EDUCATING 

Nazarenes everywhere are sharing the mission stories of the church. Telling the story instills passion for missions. When Christ's followers know what is at stake and hear how others are obeying God's call to missions, they are challenged to participate as well.
 
NMI is committed to helping local churches tell the mission story. We provide resources and support for the local church as it informs and educates its members, not only in what other Nazarenes are doing in missions, but how they can get involved too.

Knowledge is key to involvement. With an understanding of the needs of the world and what the church is doing to meet those needs, we are more likely to commit to the support of missions through prayer, giving, communication, and going.

 
How Does Mission Education Take Place?

 
Learning takes place in a variety of venues. Experiences, listening to and reading stories, and getting to know missionaries on a personal level enhance mission awareness. 

• Use of age-appropriate curricula and NMI reading books/tapes provide learning opportunities and activities designed to engage people of all ages in missions. More information about mission education material may be found here.
  

• For multicultural congregations, the International Mission Education Journal is a curriculum piece that includes mission education lessons for adults and children. It is produced in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. 

• The hands-on experiences of volunteer programs often provide opportunities for people to see missions firsthand.  This includes mission service projects such as Work and Witness, Youth in Missions, NCM centers, and community projects.  It also includes hands-on missions activities such as Crisis Care Kits and School Pal-Paks.

• Audiovisuals offer people the ability to "see and hear" missions. Each church receives an annual audiovisual catalog.
  
  
• Deputation Services, Faith Promise conventions, district-sponsored events with a missionary speaker, and the presence of a missionaries-in-residence with at youth and children's camps allow for interaction between missionaries and the people who support them through their givings and prayer

Nazarene Missions International recognizes that people learn in different ways, so it is important to provide mission education in a variety of methods. Missionaries have testified that their mission passion began when reading an NMI missions book, hearing a missionary speak, participating in a mission trip, or attending a mission lesson or retreat. The more opportunities for learning your church receives, the more likely those in attendance will begin to see the world through God's eyes.

The information above can be found at nmi.nazarene.org

If you have questions about Mission Education contact Linda Kriner at lkriner@juno.com