Delegates elected David Montgomery - pastor of the New Hope Church of the Nazarene in Leeds, England - the new superintendent of the British Isles South District on the third ballot at its assembly in Morley, England, on March 13-14.

"Montgomery's election is really a recognition of his leadership in ministering to the community as a whole, because New Hope is an example of holistic ministries for the British Isles," said Eurasia Regional Director Gustavo Crocker. "It also speaks loudly of the legacy that Clive Burrows leaves as retiring D.S."

Eurasia Region District Assemblies News

Netherlands - "What you can't change, commit to Christ," General Superintendent James H. Diehl opened the Netherlands District Assembly, calling many to the altar. "Many people surrendered their personal and church situations to the Lord," said District Superintendent Arthur Snijders, who was re-elected for another four years with a 98 percent yes ballot at the March 6-7 gathering. "It provided the right kind of spiritual climate for the business at hand." The sessions focused on becoming a missional, life-giving district, with sessions focused on church planting and opportunities to combine physical and virtual communities of faith through the Internet. Diehl closed by ordaining Paul van der Laan as the district's first deacon, and Erik Groeneveld.

Ukraine - Capped off with a shared lunch and a worship service, the Ukraine District renewed four licenses in an assembly that welcomed delegates from all seven churches on the district. Churches shared about their current ministries and Trino Jara, missionary to Ukraine, shared a message that encouraged local believers to 'leave the comfort zone.' "We had a very blessed time," said Jara.

Armenia - Delegates in Gyumri, Armenia, on March 18, celebrated Pastor Seyran Vardanyan (Akhuryan, Armenia) becoming the first Armenian to earn his certificate in Christian ministry from European Nazarene College, about an hour before he became the first Amenian elder ordained inside the country. Many ordained elders of other denominations were present and participated in the ordination ceremony.

British Isles North - From March 13-16, the British Isles North delegation explored their own take on the Eurasia theme at St. Matthew's Church of the Nazarene in Paisley, Scotland: "In Christ, Like Christ, For Christ, With Christ." Matthew Ross was elected district youth president and Colin H. Wood was re-elected as the district superintendent for two more years. "It was a very relaxed weekend with the SDMI, NYI and NMI also holding their respective Conventions," said Irvine Boal. "Delegates traveled from Northern Ireland, the north of England, and from all over Scotland. The evening rallies were a time of blessing and challenge."

Russia North - Pastor Maria Pakhomova (Ulyanovsk, Russia), received her certificate in Christian ministry from European Nazarene College (EuNC) at the assembly in Moscow on March 21, the same day Diehl ordained her as an elder. Olga Druzhinina, a part-time lecturer for EuNC, and field literature coordinator, with her husband Alexei, was the first deaconess ordained on the district. This marked Diehl's last international assembly, as he will retire as a general superintendent in June. He remains the only general superintendent to have performed ordinations on the district (10 since 2004).
--Eurasia Communications (Slideshow available)