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THE CHURCH
OF THE NAZARENE
in your neighborhood
Church nurture
- An open altar where penitent seekers may find
Christ as Savior and Lord.
- The godly care and counsel of pastors.
- Worship and evangelistic services that glorify
God, convict the sinner, and strengthen the Christian faith.
- opportunity for Christian believers to be
sanctified wholly.
- Bible-centered Sunday School classes for all
ages.
A warm fellowship
- The helpfulness of Christian friends.
- Prayer meetings that strengthen the Christian
life.
- Wholesome social activities for all members
of the family.
- Wider fellowship with other Christians through
boy's and girl's camps, youth institutes, and summer camp meetings.
- A place to serve.
- Continuing Lay Training for well-rounded churchmanship.
- Participation in the helpful ministry of the
church through the Sunday School, missionary society, youth and children's organizations
So you may know:
Born in a revival
The Wesleyan revival that saved the 18th-century
England
from revolution reaffirmed the testimony and experience of the Early
Church that God is able to forgive man's sins and cleanse his heart from
all unrighteousness. A revival of this preaching and doctrine in the United
States toward the close of the 19th century led to the formation of independent congregations
that banded together in October 1908 as the Church of the Nazarene. So universal was this movement that even then all parts
of the United States were represented
in 228 congregations, comprising 10,414 members.
Keeping pace in a changing world
A warmhearted church and a victorious Christian
life, founded on faith in the Word of God, have attracted many to the fellowship of the church during the past half century.
Heartfelt religion resulted in fervent lay witnessing and a missionary concern. "The Church of the Nazarene has grown until
now there are over 1,000,000 members in 10,164 congregations. Nearly 51 percent of the churches are in the 50 states of the
U.S., and the remaining 49 percent are
distributed throughout 105 countries where the church carries on its ministries. Over 1,323,343 are enrolled in Nazarene Sunday
Schools."
In today's rapidly changing world, God's grace and the need of the human heart are changeless. the Church
of the Nazarene offers to people today the same warm-hearted church and victorious Christian faith that have made it attractive
throughout its history. The uncertainties of this nuclear age, the failure of a high standard of living to satisfy basic human
needs, and the inability of education or science alone to solve the problem of sin and morality affirm the relevance of the
church's message and the urgency of its God-given mission.
THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH AROUND THE WORLD
Missions
The transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed by over 600 Nazarene missionaries and more than
6,400 national pastors and workers in 105 world areas on six continents in preaching, teaching, healing ministry. In these
lands there are over 4,801 organized churches plus hundreds of missions with more than 6,000 students who are trained in 41
Bible colleges. At 3 hospitals and 44 clinics, approximately 411,845 patients are tested annually. Nazarenes gave in excess
of $40 million, including General Budget and Mission Specials, for this widespread missionary outreach.
Christian education
The Church of the Nazarene, from its inception, has been committed to higher education. Throughout the world the church
currently sponsors 36 undergraduate and graduate institutions, including 9 liberal arts colleges, 3 graduate seminaries, 20
Bible colleges, 3 nursing schools, and a teacher training college. Eighteen other schools and numerous theological education
extension centers also offer instruction. In addition, Nazarene Student Fellowships are being established on many secular
college and university campuses.
Christian literature
The various departments of the church create literature for Sunday School training, training of laity and ministers,
Bible study, personal spiritual growth, and social concerns. This material is printed and distributed by the Nazarene Publishing
House in English. for over 70 years the Nazarene Publishing House has increasingly carried out its concept of providing "God's
Word for Today's World" by the printed page.
Non-English and cross-cultural English publications are created, produced
and coordinated by Publications International in more that 65 major languages.
Radio and television
Since 1944 the church has recognized its responsibility to use radio as a means of reaching the millions who do not
benefit from easy access to the gospel. Today, the use of radio and television represents a very important evangelistic role.
Radio is used extensively in areas where the church has an established ministry. It is also used to prepare areas for future
entry. There are 51 different languages and dialects produced weekly, which give global coverage to the radio ministry of
the church. Television is being used successfully in several English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Russian world areas.
It, along with radio, give visibility, awareness, and the message of hope in Jesus Christ through the many ministries of the
Church of the Nazarene.
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