Thomas Nees, 83, of Arnold, Maryland, passed away 24 January 2021. Nees served the Church of the Nazarene in many capacities, including as director of the USA/Canada Mission/Evangelism department (now USA/Canada Region) and as Nazarene Compassionate Ministries director for the USA and Canada. 

Tom was born 10 September 1937 in Kalispell, Montana, the first child of L. Guy and Doretta Nees. The son of a minister, Tom picked up an early understanding of compassion and justice for those less fortunate while his father pastored across the Northwest United States and Canada. L. Guy eventually became a district superintendent and led World Missions.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts from Northwest Nazarene University (1959) and a Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 1962, Tom’s first pastorate was at Garnett Church of the Nazarene in Garnett, Kansas, from 1961 to 1963. He went on to pastor at Ewan Church of the Nazarene in Washington (1963-1964), Sunnyvale, California (1964-1967), Dayton Knollwood in Ohio (1967-1972), and Washington First in Washington, D.C. (1972-1975). Tom earned a Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1976.

In 1975, he founded Washington Community of Hope Church of the Nazarene. The organization developed into a comprehensive neighborhood ministry that addressed numerous inner-city issues in Washington, D.C. This model for urban ministry was one of the first of its kind and is widely used to this day. His emphasis on compassion and social justice issues began to make a mark not only in Washington but across the country and eventually the global church.

“In the Church of the Nazarene, the name of Tom Nees is synonymous with the word ‘compassion,’” said Bob Broadbooks, USA/Canada regional director. “He lived lovingly toward the needy and influenced thousands to do the same.”

Nees became the first administrative director of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in the United States and Canada in 1990, where he began to shape compassionate ministry throughout the Nazarene church.

“Tom’s life and ministry was instrumental in our denomination’s understanding of compassion as well as its awakening to the complex layers of racial and economic injustice, particularly in urban areas in the United States,” said Nell Becker Sweeden, director of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. “May we all follow in his footsteps.”

In 1995, he was named director of Multicultural Ministries for the United States and Canada with additional responsibilities in compassionate and urban ministries. He was passionate about turning American churches’ focus to the issues within their own communities, further underlined by his mission to coordinate and supervise the first-ever appointment of missionaries to the United States and Canada. 

General Superintendent Gustavo Crocker explained Nees’ work to be a reflection of who he was as a Christian.

“At a time where the church was rediscovering its compassionate roots, Tom Nees was instrumental in reminding us that compassion is not a means to an end but an expression of a transformed church,” he said. “Tom’s solidarity with those who lived in the margins was not just a theological construct. It was his daily walk. It was a personal privilege to witness that journey, and I know that the church is better because of it.”

He served as director of the USA/Canada Mission/Evangelism Office (now known as the USA/Canada Regional Office) from 2003 until his retirement in 2008. 

In his retirement, Nees focused on leadership development. Recently, he had been mentoring chaplains at the nearby Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, through his local Severn Leadership Group.

“Tom's legacy will be in those raised up to serve the church,” said Jay Height, NCM coordinator for the USA/Canada Region. “I am one of those, who his ministry, Community of Hope, has laid out a vision for the church leading with love and compassion. In his quiet way, he challenged us all to live out the love of the cross every day of our lives.”

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Nees; a son, Daniel Nees; three daughters, Kay, Cari, and Jennifer; and eight grandchildren.