Nazarene journal

How well do you know the global story of the Church of the Nazarene? These 10 questions will test your knowledge of Nazarene history, global missions and more. 🎯 Pay close attention — these questions require 10 correct answers to pass! 📩 Post your answers in the comment section below or… 📌 Click the link to our Answer Page to see how many you got right! 1. When was the Church of the Nazarene officially organized? A. 1895 B. 1908 C. 1919 D. 1926 2. Where did the official merger that formed the Church of the Nazarene take place? A. Kansas City, Missouri B. Chicago, Illinois C. Los Angeles, California D. Nashville, Tennessee 3. Who is widely recognized as one of the founding leaders of the Church of the Nazarene? A. Hiram Reynolds B. C.H. Spurgeon C. Martin Luther D. D.L. Moody 4. What is the primary holiness doctrine emphasized by the Church of the Nazarene? A. Predestination B. Prosperity Gospel C. Entire Sanctification D. Eternal Security 5. In which year did the Church of the Nazarene officially enter Zambia? A. 1981 B. 1992 C. 2002 D. 2010 6. What is the name of the official global publishing arm of the Church of the Nazarene? A. Nazarene Media House B. Holiness Today C. The Foundry Publishing D. Wesley Press 7. Which region is known as the largest Nazarene world region in terms of membership? A. Eurasia B. Africa C. South America D. USA/Canada 8. In 2020, which African country was officially entered by the Church of the Nazarene? A. Malawi B. Botswana C. Central African Republic D. Rwanda 9. What phrase is inscribed in the Church of the Nazarene Manual to express its mission? A. “Go ye therefore…” B. “To make Christlike disciples in the nations” C. “Preach the Word” D. “Holy unto the Lord” 10. What is the title of the official magazine for the Church of the Nazarene? A. Nazarene Messenger B. Global Faith C. Holiness Today D. Christian Times ✅ Correct Answers Question 1: B. 1908 Question 2: A. Kansas City, Missouri Question 3: A. Hiram Reynolds Question 4: C. Entire Sanctification Question 5: B. 1992 Question 6: C. The Foundry Publishing Question 7: B. Africa Question 8: C. Central African Republic Question 9: B. “To make Christlike disciples in the nations” Question 10: C. Holiness Today

How does a small West African country become a spiritual giant? What happens when the Spirit of God moves through simple people with humble hearts? Benin may not appear on many global lists, but within the Church of the Nazarene, it tells a remarkable story of faith and transformation. This nation, often overlooked, has become one of the strongest places of growth for the Church in all of Africa. And yet, it all began not so long ago. The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Benin in 1998. At first, the work was small—just a few faithful believers meeting in humble spaces. But what they carried was not small: it was the message of Jesus Christ. From that foundation, God began to build something no one could have predicted. Today, Benin is home to over 1,280 Nazarene churches with more than 168,800 members. These numbers are not just statistics—they reflect lives changed by the Gospel, communities built on love, and a movement shaped by obedience to the Spirit. This is not a story of human plans. It is a story of God’s power working through people who were willing to follow Him, even when resources were few. Benin may be a small country, but in the Kingdom of God, it stands as a giant of faith.

What if you discovered a country where churches multiply not through campaigns, but through care? What if growth came not from buildings, but from hearts set on fire by Christ? Benin is such a place. In this West African nation, the Church of the Nazarene has grown in a way that surprises many—but not those who understand the power of God. What began in 1998 with a few courageous leaders has become one of the most fruitful works in the Africa Region. Today, Benin is a place where Christ is at the center of community life. With 1,280 churches and 168,877 members, the numbers tell a story—but they do not tell the whole story. What truly stands out is the way people have come to serve and love one another, not for attention or fame, but because they know Jesus. From small villages to growing towns, churches have risen not with great funding, but through prayer, commitment, and compassion. The focus has always been on people, not propertydiscipleship, not just gatherings. As Psalm 127:1 reminds us, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” And in Benin, it is clear who has been building all along. God is still at work. His church is growing. And His name is being glorified.

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain…” – Psalm 127:1 In a land once marked by conflict, fear and loss, a quiet testimony is rising. It is not a story of human achievement, but of God’s grace. Not a celebration of programs, but of His faithfulness. This is the story of the Democratic Republic of Congo— And what God is doing through His Church. He Entered in Our Weakness The Church of the Nazarene entered the DRC in 1990, at a time when the country was in great distress. Conflict in the east had displaced thousands. Children in cities like Goma had no homes, no parents, and no access to education. The future was uncertain. But God did not abandon His people. He planted His Church in the ashes. And through faithful men and women, He began to build—one act of love at a time. He Built Schools to Carry His Light One of the first burdens God placed on the hearts of local and national leaders was this: Educate the children. From that burden, the Church began building schools—not for fame, but for faithfulness. Today, by God’s grace, there are over 110 Nazarene schools in the DRC. These schools offer more than academics. They are places where: ✓ Children hear the Gospel. ✓ Chaplains disciple young hearts. ✓ Classrooms become communities of hope. The first school, the Zanner Institute in Goma, named after Richard Zanner, was only the beginning. It now stands as one of the top schools in the region. Its graduates are leaders—not just in society, but in the Kingdom of God. Each school is deeply connected to a Nazarene church. And in every classroom, Jesus Christ is lifted up. He Is Growing His Church Since 1990, the work of God through the Church of the Nazarene in the DRC has grown steadily. Today there are: 33,426 members 394 churches 7 organized districts But these are not numbers to boast in. They are souls. They are families restored, children reached, lives transformed. This growth has come through more than preaching. It has come through compassionate ministries, education, and evangelism through tools like the Jesus Film—bringing the Good News to remote corners of the nation. He Is Still Moving The Church in the DRC continues to walk in obedience. The vision remains clear: To make Christlike disciples in every community, whether rural or urban. To continue loving, serving, and standing with the people—body, mind, and soul. There are still challenges. But there is also an unshakable hope. And it is not rooted in us. It is rooted in Christ. To God Be the Glory This is not the Church’s story. This is God’s story. It is the story of what He can do when we say yes. When we plant in hard places. When we teach the young and serve the broken. When we depend on His Spirit more than our strength. The Church of the Nazarene in the Democratic Republic of Congo is simply a vessel. It is God who calls. God who builds. And God who saves. May every classroom, every pulpit, and every church planted lift high the name of Jesus Christ. We Give Thanks We thank the many faithful leaders who have served the mission. We honor the pastors, chaplains, teachers, and members who continue to labor in love. And we give all glory to the Lord, who alone makes the work fruitful. May He continue to bless the Church in the DRC. May His presence go before them. And may the Gospel of Jesus Christ continue to bring life where once there was despair.

By Kelvin Mulenga for Nazarene Journal – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” — Colossians 3:23 There are people we see leading today, but what we often don’t see is the long road that brought them here. The voices that encouraged. The prayers that covered. The tears no one saw. The moments of doubt turned around by someone who simply said, “Keep going.” Every strong leader is a story of many invisible sacrifices. And for those who understand the weight of that, they don’t walk around with pride. They carry one deep, steady truth in their hearts: It is a privilege to serve. Not Self-Made No one rises alone. Ministry isn’t a ladder we climb — it’s a table we are invited to. And when we sit at that table, it’s not because we earned the seat. It’s because Jesus made the invitation possible. He called. Others came alongside. Some planted. Others watered. And God gave the growth. That’s how Kingdom legacy works. Behind every leader is a chain of people who said yes to pouring into someone else. And behind every great move of God is a generation that took the baton and chose to run. When You’ve Been Built, You Build When you know what it feels like to be poured into, You understand the call to pour into others. When you’ve been lifted, You begin to lift. When someone once believed in you, You can’t help but believe in the next. That’s how ministries are born. That’s how movements are sustained. That’s how the Church becomes a living testimony of grace passed on. Leadership is not about position. It’s about posture. And the posture of true leadership is this: “Lord, thank You for trusting me with this. I am privileged to serve.” No Stage, Just Surrender Some will look for platforms. But the real servants? They’ll be found on the ground, washing feet. Not chasing visibility, but chasing faithfulness. They don’t need the spotlight. Because they’ve already seen the Light. Their deepest joy isn’t the crowd. It’s the one child who finds Jesus. The one voice that rises in worship. The one leader who says, “I want to serve, too.” And when those moments come, they don’t say, “Look what I’ve done.” They whisper, “Lord, thank You for letting me be a part of what You’re doing.” To Everyone Who Has Poured In This isn’t just about one person. It’s about all the unseen heroes in the Kingdom: The mentor who stayed patient. The leader who gave time. The friend who interceded in silence. The elder who spoke truth when it wasn’t easy. The people who clapped in private when others shone in public. To you, we say: your reward is eternal. Your fruit is alive. And your legacy is walking around in people you’ve built. The Glory Belongs to Jesus At the end of the day, we are not our own success stories. We are evidence of mercy. We are products of the Cross. And anything good that flows from us is Jesus working through us. He called. He equipped. He sustained. He still does. We are not the center. He is. And that’s why, whatever we do, we whisper again and again: “It is a privilege to serve.” Let the Church rise — Not through status, but through surrender. Let generations be built — Not by strategy, but by sacrifice. Let Jesus be glorified — In every unseen hand, every faithful step, and every soul who simply said: “Here I am, Lord. Use me.”

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” – 2 Timothy 4:7 There are men who pass through ministry. And then there are men like Reverend Nicholas Chirwa—men who carry ministry, year after year, generation after generation. His journey began in 1965 at Chilenje Church of the Nazarene, where a young man stepped into the fellowship of believers not yet knowing how far God would take him. In 1971, he answered the call to full-time ministry, and by 1973, he had graduated from Bible College in Malawi. One year later, in 1974, he was appointed to Chikumbi Church, and by 1975, he had returned to pastor his home congregation in Chilenje—this time, not as a member, but as a shepherd. But his legacy wouldn’t stop there.In 1976, Rev. Chirwa was entrusted with a historic assignment: he became the first indigenous District Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene in Zambia. At the time, Zambia was not yet divided into the four districts we know today—it was one unified district, and the weight of national leadership fell on his shoulders. He served faithfully in that role for 10 years—leading, building, and mentoring others who would later shape the Nazarene church across the nation.In 1990, he founded Kalimansenga Church of the Nazarene, a congregation that would become a lasting home for many, and where he would minister as senior pastor until his retirement in December 2020, capping off 55 years of uninterrupted service. Leadership That Teaches by Living Here’s what every leader should learn from Rev. Chirwa: Ministry is not seasonal—it’s a lifelong calling. Leadership is not measured by visibility, but by endurance. The most impactful leaders are not always known widely—but they are deeply felt where it matters. Rev. Chirwa wasn’t building a name—he was building people. Churches. Systems. Leaders. He led not with dominance, but with dependability. He didn’t chase platforms; he stood faithfully on one until the next generation was ready to rise.And though his name may not be known in every corner of the church world, the fruit of his leadership absolutely is.To every pastor, every district leader, every young minister starting out: Your legacy is not built in your highlights; it’s built in your consistency. No Leader Walks Alone Rev. Chirwa’s journey was supported by others—leaders who stood with him, elders who encouraged him, fellow ministers who shared the burden of building the church when it was still small, young, and unfamiliar in Zambia.We honor all those who walked with him, prayed with him, and helped shape the early days of the Nazarene Church in Zambia.This legacy belongs not to one man alone—but to a generation of leaders who believed in the church and in one another. Still With Us, Still Teaching Us Today, Rev. Chirwa lives quietly on his farm in Kalimansenga, the very place where he pastored for decades. Though he is currently battling diabetes, his presence

By Kelvin Mulenga for Nazarene Journal – Ministry Focus Ministry is never about the one who stands in front It is about the One who stood in our place We live in a world that applauds talent But in the Kingdom it is obedience that Heaven honors The story of every true servant begins and ends with Jesus He calls He equips He sustains And when He is at the center everything finds its purpose The Work Is His There are seasons when ministry feels heavy But when Christ is at the center we remember it is not ours to carry alone When we teach When we sing When we lead We do not do it to build our name We do it to lift His If one person finds hope in Christ If one soul turns back home Then we say again Lord we are privileged to serve What Keeps Us Going It is not applause It is not recognition It is grace And grace is enough When Christ is our center We can be forgotten and still fulfilled Because the goal was never to be seen The goal was for Him to be known Every Ministry Matters Whether we lead children Preach to hundreds Serve in quiet places Or sing behind closed doors It all matters when Christ is at the center The ministry becomes a mission The work becomes worship And the weight becomes joy Stay Rooted in Him Let every meeting Every camp Every prayer Every moment of service Be built on one foundation Jesus is the reason Jesus is the message Jesus is the reward Let that be the story Let that be the heartbeat Let that be the legacy we leave Christ at the center Always

No one can measure how long Jesus had been waiting. Before there was a church before anyone imagined this moment the Lord had already set it in motion. In 2021 something quiet became visible. The Church of the Nazarene stepped into a story Jesus had already been writing in hidden places. No spotlight no noise just the faithful unfolding of His plan. The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Luxembourg in 2021. It belongs to the Eurasia Region one of the six global regions of the denomination. Today the Church continues to grow gently and quietly in this small nation with a big heart and the center of it all remains the same Jesus Christ Information compiled by Howard Culbertson – hculbert@snu.edu

It didn’t start with a crowd or a sound but with Jesus placing His Church in a Small beautiful African nation. In 2020 when the world was distracted by a global crisis the Lord was quietly moving in the Central African Republic writing His grace into its soil without asking permission. The beginning was quiet but it was His. The Church of the Nazarene officially entered the Central African Republic in 2020. It belongs to the Africa Region one of the six global regions of the denomination Even in a year filled with fear and uncertainty Jesus planted something lasting and His presence continues to make room for hope in places no one thought to look Information compiled by Howard Culbertson

It was not a new message but it was a new moment. Jesus Christ was already present in Belgium long before anyone noticed but in 2024 something shifted. A door opened and the Church of the Nazarene stepped into the story He had already begun. Quietly gently and faithfully the Lord extended His reach. The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Belgium in 2024. It belongs to the Eurasia Region one of the six global regions of the denomination. Today the journey of faith in Belgium includes a new chapter and like every chapter before it Jesus remains at the center from the first step to the future still unfolding Information compiled by Howard Culbertson –