Dr. Toler (second from left) and Regional Director Christian Sarmiento (left) with the pastors of the Luque Church and the Fernando de la Mora Church in Paraguay.

As Dr. Stan Toler, jurisdictional general superintendent for the South America Region, recently presided over eleven district assemblies in five countries, he noted a prevailing occurrence. Local churches in South America are graciously and increasingly joining Nazarenes everywhere to share in the joy of giving to the World Evangelism Fund (WEF) to further the global mission of the Church of the Nazarene: to make Christlike disciples in the nations.

Recently released statistics affirm Dr. Toler’s firsthand witness that the South America Region had the greatest increase in percentage of giving to the World Evangelism Fund of any region in the world this past year.

A celebration was in order when two of the churches on the Paraguay Central District paid 100% of their WEF allocation: the Luque Church of the Nazarene and the Fernando de la Mora Church of the Nazarene. These are the first churches ever on the South America Region to pay 100 percent of their WEF.

Ten of eleven districts showed significant increases in partnering with global Nazarenes to fund the mission through the World Evangelism Fund:

Chile Central District Chile Norte District Argentina Litoral District Uruguay Sur District Argentina Cuyo District Paraguay Central District Paraguay Sur District Peru Sur District Peru Sur Central District Peru Oriente Central District

485% increase 15% increase 100% increase 50% increase 126% increase 39.2% increase 71.6% increase 170% increase 457% increase 49% increase

   

Generous giving to fund the mission resonates with spiritual benefits at home and around the world. This past assembly year, the faithful giving and ministry of South American Nazarenes saw 56,272 new Nazarenes added to the Kingdom of God on the South America Region. They take great joy in knowing they contributed to similar stories around the world.

“It is quite obvious to me that this growth will continue because of the great emphasis being placed on holiness, evangelism, and discipleship,” said Dr. Toler. “Their giving is indicative of their obedience to the Great Commission.”