“We speak different languages. We come from different cultures. We have different customs and ways of viewing the world. And yet, through the Holy Spirit, we can be one. We must be one!”
Global NMI Director Cheryl Crouch issued this challenge to NMI leaders from around the world as they gathered this January in Kansas City. Despite the bitter cold (-3 Fahrenheit/ -19 Celsius), participants’ hearts were warmed as they worked, learned, and dreamed together. Angela Moreno, regional NMI coordinator for Africa, said, “The gathering allowed us to edify one another despite being very different people from distant regions, nations, and cultures. Thanks be to God, because the blood of Jesus unites us in a wonderful way.”
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From January 15-23, the Global NMI Office helped to host a series of meetings. The first two were the meetings of the regional NMI coordinators and Global NMI Council. Longtime Mesoamerica Regional NMI Coordinator Ana Crocker stated, “After seven years of not meeting in person, sharing with a new generation of leaders was edifying to my life and ministry.”
Many months of prayer and planning preceded these gatherings. The theme was “One” and came from Jesus’ prayer: “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:21-23).
Crouch shared that in Jesus' prayer, he linked our “one-ness” to the world’s ability to know Jesus and experience God’s love. Both Crouch and Global NMI President Christine Mosuela encouraged NMI to focus on unity during this season for two additional reasons.
First, NMI recently re-joined Nazarene Global Missions, making it easier to live into the first line of NMI’s Identity Statement: “NMI is the global missions advocate in every local church.” The meetings in January offered visible evidence of this strengthened partnership. Global Missions Mobilization and The Cause leaders held their meetings in the same hotel where NMI leaders gathered. Shared mealtimes became opportunities for missionaries and NMI members to fellowship and pray together. The groups participated together in intentional discussions about missions in the Church of the Nazarene. The spirit of collaboration energized and encouraged all involved.
New leadership within NMI offers another reason to focus on unity. Two of six regional NMI coordinators are new, three Global NMI staff members came on board in December and January, respectively, and Global NMI Director Cheryl Crouch has been in place less than a year. New leadership can cause excitement or fear – or both – within an organization.
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The January meetings and emphasis on oneness allowed members of NMI to rally around what, in addition to the Holy Spirit, unites them: the unchanging Identity Statement and Five Areas of Impact. The Identity Statement reminds us of who we are. It states, “NMI is the global missions advocate in every local church, nurturing a spirit of missions and mobilizing into action, impacting lives around the world.” The Five Areas of Impact remind us of what we do. We pray for the lost and for Nazarene missionaries, engage children and youth, provide care for and connection with our missionaries, give to Alabaster, and give to the World Evangelism Fund.
During their time together, Global Council members heard greetings from Dr. Crocker and Rev. Jim Ritchie, along with reports on the Areas of Impact from each of the six world regions. The council also toured the Global Ministry Center and held a prayer service in the Prayer Chapel of the Nations. During these activities and discussions of important matters of business, the sweet spirit of unity was evident. Eurasia Regional NMI Coordinator Tamy Bauza explained, “We have been working together from our different areas, but it’s just so special when we can gather in person and learn from one another!” USA/Canada Regional NMI Coordinator Debra Voelker added, “Learning from and collaborating with NMI leaders from around the world was extremely encouraging for me.”
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The Global NMI Council dreams of a day that Nazarenes in every local church—no matter its location, language, size, or financial status—know that they are part of a big, beautiful global church and are able to connect with God’s work through the Church of the Nazarene around the world. This is unity worth celebrating!
See a video of the meetings HERE.
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| Ordained Ministers 20,440
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- Pray that every Church of the Nazarene around the world will celebrate their connection to the global church.
- Pray that Nazarenes will nurture a spirit of missions in each congregation.
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Praise God for answering many prayers which enabled global NMI leaders to gather in person.
- Praise God for the sweet spirit of unity and oneness participants experienced during the gatherings.
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NMI Central is available in a curated PDF archive.
To read previous editions, click here.
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