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Touched by Africa

By Kathy Slamp on Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Like countless others, years ago my husband, Dave, and I set out on our life journey. We were young then, and full of enthusiasm for God’s kingdom, our world, and each other. We met on a Nazarene college campus, and that meeting has taken us now through a lifetime of Christian service. It’s been a journey to say the least—some seasons filled with excitement and fulfillment, and other seasons of disappointment. Yet through it all, our hands have been in His, and His ways we’d not change if even we could.Ultimately, we came face to face with that unwritten deadline called retirement...

Work & Witness team finds the Church of the Nazarene alive and well in Cuba

By Larry Orwig on Thursday, May 9, 2013

In October, I was invited along with Mark McArthur, a fellow member of Crossroads Church of the Nazarene in Ellicott City, Maryland, to join the Severn, Maryland, Grace Point Community Church's (GPCC) Work & Witness team to Cuba. For the 14 team members (pictured left with four Cuban workers), the October 1 arrival date was the beginning of our very first visit to Cuba, a moment that I will cherish for a lifetime. This team was the first of many Work & Witness teams that Bob Prescott hopes to send to Cuba in 2013 and beyond. According to Prescott, the Cuba...

God is faithful

By Anonymous on Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Nazarene mission workers in undisclosed areas shared the following stories with Engage magazine recently. Names have been changed and locations omitted for security purposes.The miracle buildingLast year Rev. Pat’s* church was shut down. For more than 20 years it had been in this middle class neighborhood, as a house that was a church. The community situation had grown tense, and neighborhood leaders successfully got the attention of people with power. The resulting decision was that the house could no longer be used for worship. Immediately there was a problem: Where was this...

Life lessons from a mission trip

By Wendy Walker on Tuesday, April 23, 2013

After prayerful consideration, my husband and I set off to Africa with seven other people from our church on a short-term mission trip called Work & Witness. As the trip drew closer, I remember Pastor Brian specifically telling us to be open for what God would show us on this trip because He would show each one of us something. He further warned us not to go on the trip “knowing” ahead of time what that was. I laughed at this because I was two months ahead of both him and God. My over-analytical mind had long-ago figured out what God was going to reveal to me; not only...

A missionary kid returns home

By David Stevens on Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Over the 27 years that David and Carol Stevens have served as pastor and wife in the Church of the Nazarene they have desired to attend the Southern Nazarene University (SNU) annual Work & Witness trip called Commission Unto Mexico. Carol Stevens was born in Mexico. Her parents were independent missionaries there. She has always wanted to return.In 2012 they decided to go on the winter trip. David and Carol had no idea about where trip coordinator Howard Culbertson had arranged to go and work on the trip. As they learned more they were excited to learn that Monclova, Mexico, was the...

'The house is small, but the heart is big'

By Savilla Smith on Friday, March 1, 2013

“The house is small, but the heart is big.” I heard that expression on the recent Work & Witness trip to Valparaiso, Chile. The gentleman who said it was describing a mutual friend’s house where we had gathered to share a meal. It is true that by U.S. standards my friend’s house would probably be called small, but to me it was absolutely perfect. Each room had a gentle beauty and serenity. Plus the space was efficiently utilized. The house reflected the personality of my friends who lived there. I realized how true the expression was as all nine of us assembled around the table...

The Voice that said 'give'

By Savilla Smith on Wednesday, February 20, 2013

I have heard the voice of the Lord, not as a heavens splitting thunder or in some dramatic way, but as that still small voice which cannot be doubted. (John 10:1-21, verse 4 “and his sheep follow him because they know his voice…”)I was standing in Valparaiso, Chile along with the other 24 members of the Chicago Heights-sponsored Work & Witness team. We were waiting to take a boat tour out into the bay. As we waited an unshaven man dressed in worn clothes approached the group. He began asking for pesos. The Lord spoke one word to me. “GIVE,” He said. Immediately I...

Church started by radio program ready to be organized

By Cryz Colorado on Thursday, February 7, 2013

A small group of believers began meeting in Camias, a rural mountain area of the Philippines, after a member of the village accepted Christ through listening to a World Mission Broadcast (WMB) radio program called "Rated PG." That listener contacted the program hosts -- Emily Bolinas, with Pastor Cryz Colorado as PAMANA segment producer. As a result of this contact, the Church of the Nazarene in Cabanatuan, a city below the mountain, has been sending pastors and leaders to disciple this growing group of believers in Camias. Pastor Colorado gives an update on the growth of...

Seeking the lost on the football field

By Siripawn Malagul on Monday, January 28, 2013

In the beginning of 2011 I began to notice that it was truly necessary to go out to seek the lost. Most of my church congregation didn’t see the importance of seeking the lost. They were waiting for the lost to come into the church building. But actually that’s not likely going to happen if our church members don’t go out to look for them. I took the opportunity to pray with a friend of mine who is a missionary who has worshipped with our congregation. We began to pray specifically for a ministry team who would go out to evangelize the community that is not far from our local church....

Right place, right time

By Robin Brouwer on Friday, November 23, 2012

Heading to Republic, Washington, U.S., this past summer was our fifth mission trip with middle schoolers from Grandview, Washington, Church of the Nazarene. Every trip has had its own flavor, challenges and accomplishments. Every trip has also been a chance to see God at work among our kids but also in the orchestrating of details - seems he is always at work ahead of time preparing opportunities for us to "reach out and touch someone." Very exciting and faith building! This trip was no exception. Every spring we notify the district that we are available to help a church for several days...