NAZARENE MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL 100 YEAR CELEBRATION
(15 minutes total)
SHOW VIDEO : Church History: M15 Plenary 1
(Approximately 5 minutes)
(Immediately upon end of video read the following from the podium while clicking through the 18 slides
Yellow Highlights indicate when to advance the slides) (Approximately 4 minutes)
http://www.usacanadaregion.org/m15-conference
In response to Christ’s post-resurrection mandate to go and make disciples of all nations, the Great
Commission… Nazarene Missions International traces its origin to 1899, when the Woman’s Missionary Society
(WMS) was founded, only 4 years after the Church of the Nazarene was established.
As you just heard the Church of the Nazarene, with our founder and leader Phineas Bresee, was developed to
help the poor have fellowships. H.F. Reynolds the 1st General Superintendent, along with Phineas Bresee as GS’s
were both very mission minded, Reynolds especially in the area of global missions. Missions was a very integral
component of Nazarene heritage. The Nazarene church from its inception was positioned to serve the poor, the
immigrants and those in foreign countries.
The Nazarene Woman’s Missionary Society (WMS) was officially recognized as an auxiliary organization of
the Church of the Nazarene in 1915 at the fourth General Assembly. It was recommended that there be an
organization in each local church to increase knowledge and interest in missions by prayer, by obtaining special
speakers, and by keeping in touch with the missionaries; and to cooperate with the local Church Board in raising
their apportionments for missions.
The first General WMS Convention was held in June 1928; and it was at that Convention, the General Council
members were elected by the Convention rather than by the General Assembly.
The name of the ministry has changed over the course of its history:
In 1928—The name was changed to Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS),
It was changed in 1952 to Nazarene Foreign Missionary Society, reflecting the introduction of men, youth, and
children into the organization,
In 1964—NWMS - Nazarene World Missionary Society,
and in 1980—Nazarene World Mission Society, to further reflect the international aspect of the organization.
and in 2001—as we know it today… NMI, Nazarene Missions International.
Why was such an organization necessary? The answer to this question is really quite simple. NMI is a direct
line for missions in the local church and has often been described as “the face of mission in the local church.” In
every sense of the word, the NMI is the denomination’s organizational representative, dedicated to the cause of
world evangelization. It is the distinctive task of NMI to bring each mission area into the local church in such a
vital way that every Nazarene will be glad to be a part of global outreach, spreading the good news of full
salvation & holiness to the ends of the earth.
Though worded differently, the objectives given in the current NMI Handbook and Constitution are the same
as those expressed in 1916 when the first constitution was drafted:
1. Praying—Interceding for leaders and churches and for the Holy Spirit to draw all people to Christ.
2. Discipling—Involving and mentoring future missions leaders, especially youth and children, to make
Christlike disciples for God’s mission in the nations.
3. Giving—Devoting ourselves and our resources, especially the world Evangelism Fund, to extend Christ’s
kingdom.
4. Educating—Informing people of the world’s needs and enabling our church to meet those needs in Christ.
We have plenty to celebrate!
Watch and rejoice as we reminisce for 5 minutes with just a sampling of the highlights of Nazarene missions in
the past 100 years.
(Click through the slide show while a different person reads these narratives from off stage – 43 slides)
(Approximately 6 minutes)
1.
The earliest work outside the United States and Canada were in these areas.
2.
Our 1st General Superintendent, H. F. Reynolds was an avid supporter of missions.
3.
In 1915, at the fourth General Assembly Mission Society was organized, and 4 years later Rev Susan
Fitkin was elected the 1st WMS President.
4.
And at the 1919 Assembly, the first Woman’s General Missionary Committee was formed.
5.
Also in 1919, the Memorial Roll program began.
6.
In the early 1920s the Bresee Memorial Hospital was built in China.
7.
In 1920, leaflets were used to teach children about missions in China and India.
8.
In 1920, the first WFMS emphasis appeared in The Other Sheep.
9.
Also in 1920 Nazarene Compassionate Ministries began by helping the people in China.
10.
In earlier days, some parts of the world were more open to the gospel than today.
11.
Prayer and Fasting started in the 1924
12.
In 1929, a School of Nursing was started to help ailing missionaries on furloughs and as a training center
for missionary nurses.
13.
Even in the Great Depression mission giving almost doubled.
14.
Our goal has always been to train nationals to minister.
15.
In 1945, we opened a work in the South Pacific.
16.
Three years later we opened Continental Europe.
17.
After 29 years of service Rev. Fitkin retired.
18.
In her honor a bible school was opened in China.
19.
During a World Mission financial crisis, Dr. Louise Chapman prayed all night and God give her the 10
Percent Plan for which many of you will be awarded today.
20.
In 1949, Rev. Elizabeth Vennum, presented the idea of Alabaster Offering.
21.
In 1954, we opened the work in Papua New Guinea.
22.
In 1959, Nazarene children raised $40,000 to open Samoa.
23.
For the 50th Anniversary a hospital was built in Papua, New Guinea.
24.
In 1973, Work & Witness began, To date more than 8,000 years of labor have been donated.
25.
In 1975, the Hunger and Disaster Fund was established and raised over $1.25 million in the first 5 years.
26.
In 1976, Distinguished Service Awards were introduced.
27.
Also in 1976, the LINKS program was launched to help us connect with our missionaries.
28.
In 1982, NWMS opened the work in Venezuela.
29.
In 1993, we began a prayer emphasis for the Persecuted Church in the 10/40 Window.
30.
In 1994, we started packing Crisis Care Kits.
31.
In 1995, the 75th Anniversary project focused on Evangelism in Hong Kong/Chinese communities.
32.
In 1997, children’s raised $500,000 for Nazarene Mission Aviation
33.
In 2005, NMI started working with the School Pal-Pak program
34.
In 2010, NMI gave students an introduction to the missionary life through Mission Immersion.
35.
New areas are opening all the time… shhh, some we cannot tell you about!
36.
A milestone for Alabaster in 2012
37.
And here we are today 100 years later… In this past year alone churches raised over $37 Million for the
World Evangelism Fund
38.
For NMI’s 100th anniversary celebration… we have scheduled 1400 projects around the world…
Listen later for your opportunity to participate.
39.
In 2014, NMI partnered with JESUS Film, What a dynamic way to reach the lost.
40.
World Mission Broadcast continues to grow in scope and influence.
41.
NMI has 6 world regions that are fulfilling the Great Commission.
42.
World Mission broadcasts in 30 languages in more than 90 countries.
80 percent of Nazarene churches are outside the United States.
Nazarenes are evangelizing and discipling people in 159 world areas.
We have 702 missionaries and 310 missionary kids!
43.
In 100 years NMI has grown to more than… 1 Million Members!
44.
Congratulations NMI!!!
100 Years of Making Disciples of All Nations.
“One Mission. Endless Possibilities”