Childhood victim of tribal violence seeks peace among his people
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Papua New Guinea
Thirty years ago, a new surgeon named Jim Radcliffe arrived at the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital station. He was getting ready to bring the evening devotion to the Nazarene missionary community when he was interrupted by news of an injured boy in desperate need of reparative surgery. There had been a fight among enemy family lines at the road junction market area, and 11-year-old Masa, who did not belong to either family, was caught in the crossfire. He had been found under the tea bushes on the other side of the road with a machete wound in his back and was carried to Kudjip Nazarene Hospital by a local Christian man.Radcliffe rushed to the small hospital’s operating theatre where surgery began immediately. There was no discernible blood pressure, and anesthesia was not needed since Masa was comatose. There was intense bleeding but they could not find the source. What they did find was a huge blood clot in the back of the abdomen. Out of desperation, the doctors stopped and prayed, asking God “Where do we go?” The team turned back to Masa trying to follow the trail of blood. Another surgeon immediately discovered the severed renal artery, and the affected kidney and blood clot were both removed. Masa's wounds were stitched, and he was sent to the recovery ward.
Masa stayed unconscious for three days. The staff prayed constantly for his recovery, recognizing that God had already gone before them. When Masa regained consciousness, the hospital chaplains and medical staff shared with Masa the good news of God’s love and redemptive plan.
Just a week after Masa's surgery, he was released. At home in his village, he made a decision to follow Christ when two missionary women from the Evangelical Brotherhood Church visited him. He started attending school, entering first grade at the age of 11. Later, as a young man, he attended vocational school to study animal husbandry and carpentry, and he also enrolled in various Bible classes.
During this time, Radcliffe and his family stayed in contact with Masa, visiting him in his village when possible. Eventually, Masa began lay preaching in new Nazarene churches. He married a young woman named Elizabeth, and they had two boys and an adopted a girl. Masa had his ups and downs on his spiritual journey, but the continued support of the Radcliff family helped him to stay the course. Today, his two boys, now in 10th and 12th grade, respectively, are at the top of their classes and are active in the church, and Masa is pastoring a church restart in an area that is plagued by heavy tribal fighting.
In October 2017, after several years of study, Masa was ordained as a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene. For some reason, his ordination certificate listed his name as Moses instead of Masa. As the general superintendent laid his hands on Masa, he prayed that Pastor “Moses” would save his nation. Masa was inspired by this name change and claimed it as his own.
Masa now has a new name and a new purpose — to save his people from the bloody conflicts that nearly took his life by sharing God’s love with them. (Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific)
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Glasgow church invests in community
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Glasgow, Scotland
On the east side of Glasgow, Scoktland, wedged between an Indian take-out restaurant and a tiny convenience store, is a row of shuttered windows. Above are the words “THE CHARTER,” with a “For Sale” sign that cuts off the word “BAR.” The paint is shabby, the walls have been tagged with graffiti more than once, and half a mile away, Parkhead Church of the Nazarene are the new owners.Under the leadership of Pastor Ian Wills, the Parkhead congregation has made it their objective to continually invest in their community. With this new property, they hope to breathe a new spirit into an area of their city very much in need.
The bar, which was shut down in 2014, had a reputation for attracting a rough crowd. Now, as the church moves in to renovate, they are hoping to offer positive opportunities in a place where real community can form.
The process began back in 2016 as the congregation grew to the limits of their current space. During this time, they began to consider church planting. So, when the old bar was put up for sale, the timing seemed right.
The Charter Bar “ticked a couple of boxes,” said Pastor John Craig, part of the team working to repurpose the bar. “Firstly, it is local enough to be another space that some groups at Parkhead Nazarene Church could use.” And, in addition to helping ease space constraints, the bar is far enough from Parkhead church to be able to “explore missional opportunities to that particular location.”
The church did not have the funds to buy the property, but they secured a loan and moved forward on faith that this new outpost in their community would be supported. They’ve held fundraisers at Parkhead, as well as sought grants and even created an online giving page.
Acquiring the new building, which they hope to open this summer, has not been entirely seamless. It took some effort for them to even discover who exactly was selling the building. And then there was the city planning department. Projects like this don’t fit into the traditional boxes for a city — it’s not a cafe, it’s not a bar, but it’s not exactly a “church” either. Eventually, they were able to make the case that their use of the building would be classified as a “place of worship.”
The Church of the Nazarene in Parkhead also places a high value on partnerships, and their new endeavor is no different.
“The Charter sits almost exactly equidistant between Parkhead Nazarene and another evangelical church, namely Easterhill Community Church, with whom there are both historic and current links and overlaps in friendship and ministry,” Craig said.
The Easterhill congregation is excited for the opportunity to make use of the new community-centered space that the Parkhead Church of the Nazarene is pioneering.
As for a new name to put on the building, they haven’t settled on anything yet.
“‘The Charter’ (which means “Royal Decree”) seems to be the default that is stuck in people’s minds,” Craig said, although he points out that discussions about renaming the building are ongoing. (Church of the Nazarene Eurasia)
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Training workshop leads to salvation for unintentional participant
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Project Paul leaders in Mexico recently organized a training seminar for volunteer missionaries interested in serving at the event. As the workshop started, the organizers assumed that the attendees were all there to participate in the project, but one man arrived for the first time without knowing what the activity was about.At the end of the session, the teacher invited the attendees to the altar to pray, committing themselves to the Lord and the project. While the people walked to the front, the visitor raised his hand and said to the teacher "Pray for me; I want to give myself to God." Before praying for the missionaries, the leader guided the visitor in prayer and he gave his life to Jesus Christ.
The next day, the workshop continued and the man was there again. The church members congratulated him for his decision to follow Christ and for returning to join the missionaries.
After the workshop, the man told organizers he came from another city where he had lived a life of violence, vices, and bad business that led him to endanger his life and abandon his wife and children. The day he found the church, he felt a great need for God but thought he did not deserve forgiveness because he had done many bad things. He said that during the workshop, he heard many times that "God is looking for the sinner," which convicted him and led him to surrender to Christ.
The pastor invited the man to a discipleship class and the missionaries invited him to share the gospel in the streets. He has not stopped testifying of his new faith to his colleagues, neighbors, and friends. He has also shared his testimony by telephone with his wife, asked her for forgiveness, and hopes to recover his marriage. He continues to be discipled and has recently been baptized. The pastor and the missionaries are very surprised since everything happened in a period of three weeks. (Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica)
Related: "Project Paul brings more than 300 to Christ in Mexico"
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Brazil church members share transformation story
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Nilópolis, Brazil
Fernando and his son Yan were among several people baptized at First Church of the Nazarene in Nilópolis, Brazil, 25 February. The two shared about their new life in Christ.Fernando was paralyzed during an attack in 2009. He became depressed while adapting to his new situation and tried to take his own life despite Yan's support throughout this time.
Nilópolis First Church Pastor Alessandro Alvarenga and Brother Ubirajara invited the father and son to attend worship services. Fernando and Yan decided to be baptized together because they felt truly touched by God and appreciated what had been done for them. Both shared that they felt an emptiness that was filled by God as He made them into new men, Christians, and people.
On 4 March, Fernando and Yan were among those received into membership at the church. (Church of the Nazarene South America)
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Texas couple receives unexpected call to missions
Vanuatu
In June 2017 during General Assembly and Conventions in Indianapolis, Indiana, Linda Dortch “just happened” to sit on a bench in the Asia-Pacific Region booth and a missionary “just happened” to walk up and start a conversation about cross-cultural ministry.
The missionary was David Potter, who, with his wife, Sylvia, is helping to develop the Church of the Nazarene on the island nation of Vanuatu. Later that week, the Potters shared with Linda and her husband, John, about the need for someone to teach English at South Pacific Nazarene Theological College. Since Linda has extensive experience as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, she and John agreed to pray about this need.
Over the next few weeks, the frequency of emails and prayers became more intense as John and Linda explored this possibility. The turning point came one day when they remembered their own struggles in learning to speak Spanish.
“Each time God placed a teacher, a tutor, a class, an opportunity for us to inch our way to the next footing in Spanish, we celebrated," the couple said. "What if these English learners in Vanuatu feel like we feel? What if they need someone to help them inch their way to their next foothold in English?”
John and Linda knew that God could use other people to go and teach, but they kept thinking back to the conversation that “just happened” on the bench at General Assembly.
After much prayer, John and Linda said yes to a short-term assignment. On 23 January, the couple flew to Vanuatu where they are now on a two-month assignment as English teachers at SPNTC. They are also helping with English conversational groups as an outreach program for the local Church of the Nazarene.
For more information about John and Linda’s assignment in Vanuatu, visit steppingstonejourney.blogspot.sg. (Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific)
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Eurasia
Flags of the Nations: Italy
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The missionary was David Potter, who, with his wife, Sylvia, is helping to develop the Church of the Nazarene on the island nation of Vanuatu. Later that week, the Potters shared with Linda and her husband, John, about the need for someone to teach English at South Pacific Nazarene Theological College. Since Linda has extensive experience as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, she and John agreed to pray about this need.
Over the next few weeks, the frequency of emails and prayers became more intense as John and Linda explored this possibility. The turning point came one day when they remembered their own struggles in learning to speak Spanish.
“Each time God placed a teacher, a tutor, a class, an opportunity for us to inch our way to the next footing in Spanish, we celebrated," the couple said. "What if these English learners in Vanuatu feel like we feel? What if they need someone to help them inch their way to their next foothold in English?”
John and Linda knew that God could use other people to go and teach, but they kept thinking back to the conversation that “just happened” on the bench at General Assembly.
After much prayer, John and Linda said yes to a short-term assignment. On 23 January, the couple flew to Vanuatu where they are now on a two-month assignment as English teachers at SPNTC. They are also helping with English conversational groups as an outreach program for the local Church of the Nazarene.
For more information about John and Linda’s assignment in Vanuatu, visit steppingstonejourney.blogspot.sg. (Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific)
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Eurasia
Flags of the Nations: Italy
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Since 1 September 2009, the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center (GMC) proudly flies a flag each week of one of the many nations in which the denomination is present in ministry. Leaders were invited to send a national flag to be flown at the GMC alongside the flag of the United States*. The national flags rotate weekly, and photos of them raised are sent to the church leaders of that country.
This week: Italy
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Italy in 1948.
Italy had a population of 62,137,802 in 2017. That same year, Italy reported eight Churches of the Nazarene, all of which have been officially organized. Italy has 396 total members.
Italy is a Phase 1 district on the Eurasia Region. For more information, visit eurasiaregion.org.
* = The weekly highlighted flag is raised on the middle of three poles in compliance with U.S. government protocols. It flies to the left of the GMC host-nation United States flag, which flies above the host-state flag of Kansas. The Christian flag flies on the third pole.
The Global Ministry Center is the mission and service hub of the Church of the Nazarene.
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USA/Canada
Ohio church member responds to ministry calling through online courses
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Alliance, Ohio
This week: Italy
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Italy in 1948.
Italy had a population of 62,137,802 in 2017. That same year, Italy reported eight Churches of the Nazarene, all of which have been officially organized. Italy has 396 total members.
Italy is a Phase 1 district on the Eurasia Region. For more information, visit eurasiaregion.org.
* = The weekly highlighted flag is raised on the middle of three poles in compliance with U.S. government protocols. It flies to the left of the GMC host-nation United States flag, which flies above the host-state flag of Kansas. The Christian flag flies on the third pole.
The Global Ministry Center is the mission and service hub of the Church of the Nazarene.
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USA/Canada
Ohio church member responds to ministry calling through online courses
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Alliance, Ohio
Luanne Beadnell has been a member of the Alliance, Ohio, Church of the Nazarene since 2008, but it wasn’t until recently that she felt God calling her to a life of Christian leadership through lay ministry.
“After struggling for over two years, feeling like a ship with no direction, I felt His calling on my life so strong that I really thought it was a call to preach,” Beadnell said. “I had such a hunger to learn; a hunger to know this God who gave His Son for my sins.”
When Beadnell approached her pastor, Glen Davidson, about her conviction he pointed her to StrengthsFinder. The StrengthsFinder is an hour long online assessment tool that “measures your natural patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving” to identify one's personal strengths. Davidson encouraged Beadnell to take the test so they could identify where she naturally excels and how God could use her the most effectively.
“With these strengths in mind, Pastor Glen and I sat down to figure how to go with the calling and leading I felt from God,” Beadnell said.
It was in this conversation that Davidson suggested Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International's The Discipleship Place and their Certificate of Lay Ministry.
“After much prayer, the guidance from my pastor, and the peace I felt, I came to realize that being a layman was exactly where God wanted for me at this time,” Beadnell said. “The courses that are offered on The Discipleship Place helped satisfy some of my hunger for learning and helped me know that the Bible is more than just a good read.”
Out of all of the classes that The Discipleship Places offers, Beadnell started this journey of lay ministry with the Old Testament course.
“After taking the courses of the Old Testament, I have a new understanding of a God who created the heavens and the stars,” Beadnell said. “I learned of the history, the era, the culture, their struggles, how far they traveled ... there is just so much more than I could say!”
After she finished her first course, she quickly went through the New Testament course and is currently working her way through the Spiritual Formation course.
“I am grateful for these courses to keep my education in Christ alive, and I love that I can do them on my own time,” Beadnell said. “I have learned how to disciple people in a way that shows people who Jesus is.”
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In Memoriam
The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received 12-16 March 2018.
“After struggling for over two years, feeling like a ship with no direction, I felt His calling on my life so strong that I really thought it was a call to preach,” Beadnell said. “I had such a hunger to learn; a hunger to know this God who gave His Son for my sins.”
When Beadnell approached her pastor, Glen Davidson, about her conviction he pointed her to StrengthsFinder. The StrengthsFinder is an hour long online assessment tool that “measures your natural patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving” to identify one's personal strengths. Davidson encouraged Beadnell to take the test so they could identify where she naturally excels and how God could use her the most effectively.
“With these strengths in mind, Pastor Glen and I sat down to figure how to go with the calling and leading I felt from God,” Beadnell said.
It was in this conversation that Davidson suggested Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International's The Discipleship Place and their Certificate of Lay Ministry.
“After much prayer, the guidance from my pastor, and the peace I felt, I came to realize that being a layman was exactly where God wanted for me at this time,” Beadnell said. “The courses that are offered on The Discipleship Place helped satisfy some of my hunger for learning and helped me know that the Bible is more than just a good read.”
Out of all of the classes that The Discipleship Places offers, Beadnell started this journey of lay ministry with the Old Testament course.
“After taking the courses of the Old Testament, I have a new understanding of a God who created the heavens and the stars,” Beadnell said. “I learned of the history, the era, the culture, their struggles, how far they traveled ... there is just so much more than I could say!”
After she finished her first course, she quickly went through the New Testament course and is currently working her way through the Spiritual Formation course.
“I am grateful for these courses to keep my education in Christ alive, and I love that I can do them on my own time,” Beadnell said. “I have learned how to disciple people in a way that shows people who Jesus is.”
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In Memoriam
The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received 12-16 March 2018.
Marie Branson, 86, of Shenandoah, Iowa, passed away 13 March. She was the widow of retired minister Grover Branson, who served in Iowa. Grover Branson passed away in 2012.Margarito Garza, 77, of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away 11 March. He was a retired minister, serving in Texas. He is survived by his wife, Alicia Garza.
Ruth Munro, 88, of Red Deer, Alberta, passed away 10 March. She was the widow of retired ministers Warren Brower, George Straiton, and Wayne Munro. Warren Brower, who served in Alberta, California, and British Columbia, passed away in 2008. George Straiton, who served in Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, and British Columbia, passed away in 2001. Wayne Munro, who served as a minister and educator in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Northwest Territories, passed away in 1990.
Margaret (May) Nixon, 93, of Bethel, Delaware, passed away 12 March. She was the widow of retired minister Clifton Nixon, who served in Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. Clifton Nixon passed away in 2003.
Sylvia Parks, 92, of Charleroi, Pennsylvania, passed away 13 March. She was the widow of ordained elder George Parks, who passed away in 1973.
John Sanders, 82, of Lexington, South Carolina, passed away 11 March. He was a retired minister, serving in Arkansas, South Carolina, and Florida. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Sanders.
Harlan Shippy, 88, of Sun City, Arizona, passed away 11 March. He was a retired minister, serving in Missouri, Texas, and California. He was preceded in death by his wife, retired minister Sarah Shippy, who served in North Dakota and California. Sarah Shippy passed away in 2016.
Leland Smith, 77, of Foster, Missouri, passed away 9 March. He was a retired minister, serving in Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Smith.
Barbara (Miller) Summer, 82, of Bethany, Oklahoma, passed away 10 March. She was a retired missionary, serving in Trinidad. She is survived by her husband, retired minister, missionary, and district superintendent Carl Summer, who served in Oklahoma and Trinidad, and led the Southwest Oklahoma District.
Franklin Thompson, 74, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away 9 March. He was a retired employee of Nazarene Publishing House. He is survived by his wife, Nancy (Staker) Thompson.
For previous editions of In Memoriam, see the "Passings" section by clicking here.
Note: Please join us in prayer for the families who have lost loved ones. Click on names for full stories, funeral information, local online obituaries, and/or guest books (if available). To submit an entry of a minister or church leader, send to news@nazarene.org. (Compiled by NCN News)
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Human Resources
People are our most valued resource. Our committed employees are involved in "Making Christlike Disciples in the Nations" in 162 world areas. The Global Ministry Center Human Resources Office professionals strive to deliver the highest possible service to our employees, and are responsible for the recruitment, placement and retention of qualified individuals to staff the ministry and administrative positions of the GMC. The many employee services include compensation and benefit administration, payroll, employment, employee relations, training, counseling, organizational communication and events, and workplace programs.
*Volunteer opportunities for GMC ministries are available now. Email jveigl@nazarene.org for details.
Employment Opportunities
Administrative Assistant (Full-time)
Nazarene Youth International (NYI)
Description: This person will provide administrative support to the Director of NYI and to the global NYI Office. Other duties include managing day-to-day operations for this office as well as assistance in the planning of meetings and events.
Director of Development (Full-time)
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Description: Under the oversight of the NCM Director, the Development Director will supervise the organizational development unit of the NCM office and be responsible for tactical planning and execution of NCM’s fundraising/marketing strategy. In addition, the Development Director will engage in cross-functional decision-making through the direct supervision of the Donor Development Team, Affiliate Development Team, Partnership Development initiatives, and Advocacy Development initiatives.
Security Specialist (Full-time)
Information Technology
Description: Members of the IT department are primarily responsible for facilitating the ministry of the Global Ministry Center through assistance and consultation to technology users. The Security Specialist troubleshoots and assists with network access and security policies and procedures.
Video Production Manager (Full-time)
Global Nazarene Communications
Description: This person is responsible for video acquisition, shooting, editing, and all related responsibilities for productions of varying lengths. Additional responsibilities include knowledge of production-related software and equipment, as well as collaborating on creative projects with the Nazarene Communications team.
To obtain additional information for GMC positions, please call 913-577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
Nazarene Bible CollegeTo learn more about positions available at the NBC Administrative Offices, visit nbc.edu/jobs. All positions are located within the Global Ministry Center in Lenexa, Kansas.
Location of Global Ministry Center Positions
The GMC is the administrative hub for the Church of the Nazarene denominational ministries in 162 world areas. The GMC is conveniently located in Lenexa, Kansas, with easy access to I-35 and I-435 and within short driving distance to Kansas City International airport. All GMC positions report to this location.
Our Non-Discrimination Policy
The Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center offers equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, disability, race, creed, sex, or veteran status. The Global Ministry Center is an “at will” employer.
Our Faith-Based Organization
We are a faith-based organization. Acceptance of our Christian Code of Conduct is required and membership in the Church of the Nazarene is required for certain positions. The GMC and applicable remote work sites are smoke-, alcohol-, and drug-free Christian workplaces.
Application Processing
Our Human Resources Office receives and processes many employment applications annually for a limited number of positions. While we regret that we cannot respond to each applicant, we do contact those individuals possessing the skills, education/training, and experience that best match the requirements of the open position for which the application was submitted.
An application must be completed by all applicants and an application must be completed for each position for which one wishes to be considered. Applications are retained for one year. Resumés are not necessary for entry-level positions, but they are preferred for professional level positions.
Applying for Employment with the GMC
Application forms may be requested by calling 913-577-0500, emailing humanresourcesgroup@nazarene.org, or obtained in person from Human Resources at the Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center, 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, Kansas, 66220, Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 4:30 U.S. Central Time. Completed applications may be mailed or emailed to the attention of the Human Resources Office.
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Easter Offering resources available
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Resources are now available for the upcoming 2018 Easter Offering for the World Evangelism Fund. The offering website, nazarene.org/generosity, includes promotional materials such as social media graphics, children's activity sheets, posters, and bulletin inserts to support local churches.
The Easter Offering website is available in both English and Spanish. Each of them can be accessed at nazarene.org/generosity for the English version and nazarene.org/es/generosidad for the Spanish version.
The World Evangelism Fund is the mission network that all Nazarene ministries are built upon. Your prayers, participation, and contributions make it possible to bring the transformational love of Jesus Christ to people, communities, and nations through our globally unified Nazarene family.
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¿Hablas Español?
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NCN News is pleased to announce its weekly Global News Summary is now available in Spanish! "Today we celebrate a significant expansion of the news service at the Global Ministry Center," said Frank Moore, general editor for the Church of the Nazarene. "We invite the nearly 450,000 Spanish-speaking Nazarenes scattered around the world to read news features and transformation stories through God’s power. I pray that this step forward will strengthen the faith of our readers and encourage them as they work together in God’s mission to the world."
- To subscribe to the new Spanish newsletter, follow these instructions:
- Click here to join the Spanish mailing list.
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ABOUT US
The Global Church of the Nazarene is a Protestant Christian church in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. Organized in 1908, the denomination is now home to about 2.5 million members worshipping in more than 29,000 local congregations in 162 world areas.
Address:
The Global Church of the Nazarene
Global Ministry Center
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, Kansas 66220, United States
Phone: 913-577-0500
Email: info@nazarene.org
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