The 30th General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene was held June 9-16, 2023, and Nazarenes from around the world came together to worship and represent their local churches and home districts. In addition to worship services, workshops, and business sessions dedicated to making important decisions regarding the future of the denomination, a worldwide movement of Nazarenes called “Love Your Neighbor” was also launched. During the week, churches formed a missions team and tangibly expressed God’s love in their communities. There were two different opportunities to participate in Love Your Neighbor: face-to-face in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and globally by simultaneously serving in communities around the world.
Prior to the event, General Superintendent Dr. Carla Sunberg shared, “As Nazarenes, we know that the holy life is an active life. Holy living is also something we do together in community. Love Your Neighbor is a mission trip with our great and wonderful Nazarene family.”
In response to this call to represent the Global Church, the ministry of Missions Mobilization had the pleasure of participating in this project and powerfully impacting the Mesoamerica Region. Dozens of participants served in communities and blessed the lives of many children, adolescents, youth, adults, and elderly. The impact strategies and the activities carried out were diverse and numerous, including:
- Sports and recreation
- Hygiene workshops
- Visits to the sick and homeless
- Donations of medicines, clothing and food
- Cleaning of streets, church buildings, properties, and assisted living facilities
- Repair and painting of homes and buildings
- Planting trees
- Support for community centers, nursing homes, children’s homes, a maternity home for pregnant women, and children’s soup kitchens
The results within Mesoamerica were astounding: 8 countries represented, 22 communities impacted, 289 participants, and 1,342 people ministered to. It was a privilege for the participants to share God’s love through acts of service, and they witnessed how much God can do when his church is willing to obey and serve. Many recognized their responsibility as a church to come together to bring hope and transformation to communities. Specific testimonies of what God did in this week of service will be shared in the coming weeks in this blog.
The hope and prayer of everyone is that this experience will make a difference in the lives of those who were ministered to. Many thanks to all leaders, pastors, and participants for heeding God’s call to love your neighbor!
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:40).
Transform the Globe 