Our Approach
Father, "Send Me"
This is the prayer the Church of the Nazarene has prayed from the very beginning as she
sends her people into the world. Find a missions opportunity!
Our Mission
To make Christlike disciples in the nations.
“I am the way and the truth and the life”
John 14:6
Our Purpose of Missions
To pioneer, develop, and resource local, interdependent, and sustainable Nazarene churches.
Nazarene Missions exists to start new Nazarene churches around the world
We believe that a well-organized group of believers can transform their local community. Our mission is to create opportunities, build connections, and foster relationships through the Church of the Nazarene.
We seek to develop each church to be effective in ministry and outreach
Our partnership guarantees that the local church makes an immediate impact in the community.
Nazarene Missions provides every church with ongoing resources
This support will help each Church of the Nazarene become a sustainable member of the denomination, thriving within its own context for generations to come.
Our Method
Nazarene Missions centers around compassion, evangelism, and education. Nazarene missionaries partner with local ministers and lay leaders to bring restoration, share the Gospel, and build sustainability within the community.
COMPASSION BRINGS RESTORATION
Nazarene Missions offers a comprehensive range of compassionate ministries to address systemic issues. From disaster relief to child development, Nazarene Missions has the reach, impact, and longevity to make a difference.
• Compassionate Ministries
• Hospitals & Clinics
• Disaster Response
• Work & Witness
EVANGELISM SHARES THE GOSPEL
The power of Christ’s Gospel, through the witness of the Holy Spirit, draws people near and transforms hearts and lives. Nazarene Missions prayerfully sends missionaries into new territories to join the movement of the Holy Spirit in bringing salvation and restoration.
• JESUS Film Harvest Partners
• World Mission Broadcast
• Church Planting
• Missionary Outreach
EDUCATION BUILDS SUSTAINABILITY
Our purpose is fully realized when our churches have the knowledge and resources to thrive. Nazarene Missions facilitates training, teaching, and resourcing to support local Nazarene churches around the globe.
• Discipleship Training
• Leadership Development
A Christlike disciple, set apart by the Holy Spirit, prayerfully sent out by the Church, and affirmed by Nazarene Missions to cross cultural barriers for the purpose of spreading scriptural holiness.
CHRISTLIKE DISCIPLES
They are sanctified wholly by His Spirit, set apart to do His work. They are called to go into the world and spread the transformative Gospel.
PRAYERFULLY SENT BY THE CHURCH
The Church is called to send missionaries where they are needed most. It is through prayer and connection with God’s mission that we prepare and deploy those who are called to participate in the movement of the Holy Spirit around the world.
SPREAD SCRIPTURAL HOLINESS
As the Holy Spirit prepares the way for transformational holiness, Nazarene Missions sends its missionaries in partnership with local communities to join in God’s movement of restoration and peace in hearts and lives.
COMPASSION BRINGS RESTORATION
is primarily funded by his or her local community and called to serve a localized need in the field. Affirmed by the local church, district, and the Church of the Nazarene, he or she will serve a maximum of four years in the field with no previous ministry experience required.
- Primarily funded by a local Church of the Nazarene*
- Serves a maximum of four years**
- No prior ministry experience
- Able to engage in field ministry
OUR NAZARENE MISSIONARIES
THE GLOBAL MISSIONARY
is primarily funded by the global efforts of World Evangelism giving and called to serve a full career in the field. Affirmed by the Church of the Nazarene, he or she has prior ministry experience and will strategically serve in a global assignment wherever he or she is needed in the world.
- Primarily World Evangelism funded
- Serves two years to full career
- Prior ministry or specialty service experience
- Assigned by the church where needed
Pioneering Missions
To fulfill our mission to make Christlike disciples in the nations, Nazarene Missions sends missionaries like Gavin and Jill Fothergill around the world. Gavin and Jill work with local leaders to share the good news.
The Missionary Sending Model
Nazarene Missions is woven into the fabric of our identity as a holiness people. Our churches foster the call of the Holy Spirit to missions through deputation services, shared stories of God’s movement, and special offerings.
Nazarene Missions partners with local churches and districts to nurture the call in our missionaries. The Missionary Sending Model allows our missionaries to see their service from the moment they receive the call to their return home. The Missionary Sending Model spans all tenures, assignments, locations, and ministry types.
The system for nurturing, sending, and supporting Nazarene missionaries.
Active World Areas
103+
Serving Opportunities
59
World Areas
586+
Current Missionaries
Missionary Sending Model
- The church and district provide opportunities to inspire, foster, and nurture the call to serve in Nazarene Missions.
- The local NMI president engages early and guides the candidate through the sending process.
- The candidate attends a Nazarene Missions orientation event.
- The candidate, pastor, and local and district NMI presidents are notified of next steps, which may include further assessment and development.
- Nazarene Missions notifies the local pastor, local and district NMI presidents, and the district superintendent of the candidate’s placement.
- Missionary assignments are established as globally funded (global) or locally funded (sponsored) prior to placement of candidates.
- The local and district NMI presidents prepare a sending service to affirm the missionary in the local church and on the district.
- Each local church and district will receive an affirmation service liturgy developed by the Board of General Superintendents.
- The local church and district host the affirmation service.
- Nazarene Missions works with field leaders to ensure the missionary completes field training and successfully begins his or her assignment.
- Field training includes but is not limited to team bonding, cultural awareness, discipleship training, language acquisition, security, and field-specific training.
- As determined by a missionary’s assignment, Nazarene Missions provides contractual support: funding, insurance, and member care.
- The local church and local and district NMI presidents keep the relationship strong between the missionary, the district, and local churches through prayer and connection.
- Globally funded missionaries are equipped with resources to prepare them for deputation services.
- Sponsored missionaries, although not sent on deputation by Nazarene Missions, are connected to their local churches for financial support throughout their assignment.
- Missionaries participate in home assignment, a time intentionally set aside to build, develop, and renew relationships with churches and districts in order to engage in missions and encourage World Evangelism giving.
- Nazarene Missions notifies the local sending community, including the local pastor, local and district NMI president, and district, of the commissioning service led by the Board of General Superintendents.
- Those being commissioned are recognized and sent by the Church of the Nazarene.
- Nazarene Missions helps prepare the church, local and district NMI presidents, and district to welcome, support, and encourage returning missionaries, including retiring missionaries.
- Global missionaries participate in a debriefing and are supported in their transition to their passport countries.
- Sponsored missionaries complete a final evaluation, and Nazarene Missions follows up with each missionary as needed forfurther debriefing.
How We Fund Missions
Nazarene Missions is funded through the generous, sacrificial giving of people and churches throughout the world.
We are a unified, global church supporting Nazarene Missions worldwide. We are living out the transformational love of Jesus Christ in our local communities, through His message and our actions.
World Evangelism Fund is the cornerstone of Nazarene Missions. This denominational fund (WEF) is the foundation for discovering, delivering, and resourcing our missions organization around the world. Every Nazarene church participates in Nazarene Missions through their contributions to World Evangelism giving. World Evangelism giving is essential for Nazarene Missions initiatives to thrive.
Designated Giving is a vehicle for specific Nazarene Missions initiatives. Designated giving (Approved Specials) allows every member to give directly to specific needs within the Nazarene Missions organization as defined by the Church of the Nazarene.
External Giving provides opportunities for partners outside the Church to participate in our mission. External partners are special donors, agencies, and foundations that align with our values and mission. External giving also includes various grants that are sought, prepared, and managed by the Church of the Nazarene on behalf of our missions organization.
Answering the Call
Nazarene missionaries Dwight and Carolyn Rich have followed God’s call on their lives for over 34 years on the field. Through World Evangelism giving, the church has supported their call to spread Christ’s transformative Gospel.