WHO ARE THE NAZARENES?

     The name "Church of the Nazarene" was chosen by the founders in the early 1900's because they had a great burden to share the good news of Jesus Christ with all people, but especially with the poor. Since Jesus was known as the "lowly Nazarene", referring to his being from the humble village of Nazareth, they chose this name to reflect their identification with the plight of the poor. For many years and in many towns and cities across the United States the local Church of the Nazarene was known as one of the churches "across the tracks", ministering in the poorer neighborhood of the town. We still have churches that minister in the inner city and yet we also have larger churches with a more diverse social group.

     Nazarenes trace their historical and doctrinal lineage through John Wesley and the American Holiness Movement. After the American Civil War in the 1860's there was a great spiritual hunger in the United States. Many thousands found spiritual direction in the great campmeetings that sprung up across the country. The campmeeting preachers gave special emphasis to the power of the Holy Spirit being available now to cleanse the heart and empower the believer to live a life pleasing to God.  This could be understood as how we believe God makes it possible for us to fullfil the Great Commandment of Jesus to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength".

     Nazarenes can be found in over 150 nations of the world. People from every social level call themselves Nazarenes (except perhaps kings, queens, & presidents!).

     Throughout our history we have been known as a people who take very seriously the Great Commission to share the Gospel with the whole world.

Nazarene believers could be described with the following six words:

1. Christian

We affirm the historic creedal statements of the Christian faith

2. Protestant 

We affirm the priesthood of the believer & salvation by grace alone

3. Evangelical

We affirm the reality of a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ by faith

4. Wesleyan

We affirm the teachings of John Wesley with his emphasis on entire sanctification being a second work of God in a person's heart; presenting the possibility & promise of power & purity for every believer

5. Holiness

We affirm that God's will, call, command, & provision is for His people to live a holy life; infilled, empowered, & enabled by the Holy Spirit to do God's will

6. Missional

We affirm the Great Commission of our Lord as our mission in this world 

 Please see the "What We Believe" section of the menu for more information about our beliefs.