2024 Nazarene Fast Facts: Part 1

WE ADVOCATE

Each local NMI president is a member of their local church board who actively participates in the efforts of their local church to ensure that our neighbors know that Jesus loves them.

The local NMI president also serves as the advocate to encourage their church to participate in ensuring that everyone, living in every place and speaking every language, also knows that Jesus loves them.

• The Church of the Nazarene ministers in 165 world areas with Belgium on the Eurasia Region recognized in 2024.
• The number of Nazarene churches increased to 30,747 churches, with over 2.72 million members, an increase of 2.69% from last year.
• In 2023, there were 472 districts and 30 pioneer areas around the world, with 31,354 credentialed clergy.*

WE NURTURE

NMI nurtures a spirit of missions in the local church, working hand in hand with pastors to ensure that every person in each local church has a deep passion to share Jesus with others in our communities and around the world.
This spirit of missions is so alive it fuels all that we do. We will not stop until everyone, everywhere, has heard the Good News.

Prayer for the lost

• We encourage people to pray for all missions efforts of the Church of the Nazarene.
• Each week, NMI Central shares prayer requests and praises for a country where the Lord is working through the Church of the Nazarene. NAZARENE.ORG/NMI-CENTRAL
• Since 1996, during the week that includes the first Friday in March, NMI has called the church to prayer through the Global Week of Prayer, with resources for adults and children in multiple languages. NAZARENE.ORG/NMIGWP

Engaging children and youth

• We engage children and youth in learning about and participating in the mission of God. We collaborate with NDI and NYI to ensure that all children and youth have a spirit of missions within them.
• NMI provides Kids Kaleidoscope as part of NMI Central to help nurture a spirit of missions in children. Kids Kaleidoscope connects to the focus story in NMI Central the first Wednesday of each month. NAZARENE.ORG/NMI-CENTRAL
• International Student Scholarship Fund (NMI 80th Anniversary project) provided 85 scholarships for students outside the USA/Canada to attend Nazarene theological institutions.

Providing Care and Connection to Nazarene missionaries

• NMI provides care and connection between missionaries and local Churches of the Nazarene.
• All six regions participate in providing Care and Connection between districts and Nazarene missionaries through Links.
• In 2023, there were 482 missionaries originating from 59 world areas, serving in 83 countries. Of these missionaries, 319 served as global deployed and 163 were sponsored deployed. Last year, there were 41 new missionary deployments. Within these missionary families, there are 257 missionary kids.
• Nazarenes gave US $4.7 million in deputation and missionary support offerings for missionaries.**
• Missionary Health Care provided US $353,677 in medical assistance for Nazarene missionaries, through offerings, Memorial Roll gifts, and Distinguished Service Award gifts.**
• 372 retired missionaries received benefits through the Global Missions Pension Plan for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.*