Welcome, New Pastor
One way for district missions leaders to start a relationship with new pastors
TL;DR: Welcome new pastors with an inexpensive gift sack whose everyday items introduce your district and encourage participation in world missions.
At a district Nazarene Missions International convention in Oklahoma, we welcomed each
pastor who had arrived on the district since the previous year's district convention with a sack
full of little gifts. Even with all the items listed below, the total cost per sack (including the sack)
was low. Almost all the items were purchased in large grocery stores or at Walmart. The
darts were purchased in a sporting goods store. The bilingual stickers were leftovers from a
Nazarene Missions Team promotion.
Only a couple of the items listed below relate specifically to Oklahoma. With very little
adaptation, this idea could be used on any district.
Suggested note to include in each gift sack
Welcome to our district
- Walmart smiley-face car antenna topper with a cowboy hat
Welcome to Oklahoma.
- Big Red brand gum
Oklahoma is famous for its college football. One nickname for the OU team is "Big Red."
- God First - Primero Dios sticker
Revelation 7:9, NIV: "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language ..."
- Dart
Aim high with your local missions goals. Remember that some people groups still have no ongoing church-planting effort among them.
- Package of Life Savers
Jesus said, "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." (Matthew 16:25, NIV)
- Extra brand gum
Extra giving to the World Evangelism Fund helps expand Nazarene missions into new world areas.
- Automotive fuse
Sometimes, leaders get frustrated or even discouraged. So, when you blow your fuse, here's a
replacement.
- Planters brand nuts or sunflower seeds
We're planting churches among every unreached people group that we can.
- Island Twists Kool-Aid
A reminder of our work in the South Pacific and the Caribbean.
- Yeast packet
Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." (John 6:35, NIV)
- Small candle
Jesus said, "You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14, NIV)
- Fake $100 bill
Participate wholeheartedly in world missions emphases and offerings.
- Tombstone brand beef stick
A reminder of the people who enter eternity every day.
- One Ferrero Rocher chocolate
A reminder of our work in Italy, Switzerland, and other chocolate-producing countries.
- Packet of Good Earth China Black tea
A reminder of our work in Asia.
- Abra-CaBubble bubble gum
A reminder to pray for people who live in fear of evil spirits.
Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu
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