NEWS USA/Canada Regional Update— God Continues to Move among Us Five generations have existed in North America since the beginning of the Church of the Nazarene. In the years since our inception, in addition to the many scientific, medical, and technological developments, devastating events such as the Great Depression, wars, the threat of nuclear war, the AIDS epidemic, September 11, 2011, and a worldwide pandemic called COVID-19 have shaped our society. Although each generation has experienced unique characteristics and events, every person has carried the same deep inner need for a relationship with his or her Creator. Throughout these 125 years, God has helped the Church of the Nazarene to adjust and continue to proclaim our winsome message—we have a loving, patient Savior who is not stressed or threatened by all of this change. Jesus Christ, the original Nazarene, can still heal every broken life and fill every empty heart. For many religious leaders in the United States and Canada, the headwinds of secularity seem to be increasing daily. Perhaps it is counterintuitive, but we Nazarenes are learning to rejoice in these developments. History would tell us to anticipate that the Holy Spirit is powerfully working in times like these. During the first three centuries, the church grew rapidly even though the environment was hostile. In fact, church services were closed to outsiders because persecution was a real threat. A person would often stand at the door of the meeting place monitoring those who entered. Yet the Church grew. During these early centuries, preachers would entreat their flock to live out the Sermon on the Mount. If they were slapped, turn the other cheek. If they were compelled to go one mile, go two. They would encourage them not to live in anger and violence but to live patient, loving lives of service. In 256 c.e., Cyprian wrote a treatise to his persecuted flock saying, “Beloved brethren, we are philosophers not in words but in deeds; we exhibit our wisdom
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not by our dress, but by truth; we know virtues by our practice rather than through boasting of them; we do not speak great things, but we live them.” This proved to be so attractive that many were drawn to the Christian faith, and the Church grew dramatically. The hard times of persecution proved to be great times of progress for the Church. May it be so for the Church of the Nazarene in the United States and Canada in the coming decade. Our region includes two countries, the United States of America and Canada. These countries are divided into 78 districts, and the districts contain over 5,100 active churches. We celebrate that these churches have been evangelistically effective. During 2019 alone, 45,318 people have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ and discovered new life in Him. To God be the Glory because over the last decade, 519,422 people have been transformed by Christ in these 5,100 churches! Our region is blessed with gifted leaders including Roberto Hodgson, Multicultural Ministries; Mark Bane, Evangelism and New Church Development; Jay Height, Compassionate Ministries USA/Canada; Justin Pickard, USA/Canada NYI; and Steve Borger, The COMPASS Initiative. Eddie Estep leads the effort to resource and train our 78 district superintendents, and Stan Reeder leads our efforts in the area of church renewal. I am grateful for each of these leaders. They continue to have a great impact in the region. Several are contributing to this issue of Grace & Peace and will be giving greater detail about the ministry in our region. As Cyprian said, “We do not [just] speak great things, but we live them.” It was true of the church in AD 256, and it must continue to shape our actions in the year 2020. The Church of the Nazarene in the United States and Canada is living out Jesus’ words. We offer this proof.
