Mark Twain may or may not have once said, “the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” The same can be said for the Church of the Nazarene.

The extremes in the Church of the Nazarene like to point to conflict or trouble and conclude with the pronouncement, “…and that’s why the Church of the Nazarene is dying.” When some elders lost their credentials because of disagreements with the Manual regarding human sexuality, the cries from our brothers and sisters on the left were, “…and that’s why the Church of the Nazarene is dying.”  When those on the far right, like to point out the splinters in some ministers’ eyes (while missing the planks in their own) they frequently conclude, “…and that’s why the Church of the Nazarene is dying.” When a few folks on the far right, besmirched some General Superintendent candidates they perceived as “liberal” with social media gossip, rumors and flat out lies at the last General Assembly, sensible yet discouraged people on all sides cried, “…and that’s why the Church of the Nazarene is dying.” 

Like Mark Twain, the rumors of the Church of the Nazarene’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. 

One could get the impression that there are a lot of problems in the Church of the Nazarene. (Honesty alert: I’ve been accused of being a “Negative Nelly”). The church has struggled especially in Europe and USA/Canada. At times, I’ve pointed out troubling statistics. Conversely, Africa is booming with the Gospel message. I’ve been told the World Evangelism Fund (WEF) giving is up my a million dollars. Wow! Last week, I wrote how USA/Canada may have (it’s a rumor at this point) the first year of growth in 19 years. A few of my apparent fellow Negative Nazarene Nellies following the aforementioned blog wondered if the growth was simply sheep stealing from the United Methodists. Of course, there is no way to know where the growth came from across North America, but I have a hunch that its more than sheep changing pastures. I’m optimistic. I think there is something better happening.

Case in point, last week I spent a day and a half with some of the best of the best in the USA/Canada Church of the Nazarene. Dr. David Graves is leading an effort to improve Nazarene preaching. The Preaching Collaborative is an effort (funded by a Lily grant) to promote evangelistic, Biblical preaching. I am a facilitator in this effort. Most of the groups across the country gathered last week in Estes Park, Colorado. There were meetings, seminars and, it was a Nazarene event after all, food and gatherings around tables. 

I looked around the room and saw old ministers like me, but also young dynamic ministers like Galen Ryman of Chicago First Church, Nate Smith of The Table in Joliet, Colton Townley of The Crossings in Colorado, and Philip Modlin of Amplify in North Carolina (just to name a few) and I thought, the Church of the Nazarene is in very good hands. Speakers included Derwin Grey, Elise Snowden (another young Nazarene preacher who knocked it out of the park) and Dawie De Koker (Kevin Myers and Dr. Stan Reeder also spoke, but I left early to make it back to Central Church’s final  Spiritual Renewal week service). There were 175ish of us gathered. I’m sure there were a few stinkers in the crowd (present author excluded, please), but I couldn’t point them out. I was encouraged and believe the best days for the Church of the Nazarene are still ahead as we proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Don’t get too focused on what is perceived to be wrong in the Church of the Nazarene. I’m not suggesting putting one’s head in the sand. Of course, there are areas on all sides in which the church can improve. The Church of the Nazarene isn’t perfect (author included). Still let the main focus be the task at hand. Listening, learning and loving people in one’s local setting in an effort to share the Good News of Jesus. Jesus still changes things. The Church of the Nazarene is still in a position (maybe better than ever) to proclaim this Good News. Win the Lost.  Make disciples. Fulfill the mission.

She ain’t dead yet!