Deed to the 2:8 House is presented to the local ministry!

Norman, Oklahoma--The Church of the Nazarene Foundation presented the deed to a large historic home to a local ministry at the University of Oklahoma Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009.
Dr. Melvin McCullough, president of the foundation, presented the deed during a special ceremony at the house to David and Rhonda Kyncl, directors of the Nazarene Student Center for the University of Oklahoma, Inc.
“Though the generosity of the David Green family and Hobby Lobby, we are here today to present the deed to this house to the local ministry.” McCullough said. “A recent market analysis valued the property at about $395,000.”
The house is a large, historic, two-story building which includes the living area for the director’s family on the main floor and two, two-bedroom apartments on the second floor. The Kyncls are serving in the 12th year as the ministry’s directors. David also serves as the director of Nazarene Secular Campus Mission, which is a network of Nazarene ministries on secular campuses throughout the United States. Craig and Anita Shepperd, who live in one of the second-floor apartments, coordinate the ministry efforts for international students and are in their second year and the ministry’s associate directors.
The local ministry is known as the 2:8 House, based on 1 Thessalonians 2:8, “We loved you so much that we gave you not only God’s Good News but our own lives as well.” The ministry initiatives include small group Bible studies, International food and game nights, and a free lunch for students every Tuesday. Students from more than 34 countries and 28 states have participated in some type of ministry event in the past few years.
“I first want to say thank you to all the people here because the people behind the scenes help make this possible,” Erin Kesselhuth, a Chemical Engineering senior at OU and president of the 2:8 House student organization, said. “I think I can sum up my comments by repeating what I heard a student say at lunch, ‘You could just serve mush, and we all would come because of the love we feel here. Good food is just a bonus.’”
McCullough also mentioned the strategic ministry to international students.
 “In the most recent Board of General Superintendents meeting, we noted that there are missionaries on several university campuses in the United States,” McCullough said. “The world is sending their top students to the United States every year. They are educated here and then return to their home countries to be the next leaders.”
Dr. Stan Toler, General Superintendent, closed the ceremony with a prayer of dedication.
Other special special guests attending the deed presentation, included: Gary Hartke, director of Nazarene Youth International; Dr. W. Talmadge Johnson, retired General Superintendent and current Southwest Oklahoma District Superintendent; Dr. David McKellips, Northeast Oklahoma District Superintendent: Rev. Brent Hardesty, pastor of Norman Community Church of the Nazarene; and several members of the ministry’s Board of Directors.
For more information about the Church of the Nazarene Foundation go to www.nazarenefoundation.org. For more information about the ministry of the 2:8 House visit their website www.28house.org.

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