Regional Director Gustavo Crocker, Nazarene Archivist Stan Ingersol, and General Superintendent James H. Diehl receive the first Hungarian Manual.

General Superintendent James H. Diehl recently concluded district assemblies and meetings on the Eurasia Region through Germany, Hungary, and the United Kingdom.

A highlight of the trip was the 50th anniversary of Nazarene work in Germany and the vote for the merger and reunification of the Germany Southwestern and Germany Northeastern Districts. After becoming two districts in 1998, this spring in simultaneous assemblies held in the Hanau church, both delegations voted overwhelmingly to rejoin the districts and relocate the district office from Hanau to Gelnhausen, Germany. Dr. Diehl reports: “That evening when both delegations were back together, there was a great spirit of rejoicing and celebration.”

The combined delegates elected a new eight-member district advisory board to serve in conjunction with newly-elected District Superintendent Martin Wahl, who pastors a Church of the Nazarene in Berlin.

The vote coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Germany District with special guests Dr. Jerald and Alice Johnson, who began the pioneer work of the Church of the Nazarene in Germany. The evening service was conducted by the youth in a filled-to-capacity sanctuary. “What a tremendous service we had,” says Dr. Diehl. “There seems to be a new spirit of optimism in Germany.”

During the assembly, he ordained four elders and two deacons, including the first two Nazarene ministers from Poland, David Berdowski, as an elder, and Simona, his wife, as a deacon.

In Hajduhadhaz, Dr. Diehl presided over the ninth assembly of the Hungary District. This relatively new work of four churches and one NewStart came together in an overflow crowd that included the mayor and several dignitaries of the city. At the conclusion of the service, which included the ordination of one new elder, about 20 adults responded to an invitation to spiritual victory.

A milestone was celebrated at the Hungary District assembly when Imre and Maria Gusztin, national leaders for the work of the Church of the Nazarene, presented the finished Hungarian translation of the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene, a project the Gusztins had labored over and dreamed of for ten years. They presented the first two copies of the 2005-2009 Manual to Dr. Diehl and Eurasia Regional Director Gustavo Crocker.

”My deep respect and great appreciation is extended to Imre and Maria Gusztin for this most difficult accomplishment. The Church of the Nazarene in Hungary is steadily growing with the Gusztins providing excellent leadership to all of our pastors and lay leaders,” reports Dr. Diehl.

Assemblies in the United Kingdom British Isles South and British Isles North included high-energy worship and business, with the ordination of one elder on each district. Dr. Diehl concludes: “There was a special anointing of the Holy Spirit on every event—from Frankfurt, Germany, to Belfast, Northern Ireland; from the 50th anniversary celebration in Germany to ‘a new day in attitude, spirit, and enthusiasm’ on both the British Isles North and South Districts. This has been a wonderful tour.”