¿We¿ve come here to do the business of the Church of the Nazarene as outlined in the Manual,¿ stated General Superintendent Jim L. Bond as he opened the Sunday morning worship service. ¿It¿s my duty and privilege as chairman of the Board of General Superintendents to call into session the 26th General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene.¿

Bond¿s proclamation drew a rousing ovation from the more than 25,000 Nazarenes in attendance at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Fifteen thousand more Nazarenes, unable to come to Indianapolis, watched a web cast of the service from their local churches or homes¿many partaking in communion simultaneously with those in the Dome.

It was indeed a time of celebration as the global church came together for worship.

But it was not the quadrennial event that was celebrated. Nor was it the lofty attendance figure, the gracious offering collected to aid General Assembly¿s language translation, or even the impressive fact that the global church has grown to 17,000 congregations and 149 world areas.

It was an individual.

¿Ladies and Gentlemen,¿ Bond said before pausing, collecting his thoughts, and starting what would be a message blessed by the Holy Spirit and straight from the retiring general superintendent¿s heart. ¿Every important thing that we human beings have ever wanted or needed to know about life¿life here and now, life in the world to come¿is found in a single, solitary person.
¿His name is Jesus.¿

Bond¿s message, taken from Matthew 16, was simple, yet profound: Deny yourself for the purpose of putting Jesus in control. Bond would later stress that, ¿the denial of self does not mean the death of self. It means death to self.¿

Sharing a story from his past, Bond spoke about his life in basketball¿how he had to choose between basketball and Jesus. ¿The choice was tough,¿ Bond said, as he was being urged by Los Angeles Lakers great George Mikan to follow basketball. Mikan thought Bond had a future in basketball and asked if he was interested.

¿Nah,¿ Bond recalled telling Mikan. ¿I¿m not interested. I¿m going to seminary to prepare for ministry in the Church of the Nazarene.¿

Because of that decision, the church, the lives Bond has touched, and Bond himself would never be the same.

To further illustrate the message, Bond highlighted the life of Ethiopian Nazarene Zacharias Morge. Morge is founder and pastor of the Chano Mile Church of the Nazarene. He built the church with his own hands. Frequently imprisoned and persecuted for his faith over the last 20 years, Morge is considered a founder and elder statesman of the Church of the Nazarene in Ethiopia. Bond highlighted Morge¿s perseverance and passion.

¿Morge used to retreat to the hills to fast and pray,¿ Bond told the crowd. ¿One morning when Morge left for his spot in the hills, two men fell in behind him with rifles. Morge hastened his pace and came to his spot. He fell on his face in prayer, praying audibly. When he was finished, he got to his feet, walked over to the two men and said, `You¿ve been following me. What do you want?¿

¿`We¿ve been watching you,¿ they said. `We want you to come to our village. Tell us about Jesus¿ and start the Church of the Nazarene.¿¿

Bond stated that Morge¿s passion is now ¿spreading like a prairie fire across southern Ethiopia. This is the beginning of a movement to spread Christian holiness.¿

And it¿s all because of Jesus.

The service concluded with the sacrament of communion. Members of the Nazarene Youth International Global Council broke the bread and distributed the elements to the thousands in attendance.

It was a fitting symbol of the unity of the body of one individual: The Body of Christ.
--NCN News