Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene presented a gift of $16,500 to Pensions and Benefits USA. The contribution is part of a bequest received by the church and will be used to provide a special historical video on the life of Phineas F. Bresee to retirees on the Basic Pension Plan.

Bresee was the denomination's first general superintendent and founding pastor of the first Church of the Nazarene, which began in Los Angeles in 1895.

“Many of those who have served the denomination throughout its history have been members of our fellowship here, as have many retired elders and their spouses,” said Brad Estep, senior pastor of Kansas City First Church. “This close relationship has been reflected through our congregation’s traditional support of giving and a desire to bless ministries that continue to serve our pastors and give back to them. This gift allows us to do something for one of those ministries and our retirees while honoring the influential life of Dr. Bresee.”

Pensions and Benefits USA has a long history with Kansas City First Church.

“Three members of First Church (E.J. Fleming, M. Lunn, and Dean Wessels) served as directors of this office and had a broad influence on our church," said Don Walter, P&B USA director. "We are grateful for congregations like this that continue to honor those who serve our churches, and this gift will be used for that purpose.”

The donor of the gift chose to remain anonymous.

The Bresee video is being produced by the USA/Canada Region and is scheduled for release at next summer’s General Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana. A portion of it may be viewed here.

--Pensions and Benefits USA