Lindell Browning, Dr. Middendorf, and Gustavo Crocker

Jesse C. Middendorf, jurisdictional general superintendent for the Eurasia Region, reports that Nazarenes throughout the Middle East are passionately fulfilling the Great Commission. He traveled through the Holy Land, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon accompanied by his wife, Susan, Regional Director Gustavo Crocker, and Eastern Mediterranean Field Strategy Coordinator Lindell Browning.

Much of this historic and often troubled part of the world, portions of which are treasured by three world religions, has seen centuries of ongoing warfare and changing political climates. Nazarene leaders related stories of enduring bombings and destruction while in the middle of the ongoing civil strife. Their homes, churches, and schools have often been affected by such destruction. Yet Dr. Middendorf reports that they are tenaciously pursuing the mission to make Christlike disciples in the nations and calls them “heroes of the Church of the Nazarene.”  

Local churches provided a grassroots glimpse of the Church of the Nazarene at work. The Nazareth First Church congregation has grown in the past eight years from an average attendance of 15 to over 150. The packed worship service Dr. Middendorf attended was evidence of their need for expanded facilities. The Amman Church is the largest Church of the Nazarene in the Middle East and one of the largest of all evangelical churches throughout the region. With three services each Sunday, this congregation of over 450 is actively reaching their neighbors for Christ in evangelism as far away as other countries in the Middle East and North Africa. They are involved in church planting and personal evangelism outreach in at least four other Arab nations, some of which cannot be named. The Damascus Church ministers to refugees from Iraq, Ethiopia, and Sudan. Their Christian school educates Syrian children in the mornings and Iraqi, Ethiopian, and Sudanese children in the afternoons and evenings.

Children in a Nazarene Middle Eastern school

The Jordan District assembly ordained one and granted first-time ministerial licenses to many, including two pastors who are members of the Amman Church but live in another Arab nation where they are providing leadership for a growing number of house churches. The Lebanon District has organized two new churches and initiated a half-hour television program scheduled to air five times a week with up to 60 million viewers. They are now receiving written responses from around the Arab world. The Syria District assembly filled a large courtyard to capacity with more than 800 people, and more in overflow areas viewed the services by closed-circuit television. Dr. Middendorf called the three who were ordained in Syria “impressive and committed to church planting and the proclamation of the message of holiness.”

In some parts of the Eastern Mediterranean Field, there is remarkable freedom to preach, to print New Testaments and distribute them freely, and to evangelize utilizing government buildings for showing the JESUS Film. In these areas, Nazarenes have a strong commitment to church planting. In other areas that cannot be named at this time, Nazarenes are determined to reach their neighbors with strategic evangelism, quietly discipling growing Christians in house churches. Dr. Middendorf called their spirit “missionally focused and passionately supportive.”

“My experience with the courageous, loving, and deeply committed people of the Eastern Mediterranean Field has stirred my heart,” he said. “I am even more encouraged to believe that the simple gospel is the hope of the world.”