Impact Report 2023

GOOD NEWS TO THE

world

In the following pages of this report, you can find stories of the ways people have acted through the transformative love of Christ to respond to great needs. Each of these actions took individuals seeking to address the needs in their communities holistically.

As you read about the impact of this work, know that this report represents just a few samples of a tangible web of hope in the midst of disasters, war, famine, and poverty. This is the work that Nazarene Compassionate Ministries has facilitated through local churches who saw the needs in their communities and mobilized to meet them.

There have been many moments of pain and struggle over the last year, but there have also been moments of great hope and connection. In the children who have learned and grown through holistic child development, the Nazarene disaster response teams who have mobilized in the face of disaster, the new farmers seeing the first fruits of their labors in their fields and communities— in these things, we are privileged to see the hope of Christ at work through tangible compassion. You, too, have become the hands and feet of Christ through the work of the church. May we continue to offer hope and friendship in all circumstances, together.

NELL BECKER SWEEDEN Director, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries

FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS —

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries partners with local Nazarene congregations around the world to clothe, shelter, feed, heal, educate, and live in solidarity with those who suffer under oppression, injustice, violence, poverty, hunger, and disease. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries exists in and through the Church of the Nazarene to proclaim the gospel to all people in word and deed.

WHO WE

are

THE CHURCH IN ACTION

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) is the church in action. We are an outflow of the Church of the Nazarene in our world, working to mobilize local congregations to live out Christ’s call to care for those considered the “least of these” (Matthew 25). Through your partnership, NCM walks alongside local churches when they are looking for ways to meet the needs around them. We use a holistic ministry model that both proclaims and demonstrates the gospel of Christ, resulting in lives that are transformed through Christ.

Together, we partner with congregations around the world to provide tangible expressions of Christ’s compassion through church-led community development and emergency relief work. We are seeing lives and communities transformed through these nine areas of work:

Anti-Human Trafficking

Emergency

Clean Water

Economic Development

Health Care

Women and Girls

Holistic Child Development

NAZARENE COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES IS THE CHURCH IN ACTION

TRANSFORMING TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES children

Children make up more than half of the people living in poverty worldwide. Lack of access to the resources and tools needed to thrive leaves children vulnerable. Through holistic child development, NCM, in partnership with local churches, addresses vulnerability by prioritizing holistic development through spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and social health of children.

Child development centers are supported by more than 10,000 sponsors and more than 15,000 staff and volunteer hours worldwide each day Because local churches and leaders operate each center, the programming is adaptable to the changing needs of their own communities. For example, in Ukraine, centers have focused on helping children remain resilient in the face of uncertainty and conflict, and in Brazil, centers are opening programs for children with disabilities.

A car wash in Tanzania employs community members and generates income to support the child development center.

A center in Zambia has developed a mill to provide consistent, nutritious food for 500 vulnerable children and families.

One center in Jordan primarily serves children who are refugees with care and support given to their unique needs.

STORY — Ligaya’s

At the age of five, Ligaya* started receiving support for her education through NCM’s child sponsorship program in the Philippines, which was specifically designed for Nazarene pastors’ kids. She recently graduated from high school with honors.

“This is my humble expression of gratitude to God for all the blessings that he has poured into me throughout my elementary and senior high,” she said. “All of this has been made possible because God is with me at all times, and I have you [her sponsor] always in my life.”

For thirteen years, Ligaya and her sponsor cultivated a relationship through letters, encouragement, and prayer. After years of hard work on Ligaya’s part and encouragement from her community and her sponsor, she has started her first year working towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing School.

“[This is] another chapter for me to write of God’s faithfulness and blessing,” she said.

THROUGH CLEAN WATER IN KENYAstrengthening

Nearly half the world’s population does not have safely managed sanitation, and more than two billion people lack clean drinking water. In Kenya, 15 churches, in partnership with NCM and local health care facilities, are addressing that issue. Clean water education and access to sanitation and hygiene practices help communities fight disease and live healthier lives. For two years, local leaders have built relationships to support and educate hundreds of people. As a result, families have access to clean water and use latrines regularly, grow food at home, have fewer health challenges, and participate in maternal and child health practices.

These efforts in Kenya are one example of the difference clean water initiatives are making in communities across ten countries.

In Liberia 325 children received health and hygiene lessons at child development centers.

Establishing water wells in Myanmar brought unity among community members and created new ministry opportunities for the church.

In five communities in India, church-led education focused on hand washing and health check-ins is reducing the spread of illness and disease.

Christine’s

Christine, 22, is a mother of twin girls in Kenya. Due to her HIV-positive status, her work as a laborer was inconsistent. Unpredictable income meant there were days when the family had to go without food. However, one day, all of that changed. She was seriously ill when two community health volunteers from NCM came for a home health visit.

“They supported me to get . . . treatment, and a check-up on my health status was done,” Christine said. “I informed them that I stopped taking the [HIV medicine] because they hurt me without food.”

Following the visit, Christine received counseling on the importance of nutrition, which helped her begin her medication again. She received a type of flour that benefits people living with HIV. Christine is now healthier and has more energy to work and ensure ongoing access to nutritious food for her family.

“I hope to start a business. . . My dream is to live a healthy life and see my children healthy and happy.”

CREATING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLEstability

In Armenia, churches partner with NCM to help their communities establish food security through vocational training and savings groups. Many churches have large populations of people who are refugees in their communities. As refugees establish lives in a new country, finding work can be nearly impossible. Without a stable income, trying to buy nutritious food becomes a major source of stress.

Local churches are responding to this need by teaching entrepreneurial skills, business management, interview techniques, and more. This creates long-term solutions for economic resilience and access to food as families settle in their new homes. It also helps families who may not know anyone in their new city develop a community, foster hope, and create roots.

Farmers in Burundi are earning enough income from their crops to provide for their families and start savings groups.

In Zambia, young women learn how to dry fruits and vegetables to provide for their families and start their own businesses.

Cyclone response training in Malawi helped families understand how to recover food sources after extreme flooding.

STORY — Elena’s

Elena, 35, had to flee her country with her four children and become refugees in Armenia. Her husband, who had been the working parent, had to stay behind due to the conflict. They struggled to find stability in a new country where consistent work did not come as quickly as they had hoped.

That changed when Elena received a phone call from a Nazarene church that helps people who are refugees with vocational training.

“I signed up for assistance and for sewing courses. . . they stayed in contact with me to support us after I was finished,” she said. “I am grateful to have the chance to learn a profession. Through this project, I have new friends and a community. We are happy, safe, and relaxed. We can now provide for our children.”

HOPE FOR A BETTER future

In many world areas, opportunities are scarce for women to earn an income, so the loss of a spouse or parents, combined with a lack of education, creates vulnerable environments for women that are often void of dignity and hope.

In 2018, the church in Liberia partnered with NCM to establish a women’s empowerment institute. Three training centers across the Monrovia district offer women vocational courses and workshops on topics like business skills, life skills, and social awareness.

This year, 130 women trained in catering, tailoring, soap making, and cosmetology, and 91 students graduated from the institute.

For Grace, the transformation began with a passion for cooking. “Life has been challenging,” said Grace. “We struggle with providing food and don’t have money to go to school.” However, this year, she enrolled in the catering course. “I have a passion for [catering],” explained Grace. “When I heard about this school, I decided to come and learn.”

With the skills she has honed, she now bakes bread and sells it to provide for her family. The impacts of Grace’s education and the community that she has built reach beyond a stable income for her family. Grace’s family practiced a different religion, and after choosing to follow Christ, she was estranged from her parents and community. Even through this difficult situation, she gained confidence and hope.

“I thank God for this project that is giving me hope. . . When I made this decision to become a Christian, it was not easy for me. . . but I am so thankful that I can now bake bread and sell it,” said Grace. “One day, I plan to own my own shop where I can sell different food for different occasions. . . I wish for every woman to learn this [skill] to help themselves and their families.”

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. … Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25:35-36, 40 NIV

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