The Nazarene Church
Organized October 8, 1908, in Pilot Point, Texas, the Church of the Nazarene now has its global headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. The Nazarene International Center provides support services to more than 1.2 million members, worshiping in more than 11,800 churches in the United States, Canada, and 135 other world areas.
Every organization that endures over time is based on a deeply shared combination of purpose, belief, and values. So it is with the Church of the Nazarene. It was founded to transform the world by spreading scriptural holiness, which is Christ-like living. It is both a Great Commission church and a Holiness church. Our mission is to make Christlike disciples of all nations.
The Church of the Nazarene believes you may discover forgiveness, peace, joy, purpose, love, the meaning in life, and the promise of heaven when life is over by entering and experiencing a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We believe that there is a deeper level of life for the Christian in which there is victory over sin, power to witness and serve, and a richer fellowship with God. This happens for the Christian by the sanctifying and purifying fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Each local congregation of the Church of the Nazarene is a faith community, ready to greet you in Jesus’ name. There you will discover opportunities not only to encounter Jesus as your Savior and Lord, but to grow as a follower of Christ. Local churches offer ministry opportunities for serving others. Fellowship, worship, training, and education are all part of our life together in Christ. With over 12,000 congregations worldwide, our vision and mission embraces the entire world. We invite you to experience the unique fellowship of your nearby Church of the Nazarene.
Our Values
We Are a Christian People. As members of the Church Universal, we join with all true believers in proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ and in embracing the historic Trinitarian creedal statements of Christian faith. We value our Wesleyan–Holiness heritage and believe it to be a way of understanding the faith that is true to Scripture, reason, tradition, and experience.
We Are a Holiness People. God, who is holy, calls us to a life of holiness. We believe that the Holy Spirit seeks to do in us a second work of grace, called by various terms including “entire sanctification” and “baptism with the Holy Spirit” -cleansing from all sin; renewing us in the image of God; empowering us to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves; and producing in us the character of Christ. Holiness in the life of believers is most clearly understood as Christlikeness.
We Are a Missional People. We are a sent people, responding to the call of Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to go into all the world, witnessing to the Lordship of Christ and participating with God in the building of the Church and the extension of His kingdom (2 Corinthians 6:1). Our mission (a) begins in worship, (b) ministers to the world in evangelism and compassion, (c) encourages believers toward Christian maturity through discipleship, and (d) prepares women and men for Christian service through Christian higher education.
Our Purpose
The Church of the Nazarene is a global community of faith composed of individuals who have made Jesus Christ Lord of their lives. We share our life together in Christian fellowship, seeking to strengthen each other in faith development through worship, teaching, preaching, and service. Beyond this, we strive to express the compassion of Jesus Christ to all persons along with our personal commitment to Christ–like living.