I’ve been fielding a number of questions in the last couple of months since Scott Rainey resigned from his position as NDI global director in order to pursue the call to serve as pastor of a local congregation. The following words that he shared with the Local Church Committee of the General Board will help you understand his decision.
Over the past two (several) months, God has been revealing His will for my life which includes a return to local church ministry at this time. In the middle of January 2024, I will begin pastoring a local church and putting to practice the Journey of Grace as a discipleship framework with over 30,000 other pastors and congregations… Thank you for allowing me to serve Jesus and you in this way. We have accomplished much in these five and a half years. I am forever thankful to God and to you.
Although we were sorry to see him leave, we are thankful for Scott’s sensitivity to God’s call and for the many years of his ministry leadership at NDI. Please join us as we pray for God’s blessing on his ministry at the First Church of the Nazarene in Huntington, Indiana.
Another Transition
A number of NDI leaders have also become aware that I am retiring from my role as administrative director as of March 1, 2024. I am grateful that Dr. Jeffery Spangler is already onsite and serving in my place. In this issue, you can read about Jeff’s qualifications and ministry journey. The Board of General Superintendents, in partnership with the NDI Global Council and the General Board, is currently seeking God’s help to elect the next global director of NDI. Soon, that process will be well on its way.
With any transition within an organization, there are also questions about the future. Typically, our minds begin to list the items that we hope will continue under new leadership and those things we would like to see improved. Several decisions will focus on the framework of A Journey of Grace.
A Journey of Grace is Marching on!
A few years ago, the Church of the Nazarene and NDI launched a new framework for discipleship called A Journey of Grace. This Journey of Grace revealed how God, through prevenient, saving, and sanctifying grace, is actively moving in the world and in the lives of every believer to help them grow in grace and disciple others. Shortly after the launch of A Journey of Grace, a group of 30 Nazarene discipleship leaders from all six global regions gathered and were asked this question: “What are the principles, practices, and behaviors of Nazarenes and Nazarene churches who make disciples along a journey of grace?” In other words, what activities should Nazarenes be doing on a daily basis if we hope to accomplish the mission of making Christlike disciples in the nations?
The resulting conversation produced NDI’s Five Core Principles of Discipleship:
Fervent Prayer
Compassionate Outreach
Comprehensive Biblical Learning
Intentional Mentoring and Equipping
Authentic Relationships
We believe these five discipleship-centered activities or Core Principles, promoted and modelled on each region, field, district, and local church, will help develop Christlike disciples of every age and in every culture.
Small Group Study for the Local Church
In order to help local churches realize the fruits of Christlike discipleship, NDI also began testing a special small group study at the NDI General Convention. This small group study will provide a tool local churches can use to help their people realize the promised fruits of discipleship. This study is called The Five Core Principles of Discipleship, and it will be released this fall in a number of global languages. More information about the Core Principles and this study is available on the NDI website here.
Our God is on the move, and with that movement will come some changes. However, the core mission of NDI remains the same.
Nazarene Discipleship International’s mission is to carry out the Great Commission to children, youth, and adults in preparation for a lifelong journey of being and making Christlike disciples in the nations. This path of disciple making, along with the church’s co-mission with Jesus Christ, is to reach the lost, establish new believers in their faith, and walk with them into the joyous experience with God called entire sanctification. The vision of Nazarene discipleship is evangelism with holiness in mind and holiness with evangelism in mind.
I encourage you to be in prayer with NDI Global Council and office staff as they join the Board of General Superintendents in the election of the new NDI global director.
