To Nazarenes around the world:
Easter reminds us of the new life we enjoy as Christ’s disciples and the future we anticipate as we anxiously await the eternal joy of living with Him forever. Jesus rose from the grave, and that changes everything. His resurrection validates our belief that Jesus is Lord of all!
Nazarenes around the world will celebrate the “Lord of All” in a few short weeks through the Easter Offering for the World Evangelism Fund (WEF). God has blessed the Church of the Nazarene for more than 100 years as we have shared the gospel globally. The impact has been incredible, but the potential for reaching more people with God’s message of love and transformation is greater than it has ever been.
God is providentially opening doors to reach those who have not yet heard, so we go. We live the message of Jesus Christ as we share the story that leads tens of thousands to accept Christ as Lord and Savior each year. We start new churches, offer Christ-centered education, give a voice to the voiceless, and rebuild homes, communities, and lives after natural disasters. We participate in this divine mission as we offer our resources to share in ministry.
The World Evangelism Fund offers a tangible way Nazarenes around the world can join in these ministries. The fund offers all of us a voice in declaring to our world “Jesus is Lord of all.” In the last 30 years, we have more than doubled the number of new Nazarenes who come to Christ annually, we have more than tripled our full membership, and the number of ordained ministers has nearly doubled. Even greater days of ministry lie ahead.
Romans 10:12 reminds us, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” These words challenge us as we continue to participate with God in His divine mission to share this good news with the world.
We call on you to pray and prepare for this Easter Offering emphasis. The offering will be received globally on 16 April 2017. This date may vary for some, depending on the calendar of each field or district. Resources are available at nazarene.org/generosity in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Korean. If you have questions, contact Stewardship Ministries at 1-800-544-8413 or stewardship@nazarene.org.
Board of General Superintendents
Church of the Nazarene
