church," he said. His mother wanted him to become a teacher. He considers being a minister as being a teacher, but for Christ. His father, deceased, appreciated his talents in golf, coaching and encouraged him to play golf like Tiger Woods' father. Satisfying both parents, the pastor became a member of the PGA as an instructor and played in local tournaments while wife Lori owned and operated a barber shop. The pastor relishes having such fine golf courses nearby and claims a handicap of seven or eight.

Dunn attended the University of Buffalo on a golf scholarship and studied architecture and environmental design. His ministerial training is from Nazarene Bible Institute in Florida. He credits Pastor Don Bowman of Church of the Nazarene in Grove City, Ohio, as a major influence in his love for youth ministry and in becoming a lead minister himself. While he and Lori worked with youth in Ohio for seven years, Bowman encouraged him to trust in the Lord for serving in full-time ministry.

Having served in youth ministry works in subsequent posts for 17 years, both Dunns are excited about attracting local students, children and their parents to the church. "Our own two children - Abbey, seven, and Andrew, two - were adopted as a result of working with a Salvation Army charity mission in Pennsylvania where we encountered needy children situations. Lori has a real heart for children and teens," Larry Dunn said. "We have sheltered and given help to many needy youth on our own, like a big dormitory. It's so important that children feel loved and appreciated and encouraged, taught about Jesus and Christian values."

In a brief overview of the Church of the Nazarene, Dunn mentioned it is late 1880s Methodist-based and Pentecostal beginnings in New England, eventually melding similar churches into today's denomination. In 1895, Los Angeles, Calif., established the First Church of the Nazarene. In 1904, Tennessee and Texas groups united as the Holiness Church of Christ. In 1908, the Church of the Nazarene was established in Pilot Point, Texas, and the Holiness Church of Christ joined the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene. Since 1919, the name has been Church of the Nazarene, claiming some nearly two million members worldwide, having churches in 151 different world areas. There are 40 denominational theological schools worldwide, radio broadcasts in 30 languages, and printed materials in 130 languages. There are hospitals overseas built by the Church of the Nazarene.

Dunn has been showing the DVD "Out of the One Many, Out of the Many, One," depicting the denominational history, on the past few Sundays to refresh its heritage for viewers. Within the Central Florida District there are more than 90 churches and 15,000 members.

"But what's recently amazing," Dunn said, "is in 2005 the Nazarene denomination was able to establish a church in Iraq." Relatedly, the book written by a Muslim who converted to Christianity against his parents' wishes, "A Call to Die," by David Nasser impresses the pastor. He also appreciates the inspirational 'Purpose Driven' Christian church and personal growth books by Rick Warren.

Music at the church is a blend of traditional and praise and worship, and includes a children's choir. The church has a pianist and organist and tapes with projected lyrics. Sunday eve services feature the organ accompanying congregational singing. Dunn would like to see adult and youth bands develop. He invites musicians to participate.

Pastor Wes Harris of Spring Hill Calvary Church of the Nazarene was affirmative in welcoming both Lori and Larry Dunn as pastors in the faith. "Tomorrow we're celebrating here as well with music, honoring our charter members, some new ground-breaking for facility additions and a meal. In Christian fellowship we are so happy to have the Dunns here. They are a wonderful Christian package in experience for ministering to children and youth, and we will work together with them and the Brooksville Church of the Nazarene and other churches in local community outreach as it happens..."

Upcoming events at Spring Hill First Church of the Nazarene include the free annual community outreach Fall Fest, from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. It will feature inflatable games and other games and prizes for area children and families, free refreshments, music, face painting and many pumpkins and treats.

Potluck dinners are held the last Sunday of each month at 6 p.m., featuring programs of speakers, concerts or testimonials.

In January, the church will have its Faith Promise Services, where missionaries supported by the church visit to speak about their work.

The church free bread outreach pantry is held each first, second and third Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. until noon. The pastor would like to help outreach for the homeless, perhaps with a soup kitchen or housing. He and his wife want to develop strong youth programs for local teens, and get them involved in missions as they have previously. They organized teen trips to South Dakota, Tennessee, Mississippi and the Bahamas. "We even took some kids on winter retreats to Pennsylvania," the pastor said, " and that was a lot of fun and exercise. That led to some of them becoming ministers.

In closing, the pastor said, " We're so thankful to be here and we really enjoy the people, area and parks and want people to come and visit and experience for themselves the loving spirit that exists among our church and pre school."

When do they meet?

Centennial celebration: tomorrow

Sunday fellowship time: 9:30 a.m.

Sunday school all ages: 9:45 a.m.

Sunday worship service: 10:40 a.m.

Sunday evening worship: 6 p.m.

Wednesday family night: 6 p.m.