Nazarenes around the world have heard of The Cause in recent weeks and months, perhaps through district assemblies and church or missions events. So, what is The Cause?
The Cause is an initiative of the Church of the Nazarene and Global Missions, seeking to inspire the next generation Nazarenes to be missional people.
“We want young people to be invested in something that is beyond them, that is bigger than them,” said Global Missions Director Jim Ritchie. “I honestly believe this generation wants that, and I believe they want something that makes a difference.”
Through short-term missions opportunities, internships, and developmental experiences, young people across all six regions of the Church of the Nazarene have the opportunity to experience cross-cultural missions and live into the denomination’s missional legacy.
Currently, all six regions are offering at least three short-term or developmental opportunities through The Cause. Those opportunities span from youth ministry internships, church planting initiatives, refugee relief, and more. In the United States, a four-day conference called “Ignite the Cause” is planned to be held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in January 2027.
Ritchie noted that the initiative is not just an attempt to find new missionaries and that out of a missions team of 15 people, he doesn’t expect 15 new missionaries.
“Some of them will go into ministry,” Ritchie said. “Some of them will go to missions. Some of them will live in secular jobs and be great lay leaders. But they’ll always have a missional heart, and they’ll be missional wherever they are.”
Since the initiative took off a year ago, over 500 students have gone on missions trips around the world. As hundreds more embark on missions trips this summer, Ritchie hopes the cycle continues beyond this current generation seeking to find its place in the world.
“We must constantly be calling every generation to become part of what God has called us to be as a movement of disciple makers around the world,” Ritchie said. “This is part of who we are and it is our DNA. We are missional, we’re going to be missional, and we’re going to raise every generation to be the same.”
To learn more about The Cause and how you can get involved, visit nazarene.org/the-cause.