Our Responsibility (We Have Been Given Much)

It is difficult to deny it; The Church of the Nazarene is experiencing explosive growth outside the United States, while growth here is negligible to non-existent. Countries such as Haiti (considered to be “4th World”), Viet Nam, Brazil, and India have been growing at such a fast rate that church records people have had a difficult time tracking it. We now live in the time when more Nazarenes live outside the US than inside.

I have had the privilege to witness some of this modern-day multiplication with my own eyes. While serving as a missionary in Central America, I witnessed the “Alta Vera Paz” district divide into no less than 3 other districts and that trend has continued since we left. One pastor friend of mine had a congregation of 40, which sponsored two other church plants, one of which and and members of his church and family walked for over 8 hours to minister the Gospel and proclaim salvation and holiness to some of the poorest most destitute people knew. It is exciting to see small churches who just seem to have evangelism in their DNA. The sad fact is that while the growth is taking place in Haiti, the African Continent, in Asia and in Central and South America, the resources still remain with us in the West.

Jesus said, “To whom much has been given, much will be required.” Present economic circumstance aside, we still live in the riches nation on the face of the earth. I don’t belittle the struggle that people are facing in the recent economic downturn. However, I have been amazed over and over again at the joy and dedication of pastors and leaders who tirelessly proclaim the message of salvation in Jesus name to community after community.

We have been given much. Part of our responsibility is to send missionaries and share our resources and blessings with these in other poorer nations.