Beginning 7 January, a series of devastating wildfires scorched communities in the Los Angeles, California, area, causing the deaths of at least 25 people and forcing the evacuation of close to 180,000 people from their homes. Here’s how Nazarenes are responding to the crisis.
Arnold Carlson Jr., 97, of Sun City, Arizona, passed away on 4 August 2024. He was a retired district superintendent who led the Rocky Mountain District from 1983 to 1992.
Shawn Siegfreid was elected superintendent of Southern California District 2 June 2024. Siegfried currently serves as the pastor of Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene.
Darren Reed was elected superintendent of the Sacramento District in California on 26 April 2024. He is currently the pastor of Denver One Hope Church of the Nazarene.
Three new superintendents were announced on the USA/Canada Region this week. Jeffery Barker and Daren Pitcher were elected to the Metro New York and Central California districts, respectively and Althea Taylor was appointed superintendent of the Hawaii Pacific District.
For the first time in decades, downtown Oakland, California, has an English-language Church of the Nazarene. Eikon Church of the Nazarene began in 2020 and has radically impacted the East Bay region of northern California.
On 15 June 2023, Primera Iglesia Mexicana Del Nazareno, the first Hispanic Church of the Nazarene in the United States, was designated as a historical landmark of the Church of the Nazarene after the adoption of Special Resolution 753 at the 30th General Assembly.
On 11 March 2023, the Pajaro, California, community was completely evacuated due to a levee breach on the Pajaro River. Watsonville Church of the Nazarene has been working nonstop since to help victims of the devastating flood.
Wilbur “Wil” Spaite, 91, of Chandler, Arizona, passed away 23 August 2022. He was a retired district superintendent who led the Central California District for 20 years from 1979 to 1999.
Spring Valley Community Church has set up a Ukrainian refugee hub that provides a place to stay for a few hours or even a few nights before the refugees move on to their final resettlement location in the United States.
