Midweek Check-in (July 30, 2025)

Good evening, church family!

I want us to pause in the middle of the week for three very important practices: assessment, affirmation and equipping. I think any follower of Jesus would do well to implement these into their lives.

To assess your own life is to pause, look back, take inventory and judge the direction and progress you’ve experienced over a period of time. In a world where we often get bogged down in day-to-day tasks, it can be extremely valuable to look up and take stock in where you’ve been and where you’re headed.

To affirm is to then give your approval to that assessment, if appropriate. It might be celebrating the progress that has been made or taking a further step in cementing the positive direction. This can also extend to others in your life. Can you affirm the direction and growth of their lives and speak into that with encouragement and affirmation?

To equip is to take that next step in training, accountability and mentorship to ensure proper development of your faith and life goals. The minute we decide we don’t need to grow anymore is when we begin to fade and our best is left behind us. We should always be seeking that consistent, gradual growth in all areas of our lives.

These are helpful practices for individual believers, and I think they apply to churches and denominations as well. That is exactly what we’ll be doing this weekend.

The 116^th Kansas Church of the Nazarene’s District Assembly will take place this weekend right here in Wichita. Members of our denomination from all over the state of Kansas will gather at Wichita First Church of the Nazarene (1400 E. Kellogg Dr.) to assess, affirm and equip each other. Here’s the schedule, and you are invited to each event!

THURSDAY

·      The opening service starts with assessing the previous year, led by an annual report from District Superintendent Kendall Franklin. He will also provide vision and direction for us as we look ahead to the year to come. I hope we can have a strong representative group from Woodland Lakes at this service to show our love and support for Pastor Kendall and Denise. The service starts at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY

·      The Kansas District’s NMI (Nazarene Missions International) Convention will highlight news from around the world, sharing hope and needs from various mission fields. Our district NMI president Kelly Love and her team always do a wonderful job informing and motivating Kansas churches to take their rightful place in the mission of spreading the gospel! The convention begins at 8:30 a.m.

·      The Kansas District Assembly officially convenes at 1 p.m. Elected delegates from every Nazarene church in Kansas will conduct the business of the district, receiving reports, voting for representatives on various boards and councils and, perhaps most importantly, affirming the call to ministry of several pastoral candidates by granting ordination and ministers licenses to those who have passed the high standards of ministry requirements.

·      The Kansas District’s NYI (Nazarene Youth International) Convention begins at 4 p.m. and will see youth from around the state gather. Among the business they will discuss includes the ongoing planning for NYC (Nazarene Youth Conference) next summer in Salt Lake City.

·      A very busy day will conclude with the annual ordination service, in which several pastoral candidates will receive the affirmation of the Assembly and the denomination by becoming ordained ministers in the Church of the Nazarene. General Superintendent David Busic will lead this sacred service, and our own Cyndee Price will be among those receiving a first-time minister’s license from the Kansas District. The service starts at 7 p.m., and I would love to see a large group representing our church at this service to support Pastor Cyndee!

SATURDAY

·      Our annual Equip Day begins at 9 a.m. and will feature a session with G.S. David Busic, followed by breakout sessions and workshops focused on a variety of topics – each one meant to provide training for pastors and lay leaders to take back to their local churches. Here’s a full list of the classes provided this year.

I know that’s a lot. It will be a busy weekend, and that's not even including what we've got planned for Sunday (see the announcements below!). But I especially hope to see a strong turnout from our church at the evening worship services on Thursday and Friday (both start at 7 p.m.).

I also want to ask for your prayers for Pastor Kendall, General Superintendent David Busic and all the district leaders as we engage in the important work of assessment, affirmation and equipping this weekend.

"The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3:16-17

Your pastor,

Billy Byler

BACK-TO-SCHOOL

·      THIS SUNDAY we are so excited for our Back-to-School series! We have hundreds of backpacks and school supplies that need to be sorted, packed, prayed over and distributed to students in need before the new school year starts in two weeks! So worship with us this Sunday morning (Aug. 3) then stick around for a free lunch and help us pack these backpacks. We’re structuring this event so there will be something for the whole family to do!

·      In our worship service on Sunday, Aug. 10 we’ll continue our Back-to-School series with designated prayer time for the students and educators heading into a new school year. So please invite your students and educators (teachers, school staff, administrators, coaches, etc.). All educators in attendance will receive a gift card to help them prepare for the school year!

JUST FOR FUN

Hey, you read Pastor Billy's midweek check-in all the way to the end! As a reward, check out these crazy stories I came across recently:

·      Scientists are exploring a new development that may be the solution to stopping seasonal allergies: breathing in dust from Amish barns.

·      Yes, it is hot out there - the hottest it’s been all summer. But is it hot enough for you to try a new recipe? Here’s how to make mailbox lasagna. (Disclaimer: Pastor Nate found this, and we do not recommend actually trying it. But if you do we will visit you in the hospital #thoughtsandprayers).

·      Florida has a terrible problem with invasive Burmese pythons. The newest solution: robot bunnies.