A Celebration of 75 Years of Alabaster

Following the end of World War II, in the late 1940s, the Church of the Nazarene was experiencing a need for more missions funding. At a meeting of the Global Council of Nazarene Missions International (NMI), Elizabeth Vennum was asked to find a way that could be used to raise funds for land purchases and building construction needs around the world. As she rode the train home from that council meeting, she said the Lord gave her the details for the Alabaster Offering.

The offering was based on the story of the woman pouring perfume on Jesus from a container carved from soft alabaster stone. Building on that biblical story, Nazarenes were asked to put off buying new perfume for themselves or postpone purchasing something for themselves and to give that money in the Alabaster Offering instead. In much the same way that the woman gave her bottle of perfume to Jesus, we have been called to pour out a lavish offering for others. Alabaster was first promoted using this phrase: “Give up a want to meet a need.”

Alabaster, an offering that for 75 years has been a hallmark of Nazarene generosity and sacrifice, was one of the primary emphases in the 24th Global NMI Convention. NMI has entered into a yearlong celebration, June 2023 – June 2024, where every church, everywhere, will participate in giving to Alabaster at some time during this anniversary year.

Alabaster lays foundations that provide places where people worship, heal, and learn. And every time you participate in Alabaster giving, your contributions not only lay foundations but you are engaged in enabling people to worship God, heal, and learn more of the goodness and grace of God. Thank you for giving.

Alabaster funds are needed and used on every region. Every region of the Church of the Nazarene has suffered from hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, fires, and floods. Sometimes, Alabaster funds are used to help the rebuilding of what has been lost because of natural disasters.

Your faithful giving to the World Evangelism Fund covers the administrative costs associated with Alabaster Offerings, allowing 100% of everything given to be used to provide places where people worship, heal, and learn. As you know, property in urban areas can be very expensive, at times making it impossible for churches, schools, or clinics to own property. Alabaster funds can also be used to help with expenses of renting property for periods of time. Alabaster often makes it possible for the Church of the Nazarene to establish a sense of permanent presence, an indication that we are there to stay and carry out the work of Jesus.

PRAYER

• Pray that the Lord will continue to multiply the generous giving of Nazarenes from across the globe through Alabaster Offerings.
• Pray for a renewed spirit of generosity in every generation to give to Alabaster to provide places where people worship, heal, and learn.
• Pray for those who are suffering the loss of property and possessions through natural disasters of every kind, around the world.
• Pray that we will be dependent on the Lord, who has given us everything, and not on our possessions.
• Pray that the growing spirit of generosity to help provide places where people worship, heal, and learn, is realized and practiced by Nazarenes everywhere.

PRAISE

• We praise God for the past 75 years of faithfulness in giving to Alabaster from Nazarenes around the world.
• We praise God for the significant offering given in in the 24th Global NMI Convention “March Offering.”
• Praise God for all that He has given you as you share with others through Alabaster.
• Praise God for Alabaster funds that are available to help places affected by natural disasters.