Nazarenes in the News is a compilation of online news articles featuring Nazarene churches or church members.   

Former Olivet student repays Christmas kindness shown 40 years ago

Champaign, Illinois

(The News-Gazette, December 24) Forty years ago this month, Habeeb Habeeb had no money, no way to contact his parents in his war-torn homeland, no idea how he was going to eat while the college cafeteria was closed for Christmas break.

But on the last day of classes at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Habeeb checked his campus mailbox and found a plain envelope with a $100 bill wrapped in a white sheet of lined notepad paper with the words, "We thought you could use this."

There was no name or signature. To this day, Habeeb doesn't know whose generosity lifted him at such a critical time in his life.

"I was extremely and profoundly touched by the goodness and kindness of America and such a marvelous display of Christian generosity. I have never forgotten that blessing," Habeeb recently wrote in a letter that has accompanied more than 40 separate $100 donations he has made to individuals and organizations over the last year to pass on the generosity shown to him.

For the rest of the story, click here.

Maine church turns toy theft into message

Wiscasset, Maine

(Bangor Daily News, December 23) Pastor Wally Staples was shopping for toys Friday afternoon with his wife, Sharon, when he got a call that he said “blew our minds.”

Back at the Wiscasset Church of the Nazarene, while volunteers worked in the basement packing Christmas boxes of food to give to families in need, someone had walked into the sanctuary and stolen two large bags of toys from among the hundreds waiting to be given to area children.

“They took the toys and made a run for it,” Staples, 68, said Tuesday. “And the sad part is we would have given them the toys, had they said something. It doesn’t make any sense.”

For the 13th consecutive Christmas, Staples, his wife and a group of volunteers have collected children’s names and ages, then worked with various organizations throughout Maine to provide toys, books and games for local boys and girls to find under their tree.

For the rest of the story, click here.

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--Compiled by NCN News