Month: June 2026

Questions from an Old Guy Going to His First NYC (Nazarene Youth Conference not New York City)

On By Rob Prince3 Comments

At age 62, I am attending my first Nazarene Youth Conference. Lo those many years ago, when I was a teenager, this event was called the World Youth Conference. Only a select number of students attended. Entire youth groups didn’t go. To be selected, prospective attendees memorized scripture and then recited the Bible passages at an interview. The moment the words “memorizing scripture” and “recite at an interview” were uttered, was the day my 14-year-old self said, “I’d rather spend my summer playing baseball than traveling with a bunch of strangers to Estes Park, Colorado.”  

Both of my boys attended NYC (no scripture memorization required). Alex to St. Louis and Ben went to Louisville (twice). Now it’s my turn. I’m heading to Salt Lake City. I’ll be representing Nazarene Bible College, as well as the new Pastoral Center I’m helping create. I hope to rub shoulders with some fellow old-timers as I begin laying the groundwork for the Center.

Still, I have questions.

What does an old guy wear to a youth conference? It’s going to be hot. Mid-90s hot. Can an old guy wear shorts? I’m not trying to look cool; I’m trying to be cool (as in not hot).

I’ve also been told that I can’t recruit among the youth pastors and young adults attending the event. Recruit them to what? The Center doesn’t have a name or logo. I’m not handing out swag or candy or brochures. I don’t have an event to promote. No recruiting? No worries.

As one of the oldest guys at a youth event, am I obligated to yell, “Hey, you rotten kids, get off the lawn!”? None of the lawns belong to me. Why would I care who walks on them?

Since we’re going to Salt Lake City, will I be impressed by Great Salt Lake? I’m from Michigan. We have Great Lakes. Plural. None of them are salty. Impressed?  Probably not.

Another question: Do I have to eat green Jell-O while I’m in Utah? Fun fact: Utah consumes more Jell-O than anywhere else in America. Green Jell-O has practically achieved state-symbol status. Nevertheless, I will probably pass.

Here’s my real question. Will we hear from God?

That’s the only thing that matters. More than the concerts, speakers, crowds or activities. Will we hear from the Lord? 

So let me ask a few more questions:
Will you join me in praying for that end?
Will you pray that thousands of students encounter God in a powerful way?
Will you ask the Lord to pour out His Holy Spirit on this gathering?
Will you pray that young men and women hear and answer God’s call to ministry?
Will you pray that NYC 2027 becomes more than an event—that it becomes a spiritual movement that impacts not only our young people but our entire church?

And while you’re at it, pray that this old guy doesn’t do anything worthy of receiving an “Old Geezer Award.” I’d like to come home without that dubious distinction.

Is It Time to Re-Think WEF (the World Evangelism Fund)?

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

Economics affects all of us, and the church is no exception.

The Church of the Nazarene’s World Evangelism Fund (WEF) provides essential support for ministries around the globe. It funds missionaries, educational institutions, compassionate ministries, leadership training, and countless other efforts to make Christ-like disciples. Simply put, WEF is a vital to the church’s work around the world.

Good news: WEF giving increased by 3.5% last year. Praise the Lord!
Bad news: WEF didn’t increase nearly enough.

In 2016, WEF receipts totaled $38,227,899. According to the latest data available on the Nazarene website, WEF receipts in 2024 were $38,548,334—an increase of just $320,435 over eight years.

Anyone who has paid household bills during that period knows that today’s dollars do not stretch as far as they did in 2016. The cumulative inflation rate over those years has been approximately 38.75%. To maintain the same purchasing power that WEF had in 2016, annual giving today would need to be over $53 million. In other words, when adjusted for inflation, WEF is operating about $14.5 million below where it stood a decade ago. That is a staggering difference.

Perhaps the unsung heroes of the Church of the Nazarene are the accountants and financial leaders who have found ways to stretch every World Evangelism dollar farther than possible.

No one in the Church of the Nazarene is getting rich. There are no secret slush funds. In fact, it is remarkable how much Kingdom work is accomplished with the resources available. For that reason, the next time you hear someone complain about “sending money to Kansas City” or dismiss WEF as a “corporate tax” or “franchise fee,” consider the extraordinary ministry being accomplished through those increasingly stretched dollars. Church leaders at every level work diligently to maximize every contribution in building the Kingdom of God.

Originally established as the “General Budget” in 1923, WEF has served the Church of the Nazarene well. Yet as giving patterns change, the church may need to explore new approaches alongside this historic model. Today, approximately 94–95% of WEF funding comes from the USA/Canada Region. As the figures above demonstrate, giving has not kept pace with inflation. If these trends continue, the long-term sustainability of the current funding model becomes a legitimate concern.

The difficult questions are obvious: What could supplement or strengthen WEF? How might new funding models be developed and implemented? What opportunities exist that we have not yet imagined?

These questions should not inspire fear but faithful creativity. The mission of making Christlike disciples in the nations is too important for us to simply rejoice over meager gains or hope that current trends reverse themselves. Church leaders, pastors, and laypeople alike will need the courage to think creatively, explore new possibilities, and embrace innovative approaches to supporting global ministry.

In the meantime, World Evangelism Fund must be supported—and perhaps more generously than ever. The mission remains urgent, and the Kingdom depends upon faithful stewardship.

Please Note: While my office is located in the Global Ministry Center as I work to develop a center through Nazarene Bible College that supports and encourages pastors, no WEF dollars fund my position, no one asked or encouraged me to write this article. I write because I love the Church of the Nazarene and its mission of making Christlike disciples in the nations. Economic realities make that mission more challenging today, and the difficulty will only grow if we fail to address it thoughtfully and proactively.

Why are 65% of Nazarene Pastors NOT Taking Free Money?

On By Rob Prince1 Comment

The latest quarterly edition of the Nazarene Benefits USA has been released, and director Kevin Gilmore reported an increase of participants in the annual pension supplement system. Participation in the program has gone from 33.8% in 2024 to 35% in 2025. Participants are inching upwards. That’s good, but why are the number of participants still so low?

As a reminder, the simple version of the system is that if a pastor (and/or local church and pastor) contribute $5,000, the denomination will give a 50% match or $2,500. This is a far better deal than the old system when every pastor received $200, then was matched up to and additional $250. I’m not a math whiz but $2500 in free money is better than the maximum amount of $450 in free money in the old plan (churches need to participate in the pension apportionment system through the denomination to qualify). 

The big question should be: Of the 5,500 eligible ministers in USA, why are only 35% are taking advantage of this free money? What are the other 65% of pastors thinking who aren’t participating? What part of “free money” don’t they understand?

Why are 65% of Nazarene pastors are not taking advantage of the free money?  Maybe these are the reasons:

  1. Some pastors don’t feel that they have even a dime to spare. Living paycheck to paycheck they have zero extra dollars to put away for the future. 
  2. Maybe church boards don’t understand the importance of assisting their pastor’s planning for the future. 
  3. Maybe for whatever reason, the pastor doesn’t think she/he is eligible. If the minister is a full-time pastor (full time workload regardless of pay). He/she is eligible.
  4. It could be that the pastor already has a 403b account through their spouse or another job. Umm.. it’s still free money.
  5. It could be that the minister simply hasn’t taken the time to set up their Nazarene Fidelity account through the Nazarene Benefits office. Whatcha waiting on?
  6. Or maybe the minister hasn’t heard about it (It’s been repeatedly communicated).

My guess is that the reason that 65% of Nazarene pastors aren’t taking the free money is a combination of all the above. Whatever the reason, all full-time pastors should beg, borrow or (please do not) steal the $5,000 to get the free $2500. When it’s time to retire, the pastor will be glad he/she did. Even if pastor can’t come up with the full $5,000, something is better than nothing. 

If pastors are 59 ½ years old, they could put in $5,000 and withdraw $7500. It’s free money.  And if it is a young pastor, it’s even more essential that he/she put the full amount into the program. If a 25-year-old pastor’s fidelity account has $7500 placed in it every year at an annual rate of 6% (a very conservative number) at age 65 that person will have $1.16 million in their account. If the annual return was 8%, the 403b account would have nearly 2 million dollars. This is far better than the old, old plan where a Nazarene pastor received a pension of less than $400 a month after 40 years of service to the church. 

USA Nazarene pastors take the free money! Find $5,000 somewhere (or as much as you can) and receive a 50% match from the denomination. With questions mounting regarding the social security system (reports that it will default without action from congress in 2032), pastors and churches need to do all they can to provide for themselves in retirement. The Nazarene Benefit structure greatly helps to ensure that Nazarene pastors can have the resources to retire. C’mon pastors, think ahead and plan accordingly! 

Equal Pay for Nazarene Pastors in USA/Canada?

On By Rob Prince3 Comments

What if all Nazarene pastors in USA/Canada—regardless of the size or location of their church—earned the same salary? Large church. Small church. Urban church. Rural church. It wouldn’t matter. Compensation would be standardized. There could still be a sliding scale based on years of service, education, or experience, but pastors with similar credentials would receive the same pay.

(Funny-only-to-me alert: Last week, I was called a “capitalist” because of something I wrote on this blog. I assume cries of “socialist” or “communist” are forthcoming.)

Think about it: every pastor receiving the same compensation package, the same healthcare coverage, and the same benefits. Maybe everyone would be bi-vocational. Maybe no one would be. Either way, all pastors would be in the same boat. While we’re at it, what about a pay scale for district superintendents, too? (Uh-oh. Now I’ve struck a nerve.)

The idea isn’t completely unprecedented. Nazarene missionaries are compensated according to a standardized system and receive the same healthcare benefits. It seems I read somewhere that the early church shared all things in common? (See Acts 4:32). Wasn’t Paul a tentmaker who supported himself through additional work? Yes, he was.

Let me be clear: no Nazarene pastor is getting rich from serving a local church. In some denominations or independent churches, perhaps, but you won’t find Nazarene pastors living in mansions or driving a Bugatti. What you will find too often are pastors who are struggling financially, trying to support their families on salaries that barely cover basic expenses. For many, it’s a difficult reality.

One argument against equal compensation is that it could encourage laziness. Some pastors might do very little while earning the same salary as those who work tirelessly. Yup, that’s a possibility. I know this—when I was pastoring, I never felt that I was working for a paycheck. I was working for the Lord. Giving my best to Christ was never about my bank account. I suspect most pastors would say the same. Not all, of course. Let’s be honest—there would be some lazy pastors under this model.

There are also practical challenges. A proposal like this would likely require a significant increase in district apportionments or the creation of a new compensation fund. Some churches would undoubtedly try to avoid the system. Large churches might have to reduce staff to contribute. Some pastors would take a pay cut. I’m not suggesting implementation would be easy. Any serious proposal would need careful consideration by people far smarter than me.

The system would also need to account for regional differences in the cost of living. A pastor serving in a high-cost city faces different financial realities than one serving in a rural community. But that’s not an impossible challenge. The denomination already addresses similar issues with missionaries. A missionary serving in the Philippines does not require the same level of support as one living in Paris because the cost of living is dramatically different.

Reality Alert: All the above is a pipe dream. Too many obstacles. Too much money. Too many paychecks would be impacted. To those who say, “it shouldn’t be about the money.” It’s always about the money. Who’s a capitalist now?  

Even if we can’t make pastors pay equal across the board, can’t we at least think more intentionally about clergy compensation? Pastoring is difficult, regardless of church size. The pressures, responsibilities, and stresses are real. What if we found ways to reduce at least some of the financial burden? Can we discuss ways to help pastors at the lower end of the pay scale? Can we ensure that no pastor is living below the poverty line and that all have access to adequate healthcare for their families?

The United Methodist Church has established compensation minimums for clergy. Perhaps the Church of the Nazarene should consider something similar. Here’s the question of the week: Can the Church of the Nazarene in USA/Canada care for its pastors in a more equitable way?

Crunching Numbers on Nazarenes in the USA/Canada Region

On By Rob Prince7 Comments

Here are USA/Canada basic stats for the Church of the Nazarene: There are 78 Districts, 4,316 churches,11,103 elders, 2,134 district licensed ministers, 515 deacons and 364,029 worshipping the Lord every week. That means the total of elders, deacons and district licensed ministers is 13,752 clergy. When crunching those numbers that means, there is: 

  • One clergyperson for every 27 people who are showing up on a Sunday morning. 
  • There were 21987 baptisms last year or one clergyperson for a little over one and a half baptisms. 
  • 19466 people were received into membership by profession of faith (not a sheep changing pastures but a new believer) or one clergyperson for a little under one and a half of those new believers. 

Permission to write freely: These are not great numbers. I know the attendance numbers have increased the last two years. That’s good.  First time in 50 years (or something like that) that USA/Canada has had two consecutive years of growth. Good. Good. Double good! But crunching the numbers a little more shows some things that aren’t totally great. 

What are the 13,752 pastors doing?  Seriously? What. Are. We. Doing. (I’ve put myself in this discussion because I am one of those 13,752 clergypersons). 

I’m not sure how many of the 13,752 clergy are unable to serve in any meaningful way. Maybe they are in a nursing home or too sick to lead a person to Jesus. Sometimes, where a person is serving is difficult. It’s not fertile ground. Didn’t Elmer F. Schmelzenbach go years and years before his first convert in Africa?  So maybe some of my clergy brothers and sisters might be in tough circumstances. I get it. It’s not always easy.

But come on… Not even two baptisms per pastor?  Less than that of those who led a person to start following Jesus. If I didn’t know better, I’d say there is an evangelism problem amongst me and my fellow pastors. Could I say it this way, the numbers show a lack of evangelistic fervor amongst the clergy in the USA/Canada region. Again, there are spots where true evangelism is happening. A few churches here and there are doing great things for the Kingdom. At a recent district assembly, it was reported that nearly half of that district’s baptisms were from one church. Hooray for that that one church, but to the rest of us, I want to say, “C’mon!  Get Going!” 

Obviously, it’s not all on the pastors to do all the evangelizing in a church. We are protestants after all. We still believe in the priesthood of all believers. But if there are 13,000+ clergy, wouldn’t you think that there would be a higher percentage of converts? We still believe that people are hurting, lonely, and lost. We still believe that Jesus is the answer. We still believe that without Him people are eternally doomed. Where’s the urgency?

I’m praying that in my new role with the Nazarene Bible College and in creating a Center to help pastors, that I will be available to make a difference. I hope to help lead in evangelism, holiness, integrity, connectivity, generosity, and stewardship. Good News for pastors: Help is on the way (in other words).

In the meantime, my fellow pastors, can we make it a goal, a personal goal, to win and baptize two, just two people in the coming year. Imagine if we set the example and folks in our churches started following suit, and they started to pray and then evangelize a person or two who doesn’t know Jesus. Do you know what will happen? Revival just might break out. Set the example pastors!  Let’s reach people for Jesus! Let’s pray for revival!