COMING TOGETHER FOR

HEALTH & WHOLENESS

NAZARENES IN COTE D’IVOIRE
PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY
WELLNESS THROUGH CLEAN
WATER AND SANITATION.
P. 12

LISTENING TO GOD
& LEARNING FROM
NEIGHBORS
P. 18

UNITY & FRIENDSHIP

IN NEPAL
P. 24

NC M. O RG
NCM
M A G A Z I N E

2023 // ISSUE 2

NCM Magazine aims to tell stories of the

church living out Christ's compassion.
Our hope is that all of us would hear the
call to compassion as a lifestyle.

Following the example of Jesus,

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
partners with local congregations around
the world to clothe, shelter, feed, heal,
educate, and live in solidarity with those
who suffer under oppression, injustice,
violence, poverty, hunger, and disease.
NCM exists in and through the Church of
the Nazarene to proclaim the gospel to all
people in word and deed.

NAZARENE COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES

LEAVE A
17001 Prairie Star Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66220
(800) 310-6362, [email protected]

LEGACY Magazine Design | RUCKUS GROUP

Cover Photo | GINA POTTENGER

OF COMPASSION. FOR A FREE SUBSCRIPTION

visit ncm.org/magazine

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F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N or write to NCM Magazine,
17001 Prairie Star Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66220
o n C h i l d S p o n s o r s h i p E n d ow m e n t s ,
w h i c h s p o n s o r c h i l d re n i n QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
p e r p e t u i t y, co n t a c t t h e email [email protected]

C h u rc h o f t h e N a z a re n e
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture
Fo u n d a t i o n quotations are from the New Revised
Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible,
8 6 6 - 2 73 - 2 5 49 copyright 1989 by Division of Christian
Education of the National Council of
Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
TA B L E of

C ONT E NTS

12

FEATURES
COMING TOGETHER FOR HEALTH &
WHOLENESS | P.12
Nazarenes in Cote D’Ivoire prioritize community
wellness through clean water and sanitation.

LISTENING TO GOD & LEARNING FROM

NEIGHBORS | P.18
A church in California, USA is responding to community
needs through strategic partnerships and immigration
resources.
18
UNITY & FRIENDSHIP IN NEPAL | P.24
A local ministry provides a safe space for teenagers to
build friendships, meet needs, and grow in their faith.

MORE THAN A WAITING PLACE | P.26

The comforts of home come together for people who
TABLE OF CONTENTS

are seeking refuge in Croatia.

DEPARTMENTS
CONNECTION POINTS | P.5 VOICES | P.32

GO DEEPER | P.33 SNAPSHOT | P.34 24

NCM.ORG 3
O PEN IN G N OTES

GOD’S KINGDOM
IN OUR COMMUNITIES
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
By Nell Becker Sweeden, Director of NCM

God is doing incredible things through stickers. She knew they wouldn’t say much,
creative and hope-filled churches but she knew they needed something to do
around the world. Most often, these and someone who cared enough to notice.
congregations are small, rural, and It was beautiful to witness Iryna in
scattered across continents in some of action as the hands and feet of Christ.
the most remote pockets of our planet. Iryna has been an incredible gift of
These congregations are comprised of God for others in their time of pain,
entrepreneurial pastors and devoted uncertainty, fear, and need throughout
disciples who are community leaders; the war on Ukraine. She continues to
they are often teachers, farmers, serve in new ways and embody what
mechanics, and more. They are Christ- it means to live out God’s compassion
followers who devote their lives to for the world. Thank you, Iryna.
teaching kids and who work tirelessly There are thousands upon thousands
when a storm strikes or crops fail. of faithful servants like Iryna serving in
Last year, I had the privilege of the Lord’s church that is truly beyond
shadowing one of our Nazarene borders. What a testimony to the power
volunteers serving at train stations in and the love of God they are! Servants
Przemysl, Poland, helping Ukrainian like Iryna testify to the Lord’s “kingdom
refugees seek safety across the border. come on earth as it is in heaven.”
Iryna’s feet never stopped moving, and Even in the midst of hard times and
her eyes never stopped scanning the difficult circumstances, God is working in
"For I was hungry and
crowd for those who needed help. What our communities, and we are invited to
you gave me no food, I
an incredible gift it was to stand with her join. Often, God is working in very small
was thirsty and you gave and serve alongside her for several days. and unassuming ways. God wants to give
me nothing to drink, I was When the trains arrived, and the us new eyes and new ears to hear where
a stranger and you did women and children poured out, Iryna’s transformation is needed. May we, too,
not welcome me, naked trained eye found those who needed see the elderly, the child, the single mom,
and you did not give me extra care. She spotted the elderly the teenager, the immigrant, the prisoner,
clothing, sick and in prison women who were traveling alone and and our neighbor with the eyes of Christ.
and you did not visit me.” would struggle with the stone steps. We This is what it means to live out
carried their suitcases, and she chatted compassion in the world, and each
Matthew 25:42-43 with them while providing a calming of us is invited into this Kingdom—
assurance. She saw the moms with young into this new way in the world—the
kids who needed a hand. She identified way of Jesus. May the world be
teenagers who seemed bored and gave transformed by his love through us.
them a colorful pen, paper pad, or
4 2023 // ISSUE 2
C O NNEC T IO N PO INT S

Holistic Child Development

CREATIVE
SOLUTIONS LEAD
TO COMMUNITY
FLOURISHING
Story and Photos provided by NCM Africa

In Yombo, Tanzania, the local church, in partnership at risk and vulnerable. Through this center, children are
with NCM, has developed a creative idea to support local given the tools and resources to grow spiritually as well.
ministry — a car wash that is staffed by young people The project provides funds to purchase supplies
who are connected to the church and need income. to ensure children receive successful education
This project has strengthened, improved, and and social development. Finally, the center focuses
supported the local church’s work by supporting on the children's physical well-being by providing
the ministry of the child development center (CDC) opportunities to play sports, participate in a food
as well as providing an income for young people program, and receive nutrition and hygiene education.
working at the carwash. The local church developed Nadia*, a parent of children who attend the center,
the car wash site and has ensured its maintenance. has seen how her children’s lives have been impacted.
Within a year, they were able to buy an additional “Since this CDC started about two years ago,
car wash machine and vacuum cleaner. They are we are seeing our children’s behavior change for the
exploring ways to continue to grow, including opening better,” said Nadia. “When they return home, I notice
a refreshments shop, establishing kitchen gardens, they implement what they were taught at the CDC.”
and securing more property next to the bus station Students have seen the social benefits of attending
to develop an additional car wash in the community. the center.
They consider their efforts to be a story of hope. “My grades have improved since I started attending
Even as they hope and dream about the next the [center] because I can get [together] with friends to
steps for the church, they continue to work with discuss homework with them,” said Mila*, grade 7. “It
NCM, conducting strength-building training with the improves my understanding when I finally do it myself.
community and other churches in the area, encouraging My friends from school would also want to start attending
sustainable, compassionate ministry and holistic next year because I told them the power of friends.”
approaches to meeting the needs of children.
The car wash has empowered the center to continue *Names changed for protection
to provide care in holistic ways for 35 children who are

NCM.ORG 5
C ON N EC T I ON P OI N T S

Q&A

WHAT DOES IT
MEAN TO LIVE “Most people in our area do not know
about Jesus Christ; some of our neighbors
OUT COMPASSION are in a very tough community. So,
compassion looks like planting the seeds
DAILY? of God's love and transforming people’s
lives through discipleship and care. ”
- Ganga Mukhiya, NCM Nepal
“Compassion starts with friendship. When we are (read more about Agape ministry in Nepal on page 24)
friends with people, we are willing to walk with
them. So, if you’re going to show compassion to your
neighbors, you might need to be ready to go out of “You can show compassion daily by actively
your comfort zone. Go to a church service in another listening to others without judgment, offering
language and experience what it's like not to know help when needed, and practicing empathy by
what is going on all the time because you don't considering their feelings and perspectives.
speak the language. Sometimes, we think we have Small acts of kindness, like offering a smile
to create some big program, but the truth is we can or a kind word, can also go a long way in
show a lot of compassion and learn a lot when we demonstrating your care and concern for those
show up for people. If you don’t know where to start, around you.”
consider volunteering with an existing organization.”
-Leody Echavez, NCM Asia-Pacific
- Bree Salthouse, Department of Justice Accredited (read more about water wells in Myanmar on page 8)
Representative in Monrovia California
(read more about ministry in Monrovia, California on page 18)

6 2023 // ISSUE 2
COMPASSION
C ON N EC T I ON P OI N T S

everyday compassion

Sometimes, living compassionately

feels difficult because it doesn’t
THROUGH THE look like what you see others
doing. Consider what God’s call to

WORD OF
compassion looks like in your life,
using your unique gifts, passion,
and talents.

GOD 1 REFLECT
“Each of you should use whatever gift
you have received to serve others as
faithful stewards of God’s grace in
its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

God has created each of us uniquely

with different gifts, callings, and
talents. Spend some time meditating
on how Jesus has gifted you. What
things excite you? Where do you find
yourself wanting to invest your time?

2 BRAINSTORM
Not everyone is called to work for a
nonprofit or as a pastor at his or her
local church, but we are all called
to live compassionately. How can
you use your time and gifts to serve
those around you? Get creative!

For example:
Do you enjoy going for walks? Invite
a neighbor, who otherwise might be
lonely to go on a walk with you.
Do you love baking? Host a bake
sale and donate the proceeds to
the nonprofit of your choice!

3 SHARE
Even with the best intentions, it’s
easy to forget to live with compassion
as life gets busy. Share with a friend
the ways God has gifted you, and
invite them to hold you accountable
to serving as God calls you.

NCM.ORG 7
TRANSFORM
LIVES
Water wells in Myanmar
bring sustainability to
rural communities.

PHOTOS AND STORY BY

LEODY TAN ECHAVEZ IIII

I n the remote corners of Myanmar, the lack

of access to clean water has been an arduous
challenge for countless families. The journey
to retrieve water from distant sources often
stretches over many kilometers, leaving individuals
grappling with the scarcity of this basic necessity.
project to provide clean water, sanitation, and
hygiene solutions for the affected communities. This
endeavor seeks to quench physical thirst and instill
a renewed sense of compassion and discipleship
through the local churches' involvement.
The driving force behind this transformative
The repercussions are dire: waterborne diseases, project is a fervent desire to alleviate the community's
compromised hygiene, inadequate sanitation, and suffering. After witnessing people travel great
limited opportunities for education and employment. distances for a sip of clean water, local churches
Against the backdrop of a nation plagued by civil took on a mission to help the community. The vision
unrest, the struggle for survival has intensified. The extended beyond mere provision; it encompassed
ongoing conflict has uprooted lives, with countless trust-building, relationship-forging, and a profound
civilians displaced and homes destroyed. Farmers find demonstration of love in action. The project was
their fields barren due to the scourge of war, while conceived as an embodiment of God's love and
inflation and soaring prices make even basic sustenance an opportunity for the local churches to show the
a battle. The crisis has given rise to an urgent need for community the same care they experienced from God.
health education, as communities must now fend for The local churches' engagement with the
their own well-being amid dwindling resources and community was proactive and holistic. Planning,
rising threats of diseases. labor, and maintenance of the wells became shared
Yet, amid these grueling situations, a glimmer endeavors, fostering a sense of ownership and unity.
of hope emerges. In partnership with Nazarene The once-daunting task of accessing clean water was
Compassionate Ministries, undeterred by strife, local replaced with the convenience of wells within arm's
Nazarene churches have initiated a life-transforming reach. This transformation, however, transcended the

8 2023 // ISSUE 2
RMING
physical realm. Through this compassionate service,
the local churches fostered a deeper connection with
the community, enabling them to share the Word of
God and bring the message of hope and salvation.
relationship-building. This comprehensive approach,
grounded in compassionate discipleship, aimed at
not only quenching the community’s physical thirst
but also satisfying spiritual hunger. The commitment
to long-term sustainability extended beyond the
project's inception. A dedicated group emerged, tasked
with the care and upkeep of the wells. Infrastructure
improvements, including walls and roofs, fortified the
wells against the elements. This approach transformed
maintenance into a communal endeavor, uniting
the community in their shared responsibility.
As the community embraced its role in the
wells' upkeep, a deep sense of ownership blossomed.
These initiatives not only cultivated practical skills
among community members but also instilled
TESTIMONY virtues of patience, care, and responsibility—integral
The story of Maung Sai serves as a testament to aspects of discipleship. The wells became symbols
the transformative power of the water well project. of the partnership between the local church and
Initially a non-believer, Sai's encounter with the the community, illustrating the symbiotic nature of
compassionate ministry and sustainable development,
local pastor, James, altered the trajectory of his
which opened doors for deeper connections and
life. When asked to contribute to the well-drilling
evangelism.
efforts, he willingly participated. As he labored
alongside the pastor, conversations about faith
and God were interwoven with the physical work.
Through these interactions, Sai's heart softened,
eventually leading him to embrace Christianity. Sai
was baptized by the pastor, and his new life was
paralleled by the successful drilling of the well—a
symbol of both spiritual and physical rejuvenation.
The local church's support for Maung Sai
extended far beyond his conversion. Regular
fellowships, prayer sessions, and Bible studies
bolstered his faith and nurtured his spiritual growth.
Recognizing his commitment to serve, the church
facilitated his enrollment at Chapman International
College in Yangon, nurturing his potential for
ministry. Compassion, as exemplified through the
well project, played a pivotal role in Maung Sai's
transformation, serving as a bridge that connected
him to a deeper spiritual understanding.

MEETING THE NEEDS

For the local churches, identifying the need to
access water was not merely an administrative task
but a journey of understanding the community's
struggles. Visits and discussions during evangelism
efforts allowed the churches to grasp the full extent of
the challenge. Their involvement went beyond well-
digging; they invested in the necessary infrastructure
to ensure long-term functionality. Installing
electric power meters and a compressor helped
safeguard the community's access to clean water.
Through the wells, the churches addressed a
multifaceted range of needs. In addition to enhancing
physical health, the clean water also sparked trust and
The water well project has led to new relationships between
the church and community, resulting in deeper connections
with neighbors and opportunities to share the love of Christ.

NCM.ORG 9
A NEWFOUND HOPE formed around the wells paved the way for evangelism
In the face of ongoing conflicts, the water well and discipleship. The wells became spaces to reduce
project became a beacon of hope for both the local logistical struggles and remove barriers between the
church and the community. Clean water was not only local church and the unbelievers. Once symbols of
a source of physical relief but a conduit for building adversity, these spaces were transformed into arenas
trust and understanding amid adversities. The wells of connection, dialogue, and transformation.
acted as communal gathering points, strengthening
relationships and offering solace in times of strife. LESSONS LEARNED
When faced with challenges, the local church found The Myanmar water wells project offers invaluable
a unique platform for discipleship and evangelism. insights for churches and organizations seeking to
The well project laid the groundwork for conversations practice compassionate discipleship. Beyond the
about faith, providing an entry point for sharing the act of helping those in need, the project showcases
gospel and building trust through compassion. The the potential for ministry and evangelism, which
relationships nurtured through this compassionate are not separate entities but intertwined facets of
endeavor transformed opposition into openness, a greater whole, through practical acts of love.
resulting in a fertile ground for the seeds of faithto The lessons extend beyond the confines of
flourish. The water well project's impact not only Myanmar, providing a roadmap for replication.
transcended clean water access but also acted as a Through practical service, the local church ignited a
catalyst for broader development, as relationships transformative process that brought together physical
and spiritual well-being.
As the project continues to flourish, it stands as
a testament of compassion’s transformative power,
demonstrating that even in the midst of conflict, love
in action has the potential to renew lives, communities,
and faith.

Neighbors gather to collect water at a newly dug

10 2023 // ISSUE 2 well, providing clean water for an entire community.
SPONSOR A CHILD AND PARTNER
WITH FAMILIES AROUND THE
WORLD TO CHANGE LIVES AND
TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES.

Learn more at ncm.org/sponsor

[email protected] or 800.310.6362
Coming Togeth
for
Health
& Wholene

1212 2023
2023// //ISSUE 2 2
ISSUE
ther
th
ess
A CHURCH IN COTE D’IVOIRE
BRINGS NEIGHBORS TOGETHER
THROUGH WATER SANITATION
AND HYGIENE (WASH)
PRACTICES.

NCM.ORG 13
STORY AND PHOTOS BY GINA POTTENGER

I f you are not interested in the community, the

community will not be interested in you,” says
Christelle Bossina, national director of NCM for
Cote D’Ivoire.
As our taxi navigates around deep potholes filled
from preventable and sometimes fatal diseases, including
dysentery, malaria, and more. Many are also stricken
with HIV. So Farris set up a Nazarene health clinic in
Andokoi.
One of the first local people to join the clinic staff
with rainwater, Christelle interrupts herself to say, was Taki.
“Look!” She points at a group of young men shoveling Taki had planned a military career as an army
garbage and mud from the city’s deep cement gutters. A medic. Just as he finished his training, he met Farris,
broad smile crosses her face. She explains that the people learned about the love of Jesus, and gave his life to
of the Andokoi neighborhood are cleaning their streets— Christ. He left the army and became a nurse at the new
something they didn’t do before the Grace Church of the Nazarene health clinic.
Nazarene began its monthly street cleaning project. Over the years, Farris, Taki, and other clinic staff
Called WASH, the project’s objective is to improve led many patients to Jesus. Many people began following
residents’ health and prevent reoccurring illnesses Jesus, and they needed a church to worship God together
caused by daily exposure to sewage and standing water. and grow in their faith. Grace Church of the Nazarene
Kickstarted through a two-year grant from NCM, was founded next door to the health clinic. Taki became
WASH stands for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. Grace ordained and is one of the first Nazarene pastors in Cote
church’s WASH program also includes educational D’Ivoire. Today, he treats patients in the clinic in the
initiatives, empowering people to more effectively care mornings and serves the community as pastor in the
for their own hygiene, sanitation, and clean water. afternoons and evenings.
By modeling how to improve their immediate But despite decades of treating patients, the
environment, the short-term project has grown into a preventable diseases just never stopped.
movement that has taken on a life of its own – as attested
by the young men mucking out the gutters without
coordination through the church.

SEEDS OF SERVICE
Grace Church of the Nazarene wouldn’t exist today
without a vision to care for Andokoi’s residents in a
tangible way.
Andokoi is an economically struggling community
adjoining Abidjan, a large city near the coast of
Cote D’Ivoire.
In 1987, the Church of the Nazarene sent Dr. Ron
Farris to Abidjan as a medical missionary to establish
a network of health clinics in Ivory Coast, Ghana, and
Nigeria. Based in the Andokoi neighborhood, Farris got
an up-close-and-personal look at how people suffered
Leaders at the health clinic have served
their community for over 30 years.
14 2023 // ISSUE 2 14
GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM
In 2016, Serge and Christelle Bossina joined Grace
church. A lawyer at a local bank, Christelle quickly gave
her free time to volunteer in the church’s compassionate
ministries. Serge became the NCM coordinator for
Abidjan, while Christelle took on the role of national
director.
Over time, they noticed that the same people
repeatedly visited Grace church’s health clinic with the
same preventable illnesses.
“So we sat down and said, ‘OK, why treat the
problem at the end? We must, in addition, treat the
problem at the source,’” Christelle explains. “That is how
we noticed that our surroundings, our environment, was
not healthy.”
Homes and businesses line the gutters. Abidjan’s
torrential, equatorial rainstorms rush through Andokoi’s
unpaved streets, sweeping trash, sewage, and mud into
the gutters. Without adequate wastewater infrastructure,
the gutters overflow with each new storm, occasionally
flooding homes and businesses. Mosquitoes and bacteria

“THEY FELT THEY BELONGED

SOMEWHERE …. BUT THIS
TIME IT WASN'T A BAD GROUP Volunteers with the church go into the community
to share about the new WASH project.
BUT A GROUP BELONGING
TO GOD, IN CHRIST.”
breed in standing water. People walk through sewage on health and how to educate them to improvesanitation
their way to work and school. conditions.
All that sewage and standing water was making the “It could be that you have water but do not really
church’s neighbors sick. know how to use that water properly,” Christelle
explains. “WASH will train you on how to efficiently
A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE use water. WASH also includes a program that creates
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY awareness on general wellness: How to keep one’s house
Despite the health clinic’s presence, there remained clean, how to be well-nourished, and how to know the
a disconnect between the church and its community. difference between where to have a bowel movement
Christelle says that neighbors could not see, taste, and where to prepare food. Or, if you do not have
touch, or hear God’s love through God’s people enough water, the program teaches how to be efficient
even though the church was in the neighborhood. with water.”
The community had not been transformed.
“The question that we ask the people of this church FROM CLEAN STREETS TO RENEWED LIVES
is, ‘If by some extraordinary means this church were With this new knowledge, the congregation
to disappear, would the community miss us? What is it organized home visits to convince their neighbors to join
that we do more than others? What do we bring to this a cleanup project.
community in which we live?’ And that question causes People protested the church’s attempts since
the people of God to stop and think,” Christelle said. they pay taxes to the government to clean up their
As she pondered, Christelle came up with an idea: surroundings. However, the church moved forward with
What if the church leads the community in cleaning up the project.
our own neighborhood? After seeing that the church people were climbing
She and some other leaders traveled to Ghana into the filthy gutters with shovels and gloves, some
to participate in an NCM-sponsored WASH training. neighbors and even bored street children started to
They learned about the impact of water on people’s help the church members with the tools and personal

NCM.ORG 15
protective equipment that were provided. Together,
they worked shoulder to shoulder, cleaning up their
community and sharing a meal together after work.
Some of those kids started coming to church every
Sunday.
“They felt they belonged somewhere …. but this time
it wasn't a bad group but a group belonging to God, in
Christ,” said Christelle.
Some children have experienced remarkable
transformation through the influence of the church
community. A few others returned home and found
work; one of them is now a teacher and another is
training to become a police officer.
“One time we were cleaning the gutter, and two
young men were walking by…. They were so drunk,”
Christelle and Serge saw the community WASH
Christelle says. “They stopped and said, ‘What are you
project as an opportunity to demonstrate
doing?’ And we said, ‘We do this for Jesus because, if not the love of Christ in a tangible way.
for Jesus, none of us would leave home to come out and
clean the gutter of a friend.’”
The next thing she knew, one of the young men
to learn more. He had never been to church had never
picked up a shovel and got down into the gutter, joining
heard about Jesus. Watching them, he told himself, “I
the cleanup. The following Sunday, he showed up for
need to change. I need to seize this opportunity.” He gave
worship. Now, he’s a member of the church.
his life to Jesus and got heavily involved in the church,
“It's extraordinary,” Christelle says. “God just needs
including the Saturday cleanups.
us to take action, and then it is like a seed planted in
the ground. God takes care of watering the plant and AN IDEA TURNED INTO A MOVEMENT
producing its fruit to get the result that God wants. That's Now, residents organize their own cleanups without
it. God simply wants us to be tools in his hands that the church being involved.
“We see that the youth of this neighborhood are
working independently to get up and mobilize each
“TODAY, THANKS TO THIS PROGRAM, other,” Christelle says. “When passing through, we saw at
I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT least two different groups of kids who didn't even know
each other cleaning the gutters, cleaning the storefronts,
NOW THE PEOPLE KNOW THEIR because they have understood the message.”
OWN VALUE AND THE VALUE OF THIS It is a message of victory over circumstances, a
message that people have the power to change things for
CHURCH TO THE COMMUNITY.” the better if they decide to do it.
It’s not just residents who got this message. Other
he will use for his glory. Truly, that is what the WASH denominations in the city have joined the effort,
program has brought to us.” including the leader of the Evangelical Alliance.

ORDINARY ACT, EXTRAORDINARY TRANSFORMATION THROUGH SERVICE

TRANSFORMATION Serving others the way Christ would serve has
Like many others, Djakis grew up on the streets transformed the Nazarene congregation, too.
because of abuse at home. To survive, he became “Before, I would say that people came to church
hardened and dangerous, recruiting other kids to form for themselves,” Christelle says. “They just came to be
his own gang and enticing them to commit acts of petty saved, to pray to God, and then go back home. But today,
crime. thanks to this program, I can say with confidence that
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, some Grace now the people know their own value and the value of
church volunteers brought food and supplies to his this church to the community.”
neighborhood. Although sullen and suspicious, he Once the church proved that it was interested in the
listened to the group, but after the team left, he couldn’t community, the community became interested in the
stop thinking about them. church and its message of hope in Jesus.
“Why are they coming?” he asked himself. “People “All of these acts, all that we do in the world, [are
can love us like that?” evidences] of the love of Christ. And I bless the Lord for
He wanted to know more about those who loved this church that makes this possible throughout
freely, asking nothing in return. So, he visited the church the world.”

16 2023 // ISSUE 2
A R OUN D T H E W OR LD

CROATIA
Croatia, located in southeastern Europe, boasts a
breathtaking coastline along the Adriatic Sea and
a fascinating blend of historic cities and natural
beauty. A captivating destination that offers a
perfect blend of history and scenic beauty.

The Pula Arena in Pula, Croatia is the only remaining Roman

amphitheater in the world to maintain its four side towers.

The world’s smallest town is in Croatia. The town of Hum

has a population of between 17-23 people.

Croatia borders five countries. Their neighbors include

Slovinia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro
as well as the Adriatic sea.

Croatia has more than 1,200 islands, islets, and crags

off the coast of the mainland.

Croatia is one of the most verdant and green

countries in the world. Ten percent of the country is home
to 11 nature Parks, 8 national parks, and 2 nature reserves. One of
its most famous national parks is Plitvice Lakes National Park.

To read about the work of the church in Croatia turn to page 26.

WE WANT TO HEAR

your Stories
of Compassion!
SUBMIT YOUR STORY AT ncm.org/share-your-story

NCM.ORG 17
Listening to God
and
Learning
from Neighbors

STORY BY DANA FRANCHETTI

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MOUNTAINSIDE COMMUNION CHURCH

O n a warm Wednesday afternoon in late

summer, there’s a flurry of activities
around the campus of Mountainside
Communion Church. Outside, neighbors from the
community tend their gardens and pick what they
Spirit was stirring up within this community,” said
Josh Smith, lead pastor. “It’s all been born out of
the relationship. We believe in listening to God and
listening to our neighbors, and we have found that we
can often listen to God by listening to our neighbors.”
need from the free produce section. Others meet Mountainside’s ministries started as small,
inside for virtual and in-person book studies and simple responses to meet community needs
times of prayer while volunteers with the housing that eventually grew into the current scale.
partnership answer phone calls from renters seeking “The garden started because we noticed our
advice and assistance amid the housing crisis in the neighbor's fruit trees had extra fruit on them, so
greater Los Angeles, California, area. Still, more we partnered together to pick it and share it. The
families and individuals huddle around blue legal housing initiative started as we built relationships
folders in conference rooms, talking with employees with the city. The IRC started because we volunteered
of the Immigration Resource Center (IRC). with a local youth program,” explained Josh.
Mountainside Communion Church of the Nazarene “Then we just kept saying yes to what God and our
partners with NCM and the Nazarene Immigration neighbors were asking us to do from there.”
Network to provide low-cost legal assistance to people One opportunity they said yes to changed
seeking help navigating their immigration process. the ministry of their church in powerful ways.
Some of the staff at the IRC are lawyers, while In 2010, the congregants at Mountainside began
others are accredited through a program with the volunteering at a local youth organization where
Department of Justice, where nonprofits are trained they spent time building friendships, having
to provide low-cost, secure immigration legal fun, tutoring, and mentoring local teens.
services to people on the immigration pathway. Within a year of this partnership developing,
“When we planted this church 18 years ago, the U.S. President signed an executive order into
we never could have dreamed up the work that the effect called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

18 2023 // ISSUE 2
“We helped well over 100 teenagers qualify
for DACA.”

THROUGH RELATIONSHIP
COMES UNDERSTANDING
Through this experience, Mountainside
Communion became aware of the great need for
secure and trustworthy legal counsel for those
navigating the complex immigration pathway.
Jonathan Fung, an attorney who serves as
director of legal services with the IRC, explained
that financial burdens and transportation needs,
along with the unethical approach of some legal
advisors who take advantage of the situation,
keep many people who are immigrants from
accessing the legal benefits they are entitled to.
“There are so many people that cannot access
the legal benefits they are entitled to because of
financial or geographic burdens. If someone does
not have reliable transportation or if they can't get
time off work to meet with an attorney, it's incredibly
difficult to navigate this process. Not to mention,
there are so many people that are taking advantage of
our neighbors who are in this incredibly vulnerable
Mountainside Communion Church’s community gardens
space, charging them thousands of dollars and never
have become a gathering place for neighbors.
completing their cases,” explained Jonathan.
“We really are trying to humanize people’s
stories and experiences. We want people to
understand that in a system that sees thousands
(DACA), which temporarily shields individuals from of people daily, each person has a unique story,
deportation and provides them with legal work permits. a unique set of circumstances,” said Josh.
To qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, After 11 years of serving their community in this
a person must have arrived in the U.S. prior to turning way, the IRC has four people on staff, including one
16, be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, be a attorney, one senior paralegal, and two accredited
person of good moral character, as well as completed representatives. They serve people at many
high school or its equivalent, or be a veteran. different points on their immigration pathways.
Ulises Gutierrez was the leader of Recently, the church received an increasing
the youth organization at the time. number of inquiries from people from Afghanistan.
“I knew that a lot of our kids would qualify “Afghan clients have come to us recently because all
for DACA, and I knew that Mountainside loved of the other local agencies have been so overwhelmed,”
these kids and would want to help provide
this level of safety and stability for them,”
said Ulises. “So, I asked them to help,”   “I WANT US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE
Mountainside connected with a local lawyer FORWARD AND BUILD A LIFE. I
willing to provide oversight to ensure the work
was done correctly and they got to work. WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP OTHERS
Access to DACA helps thousands of children THE WAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN
who are brought to the United States without
proper documentation to be able to finish high HELPED SINCE MOVING HERE.”
school, go to college, and live full and healthy lives
in the only place they’ve ever known as home. explained Jonathan. “They don’t really have the capacity
“We hosted informational events to help people to provide holistic care. We have this reputation that
understand what they qualified for. We must have is starting to spread now because of word of mouth.
had 500 people at those events,” explained Ulises. This is a safe place to come and ask for help.”

NCM.ORG 19
By listening to their community, the
church has been able to help neighbors
thrive through creative initiatives.

The holistic care that Mountainside is able to provide “I began working at one of the American
goes beyond simply filling out paperwork. They provide bases in Afghanistan in 2012,” said Musafer.
pastoral care alongside access to social workers who “I worked with the inventory. So, when
help clients navigate the complexities of the medical and someone needed a new uniform or computer, or
housing systems, IT resources, and the community garden. anything really, it was my job to get it for them.”
“We are not primarily here as a law firm. We are He worked on the base through the COVID-19
here to serve the community,” said Jonathan. “For me, pandemic, during which time he also lived on base
that has always been a vision for asking the question due to pandemic restrictions. He wasn’t able to
of how we can be a bridge between the church and the go home for almost two years. In the summer of

“IT’S SUCH A GIFT TO LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYE AND SAY YES,
THIS CHURCH CARES ABOUT HELPING YOUR FAMILY APPLY FOR
IMMIGRATION RELIEF. THIS CHURCH CARES ABOUT YOU.”
practical needs of our neighbors. God wants to use our 2021, the COVID-19 restrictions were finally lifted,
professional skills to build God’s kingdom. As an attorney, and he returned home to his family. However,
I used to have a really hard time finding a place where two weeks later, a new type of danger began.
I could both practice my faith and feel like I was doing “At first, when things started to change, I would
professional work. With our work through Mountainside change the way I drove to work every day so no one
and the IRC, I think we are creating space for people would see that I was going to the base,” he explained.
to use their work for the Kingdom of God faithfully.” “I couldn’t tell people that I worked at the base because
we didn’t know who we could trust. If I shared with
SEEKING SAFETY, FINDING HOPE the wrong person, my life would be in danger.”
A recent client from Afghanistan experienced this On August 13, 2021, the situation reached a
wrap-around care firsthand. Musafer* was forced to come tipping point.
to the United States in the fall of 2021 when it became “I went to the base, and everyone was going to
unsafe for him to stay there. His wife and four children, the airport. My boss called me and told me I needed
ages 9, 7, 5 years, and 18 months, remain in Afghanistan. to get to the airport as soon as I could,” he recalled.

20 2023 // ISSUE 2
Due to overcrowding, serious safety concerns,
and incredibly limited resources, Musafer’s
family could not join him at the airport.
“At the airport, I saw how the overcrowding was HOSPITALITY
ON CAMPUS
leading to people suffocating. It was chaos. I couldn’t
bring my kids there,” he said. “But, I knew if I stayed, I
would put my family at risk. It was so hard to leave, but
I had to.”
Eventually, Musafar settled in southern California Eastern Nazarene College is located in
and found a job working the night shift in a factory. Quincy, Massachusetts, near Boston. Like
Because he had no car, he traveled two and a half hours most major cities in the US, this region is
by bus to get to work and back. experiencing increased numbers of migrant
“It was so hard to find anyone who could help me families joining the community (in the United
with my case because everyone was overwhelmed, and States, people seeking asylum may await court
my work hours got in the way,” he stated. “But when I hearings from within the country). Recently, the
met with Johnathan, I was so happy. He spoke so kindly Governor of Massachusetts declared a state
of emergency due to an ongoing lack of beds
to me. He took his time. I felt like [the IRC staff] were
available to meet the initial housing needs of
here because they wanted to help me.”
these new neighbors.
Musafar applied for asylum and has begun the
process of applying for his wife and children to join him In response to the crisis, ENC has partnered
in California. with the Commonwealth to open a Family
“I am ready to be with my family. I haven't met my Welcome Center on campus, referred to on
youngest daughter yet. I want to meet her. I want to campus as the Matthew 25 Initiative. There,
hold her. I want us to be able to move forward and build migrant families will be connected to social
a life. I want to be able to help others the way that we service agencies and practical support. In
addition, a building that previously served as a
have been helped since moving here,” said Musafar.
dormitory has been repurposed as a temporary
shelter for up to 58 families with young
FROM CLIENTS TO NEIGHBORS children, operated by a management firm with
Many neighbors who were once clients at the IRC experience in providing care to asylum seekers
have become involved in the clinic’s work. Whether in the US.
it’s by referring friends and family to their services, as
Musafar does, volunteering as interpreters, or serving
on the board, former clients are involved throughout the "ENC is in a unique position
ministry. Marina Sorace-Ferreyro is one example of this. to be part of the solution to a
Marina was born in Argentina. She came to the U.S. humanitarian crisis,” read a
with her family briefly as a child and was able to learn statement provided by the school.
English, go to school, and meet a boy named Ken. Her “[This] is an opportunity for the
family moved back to Argentina, but that boy remained College to be good stewards
in the back of her mind. of our campus resources
After completing law school in Argentina and and express Christ’s call to
establishing a career, she reconnected with Ken. After 10 care for people in need."
years apart, they got married.

Learn more
About ENC and the Matthew 25 Initiative at
ENC.EDU/MATTHEW-25-INITIATIVE-FAQ

One client gives back by leading the

band at the annual IRC fundraiser.
NCM.ORG 21
your family, there are elements of your identity that you
are going to miss, and then you get this new identity
labeled on you of ‘immigrant,’ which can be really cool
but also really challenging. . . people don't realize how
much those papers impact every single area of our
lives and how daunting the system is to navigate.”
Eventually, Ken’s mental health trouble led him
to seek long-term care. Mental health treatment
helped him begin his healing process, but Marina
still had to figure out her immigration process.
“We filed the initial paperwork ourselves, without
any legal counsel. Because our lives at that moment
became so unstable, we moved a lot. I don't know
exactly what happened—maybe I didn't forward my
mail correctly—but I missed a notice at some point,”
she explained. “My case was just in limbo somewhere
on someone's desk, not moving forward. However,
in this season of crisis after crisis, I just didn't have
the bandwidth to address it. I kept telling myself I’d
take care of it, but then another crisis would hit.”
Eventually, she contacted Veterans Affairs to see if
they had any resources to help her and her husband.
“The VA gave me a printout of more than 20
pages of immigration lawyers, and I am not kidding
when I say that I made hundreds of calls, and everyone
kept telling me they couldn’t help,” she said. “From
that giant list, I narrowed it down to five agencies.
One of them asked me to do something unethical,
the other three ended up not being able to help me,
and the last one was the IRC at Mountainside.”
She made an appointment at the Mountainside
Obtaining a visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen IRC, but as the appointment neared, she realized
is typically straightforward. The U.S. citizen applies that she didn’t have the $40 consultation fee.
on behalf of their spouse for a green card, which can “I remember that I called, and Rosa picked
take between 14-28 months. After three years, the up the phone. I told her that I had to cancel,” she
green card holder can begin applying for citizenship. explained. “Rosa asked why, and I was so embarrassed,
However, visa applicants are advised not to travel but I told her the truth. She said there is no way
outside of the country during the process. Marina that you are canceling because of money!”
was still wrapping up some of her cases as a lawyer So Marina went to the appointment.
in Argentina, so she put off the application process. “The whole setting was just lovely. I saw the
During this time, Ken, who was a garden at the front of the church, and I just felt at
military veteran, started changing. home. Johnathan sat with me, and we made a plan. I
“I started seeing signs that he just wasn’t himself,” couldn’t believe what I was hearing. They could help!”
Marina remembered. “He wasn’t sleeping, he couldn’t Marina noticed a significant difference in the way
focus; he just wasn’t himself. We went to the Veterans that this resource center functioned, especially when
Affairs hospital to get help, but the wait times were one of the centers “asked me to do something unethical
so long. We didn’t really know what to do.” and lie about my case. I wasn’t willing to do that.”
Navigating both the veterans’ health At Mountainside, she said, “I felt like a human being.
care system and the immigration system I felt like I had dignity. I felt that my story mattered
became hard to manage for Marina. enough to have privacy and individual attention.”
“One of the things that I am not sure people Marina and her family are in a
understand is that when someone chooses to immigrate, very different place now.
even when they are leaving awful situations or moving “We have started rebuilding little by little. My
for someone they love, they are going to spend the rest husband is healthy, I don't have to worry about my
of their lives living with a broken heart,” she said. “Your citizenship, and our family is moving forward on
heart is now in two places. Even when it’s better for the journey that we always wanted for ourselves.”

22 2023 // ISSUE 2
Marina now volunteers with the IRC, helping
with interpretation and serving on the board.
“They asked me to serve on the board because I had
been a client and because I have a legal background.
I knew I wanted to give back because I knew how
life-changing this work could be,” she says.

THE FAMILY OF GOD

Both clients and the center’s staff understand
the life-changing impact of access to trustworthy
legal advice provided by people who care about
helping others through the entire process.
Rosa Cándida Ramírez is an ordained elder
with the Church of the Nazarene and is accredited
with the Department of Justice to provide
immigration services. She comes from a mixed-
status family — some members are U.S. citizens or
have lawful permanent status (green cards), and
other family members do not have lawful status.
“As the eldest daughter that was the first U.S.-
born child to Salvadoran parents, I have always
been aware of language, documentation, and how
that impacts our lives,” explains Rosa Cándida. “I
have also always been aware of God’s grace and
movement in the midst of the challenges we faced.”
One of those challenges is that immigration status
has the power to keep families separated for years or
even decades. As clients and neighbors pursue lawful

“GOD WANTS TO USE OUR

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS TO
BUILD GOD’S KINGDOM.”
pathways for themselves and their family members, the
church has an opportunity to demonstrate the love of
God by creating a safe and welcoming space to provide
support, explore options, and build community.
“It’s humbling to see people’s first reaction
when they realize we are part of the church,”
Rosa Cándida says. “They are shocked! It’s such
a gift to look people in the eye and say yes, this
church cares about helping your family apply for
immigration relief. This church cares about you.”
“I have admired the resilience and the faith that
many of our clients have shown, even when some of
them don’t have the language for faith,” Rosa Cándida
says. “They continue to point towards hope for a
better future for their family members and loved ones.
. .In my consultations, I have seen faith that moves
mountains. I have seen faithfulness and peace from
people who don't always receive the benefit of the
doubt. I have been transformed in my role here;, I
see it as a pastoral role, but I am so ministered to.”
The path to citizenship is not always clear, taking
many years of diligence and work. Upon approval,
*Names changed for safety citizenship provides stability and new possibilities.
NCM.ORG 23
Unity+ Friendship
IN NEPAL Agape ministries and the church provides hope
for teenagers in a quickly changing world.

STORY AND PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY NCM EURASIA

O n a sweltering monsoon morning, the weekly

worship service has just finished at the New
Community Church of the Nazarene in
Kathmandu. As the adults chat on the way to the exits, 36
teenagers spill into the tin-roofed hall. Most Christians
However, that principle of raising common funds
soon spread beyond futsal (indoor football) money.
“If someone in the group lacks something, we collect
and give,” explains Devna*, an upcoming young
Agape leader.
in Nepal belong to the younger generation, which is a In Tikathali, as in most of Kathmandu, middle-class
notable contrast to the average age of Christians in the families live elbow-to-elbow with neighbors who are
West. But seeing many teens in a small congregation is landless and have no dependable jobs. School brings
striking, especially as several come from non-Christian children in those families together—and now, so
households. They’ve been brought here by Agape. does Agape.
Agape is led by 22-year-old Rohit Magar, who The teenagers chip in to help each other, ensuring
also teaches at a nearby school. After a rousing guitar none of them is without the essentials, especially school
chorus, he reminds everyone that tomorrow is the uniforms and supplies and timely payment of school
group’s 10th anniversary. Agape was initially organized fees. If someone gets sick, the rest will go to their house,
by Rohit and a few of his 12-to-15-year-old friends for pray for them, and provide other help as needed.
fellowship and sports. The group would regularly chip They also make sure no one is left out of
in some rupees (Nepal’s currency) to pay the hourly the fun: swimming, Bible study, quizzing, music
rate for a match at an indoor soccer court that was one practice, trips out to green spaces, and picnics of
of the only sporting spaces in the dense urban sprawl home-cooked food taken up onto the Himalayan
around Tikathali, the church’s neighborhood. hillsides that tower above the smog of Tikathali.

24 2023 // ISSUE 2
“In our school, if there’s a trip, then ‘no money, no go.’ village, and ethnic groups that were all interconnected.
But that’s not the way in Agape,” grins 15-year-old Alina*. Alcoholism, addiction, school dropout, and other symptoms
The principle of leaving no one out attracts of despair are ever-present. Teenagers inhabit a social
youth from all around the neighborhood, as does world that their parents struggle to understand, in part
Agape’s spirit of generosity. Today Rohit reminds because everyone’s world has changed so much, so fast.
everyone that Bibek*, one group member, just The Nazarene church in Nepal offers care and
passed his Class 8 exams with distinction, and they support beyond the traditional networks of family and
agreed to buy him a calculator to celebrate. ethnicity. Agape is a shining example of the difference it
The costs of mutual support, fellowship, and fun can make for a particularly hard-hit age group. The youth
sometimes go beyond what the teenagers alone are able of Tikathali encourage each other to stay in school, do
to raise. Behind where the Agape teens are meeting this their homework, avoid smoking or drinking, and get along
morning, four members of the New Community Church better with each other and their parents. When asked what
of the Nazarene count the they love about Agape, the
weekly offering money from immediate response is “unity”—
the just-finished service. “IF SOMEONE IN THE GROUP LACKS something that is in short
Some of those rupees will SOMETHING, WE COLLECT AND GIVE.” supply elsewhere in their lives.
go to support this youth Madau Shrestha, a 23-year-
ministry. The church is fully old Agape graduate, is one of
committed to supporting Agape and its young leaders. the seven original founding members along with Rohit.
Ganga Mukhiya, Nepal’s district superintendent, is Madau remembers that his non-Christian parents were
New Community’s primary pastor; he planted it 15 years happy for him to stick with the group because they saw
ago. In a culture where topmost leaders can be expected him improving his habits and behavior, including the
to exert close control, he stands out for the freedom and support he got to stay in school until graduation. Today,
encouragement he gives younger congregation leaders. That Madau is studying management while working part-time
includes Rohit, whom Ganga met many years ago. Over the as an electrician. He and his mother have both become
years, Ganga has provided support and mentoring to Rohit, church members, and he has confidence and joy that
both while launching Agape and in its continued growth. would never have been part of his life without Agape.
“So many of these youth don’t connect with their “When I started Agape as a 12-year-old, my intent
parents, teachers, or the older generation of believers,” was just to play football,” Rohit laughs. “But it’s grown
Ganga reflects. “But they do connect with each other. Agape more and given me more than I could have imagined.”
gives them opportunities that no one else in their lives
will support, and we want to support that as a church.” *Names are changed for safety
The teenagers of Tikathali have grown up in a
churn of social change. They were born during or
immediately after a decade-long civil war between
the Nepali government and Maoist rebels, which sent
hundreds of thousands fleeing to the relative safety
and economic opportunity of the Kathmandu Valley.
Before the conflict, the capital’s outer reaches
were still primarily green fields, and its inner
neighborhoods were full of houses with gardens;
now, like Tikathali, most of the valley is a sea of
concrete buildings spilling into every available gap.
Millions of Nepalis migrated abroad for work,
building World Cup stadiums in Qatar, working
in factories in Malaysia, or providing security
services in fraught contexts like in Afghanistan.
War and migration frayed Nepal’s previously
strong social fabric. In Kathmandu, many households
now live in isolation from grandparents, cousins,
and even people who speak the same local language,
because Nepal has over 120 recognized languages.
The nuclear family model, consisting of only parents
and children, can feel like it is lacking in true community
to people who grew up in rich networks of extended family,

NCM.ORG 25
MORE THAN
A WAITING PLACE
The church in Croatia creates a powerful partnership
to help refugees feel at home.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CEZI GLENDENNING

O ver the past 10 years, NCM Croatia,

operating as the Croatian nonprofit “Djela
Ljubavi” (Acts of Love), has been serving
people who are refugees worldwide,
including those from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and
now Ukraine as well.
Facebook searching for specific items needed for people
who are refugees from Ukraine. Cezi’s family donated some
of the needed items, and through this point of contact, she
met Yulia Lovrenovic. Yulia was a Russian businesswoman
helping 150 Ukrainians at a refugee center near Zagreb,
Croatia. Yulia needed more help and resources to help this
At the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine, community. The meeting with Yulia was followed by more
after assessing the needs and resources that the Croatian meetings with the coordinators of the refugee center, two
government and other nongovernmental organizations were Ukrainian women, Yulia Kikteva and Victoria, who left
offering, the leaders of Djela Ljubavi decided to continue Ukraine at the beginning of the war. The leaders of Djela
focusing on people seeking asylum from the Middle East. Ljubavi agreed that it was time to get involved.
Already overlooked and marginalized, the new crisis of “Whenever we begin working with a new community,
Ukrainian refugees was pushing their immigration processes it is important for us to start conversations with a question
even further behind. However, true to NCM’s desire in that Jesus asked many times to the people he served: What
Croatia to “meet the unmet need,” the leaders of Djela do you want me to do for you?” said Cezi. “We see that a
Ljuabavi kept their eyes open to see where they could help. question like this pushes us to release power and enter into a
In October 2022, Cezi Glendenning, serving as the partnership.”
NCM country leader for the Church of the Nazarene in Both Yulia and Victoria communicated that one of the
Croatia and the secretary of Djela Ljubavi, saw a post on critical needs was mental health support as well as activities

26 2023 // ISSUE 2
As the partnership between refugee neighbors
and NCM began to strengthen, Cezi noted some needs
arising.
“We noticed that many of the rooms lacked
appropriate furniture to meet the needs of larger
families living in one room,” Cezi said. “This was an
old hotel being used as a refugee center, but [it was]
not equipped for it. The rooms had many mattresses
on the floor, diaper boxes that served as containers
for their clothes, and boxes that served as tables. The
hallways were full of little tables — or boxes acting as
tables – where black tea was being prepared. And when
we asked what the biggest needs were, we learned that
drying racks were an unseen, unmet need so that they
had no way to dry their clothes, especially in the cold
winter months,” she explained.
In November 2022, with the help of church
members employed by IKEA, who themselves were
refugees, Cezi asked if the store would give a discount
on items they needed to purchase.
“IKEA in Croatia has been a great company to
refugees,” explained Cezi. “They are one of the main job
providers for refugees in the city, and they treat them
with dignity and fairness. We thought they would be a
good partner for us to work with.”
IKEA requested to meet with Martin Glendenning,
Central Europe's NCM coordinator, and Djela Ljubavi's
president. In that meeting, IKEA asked Djela Ljubavi to
send a project proposal, and they would try to provide
needed items at no cost.
The proposal was for resources that totaled about
$5,000 USD. After not receiving a response for several
months, Martin contacted IKEA again. They apologized
for the delay due to illness, holiday leave, and other
circumstances but that they would reply soon.
Several more months went by, and the needs
for children. As a result of these conversations, Djela increased along with the realization that the war was
Ljubavi began offering English classes and recreational not ending any time soon so the refugees would be
activities for children and adults. staying longer than they had thought. Martin called
Later, Djela Ljubavi organized a concert at the refugee
center with an ensemble from Mount Vernon University
and prepared a picnic for some refugee neighbors at a
Volunteers assemble furniture so that those who
park in Zagreb. Several women were also invited to attend left all of their belongings behind and flee for
safety would have a comfortable place to find rest.
“IT BECAME CLEAR WE NEEDED
TO THINK LONG-TERM. THIS
SPACE NEEDED TO BE MORE
THAN JUST A PLACE WHERE
YOU WAIT TO GO HOME.”
a performance of Black Swan by a Ukrainian company at
the main theater in Zagreb. Djela Ljubabi also organized
summer camps and activities for teens and children.

NCM.ORG 27
items for a teen's corner, furniture for tea corners
for elderly people, a children’s play area, new dining
tables and chairs, and plants for the hallway.”
The project request amounted to about $35,000 USD.
“Thinking they probably would not approve such
a large increase in the project request, we color-coded
the project so we could begin cutting back if needed,”
explained Martin. “Instead of asking us to reduce the
request, they suggested we add more outdoor furniture
because they noticed there was not any during their visit.”
The final project proposal submitted was worth
$40,000 USD.
A few weeks later, UNHCR and IKEA granted all
the items in the revised request. When they eventually
delivered the shipment, there were extra items, including
Volunteers from NCM, IKEA employees, and people who would
boxes of stuffed animals for the kids.
be residing in the center worked together to assemble furniture.
IKEA sent a team of 15 people who spent the entire
day putting furniture together with the NCM team and
people from the refugee center. The atmosphere was filled
again to offer to buy the needed items at a discount. with joy and activity, with children laughing and trying to
The response this time was different. IKEA had been in help as everybody contributed to making that space a little
contact with the United Nations High Commissioner for more like home.
Refugees (UNHCR) about this project, and they wanted “A highlight from the day was seeing two elderly
to visit the refugee center. women come and sit down in the dining area after
After the visit, IKEA said that the project would not everything was put together. They just sat, looked around,
only be fully funded but asked that more items be added and smiled with tears in their eyes,” said Martin.
to the request. When all was said and done, it was powerful to see
“It became clear we needed to think long-term. This that a simple question like “What do you want me to do
space needed to be more than just a place where you for you?” can enfold so much goodness, hope, and healing
wait to go home. This place had to become a temporary for many people.
home,” explained Cezi. “Both IKEA and UNHCR
encouraged us to expand the list with everything we
thought would be helpful to the families and to add items
to common spaces, especially for kids and teens.”
The next day, Cezi and her team developed an
exhaustive list.
“We spent eight hours on the IKEA website. This
is the most shopping any of us has done in a day in
our entire life! We added more items for the common

“THE PLACE WAS FILLED

WITH JOY AND ACTIVITY,
WITH CHILDREN LAUGHING
AND TRYING TO HELP AS
EVERYBODY CONTRIBUTED
TO MAKING THAT SPACE A
LITTLE MORE LIKE HOME.”
spaces, along with the essential and functional items
for the rooms,” said Cezi. “We added flowers, picture
frames, decorative pillows, paintings, and many
other things that would allow the families to make
their space feel a little more like home. We added When people have to flee with very little notice, children’s
lives are disrupted. Gifts like these toys make a huge
difference in helping children settle into a new home.
28 2023 // ISSUE 2
ISTMA
HR

S
20 23
PR
OJECT

ALLEVIATING HUNGER
SPREADING HOPE
Join the church around the world, working to
share the hope of Christ through food security
by giving to the NCM Christmas project.

LEARN MORE
at ncm.org/christmas

N A Z A R E N E
C O M P A S S I O N A T E
M I N I S T R I E S NCM.ORG 29
HOPE
IN THE

MIDST
TRAGEDY:
OF

Nazarenes Respond to
the Earthquake in Syria
STORY AND PHOTOS BY NABIL HABIBY

On February 6, 2023, at 4:17 a.m., the people of Aleppo,

Syria, were fast asleep. Heavy rain and hail were rattling against
the houses.
Pastor Oswalt, a local Nazarene pastor, has been particularly
thankful for the safety of his house lately. It has been a tough
decade for the residents of Aleppo. Since March 2011, Syria has
been in the throes of a violent civil war. More often than not, for
Oswald and his family, sleep has been interrupted by the sounds
of war.
So when the rattling grew louder, the pastor realized it was
not just the rain anymore causing the disruption, and he gasped
awake. They had grown used to the sounds of war, but this was
different.

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ISSUE
His wife jumped out of bed and ran toward their projection screens. They put out around 170 chairs,
daughter. The closets, windows, and walls were shaking. and still, people were standing during the service.
All three of them, still in pajamas, ran down “The people come to hear the Word of the Lord
the stairs in a rush. It felt as if all of Aleppo was even as we run out of aid [items],” said Pastor Oswalt.
running to the streets. The shouts of shocked The church also held services in nearby
citizens were drowned out by the rainstorm. Christian centers with larger rooms or courtyards.
Hours later, around 7 a.m., his family huddled in During this disaster, the support of various local
the back of his brother-in-law’s pick-up truck. They and international partners continued to be a
were safe and out of the range of any aftershocks but great encouragement to the local church.
not from the pummeling rain. Oswald wished he had Since the beginning of the earthquake,
remembered to get his glasses as he squinted in the early the people of Aleppo have had to rely on
light, starting to take in the destruction around him. each other to get through this crisis.
For the next week, his 9-year-old daughter Amal, a woman who attends the church,
was too afraid to re-enter their building at first met Pastor Oswalt in one of his clinics. She
night. They had to stay up late at church and had lost contact with him during the height of
then carry her home when she fell asleep. the war in Aleppo but found him again a few
That Nazarene church became a hub for many years ago when she began to attend church.
of the congregation and community members When the earthquake hit, Pastor Oswalt
impacted by this 7.8 magnitude earthquake–the visited Amal and offered to find her two
deadliest for Syria and Turkey on record. sons and their respective families a place to
People whose homes were damaged slept sleep. The church has continued to help them
in community and religious centers. Although with food coupons and medical care.
the Nazarene church building was deemed at Amal praises God, saying, “I felt that the
risk and couldn’t immediately house people, the Lord Jesus sent the church to help me. Their
space could be used for worship and give out help is not only financial but also [shares]
needed supplies such as food and water. a human touch and heartfelt care.”
While the first few hours of the earthquake were
sharp in Oswalt’s memory, the next several weeks passed
in a blur of activity. Blankets and money arrived from
the Nazarene churches in Lebanon and across the world.
The church members took blankets and other aid
items to the Kurdish-controlled area of Sheikh Maksoud,
where they handed them out in a local field. They then
visited local hospitals as well as shelters and gave out
hats, blankets, lanterns, and hot meals. Oswald said that
the aid that streamed in lasted for two solid months.
After the initial hustle of emergency response
in shelters and as people returned home, the
church members started to do home visits. As
they sat with community members who were still
processing the earthquake's impact, they were met
with unimaginable loss. One family was a group
of four elderly sisters whose only brother had
died in the earthquake. Then, a few days after the
disaster, one of the sisters also passed away.
Another time, the church members found
many Kurdish families living in an abandoned
factory; they were given blankets and food
and helped to the local aid camp.
The people who were refugees at the camp began
to call it “the Nazarene camp” because the church
was present almost daily to support people.
They cared for an orphaned child who would later
begin to attend church. In fact, the church started
experiencing an extraordinary growth in attendance.
The church brought a battery to power fans and two More than 8 million people were
impacted by the earthquake in Syria.

NCM.ORG 31
VOICES

Peace Prayer
of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument O divine Master, grant that I may

of your peace: not so much seek to be consoled as
to console, to be understood as to
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; understand, to be loved as to love.
Where there is injury, pardon; For it is in giving that we receive,
Where there is doubt, faith; it is in pardoning that we are
Where there is despair, hope; pardoned, and it is in dying that
Where there is darkness, light; we are born to eternal life.
Where there is sadness, joy.
Amen.

3232 2023
2023// //ISSUE 2 2
ISSUE
Go Deeper

READ
Reconciling All Things: A Christian Vision for Justice,
Peace and Healing By Emmanueal Katongole and Chris Rice
This book small book gives us a big vision for God’s plan
for holistic reconciliation for all God’s creation. The focus
of the book is biblical, transformative, holistic and global.
They use stories from across the globe to demonstrate the
important practice of Christian reconciliation and power it
can have for overcoming all that separates us from God and
from each other.

STUDY
Lectio 365 is a daily prayer app that provides morning
and evening scripture references and prayer prompts.
The app provides resources for discovering how we
can love God through prayer and creativity, love
one another through compassion and hospitality,
and love the world through living out our faith.

WATCH
Poverty Inc. This documentary looks at efforts made
in the developing world to alleviate poverty and bring
community transformation. Drawing on over 200
interviews from 20 countries this film looks at the
good that international charity organizations do, and
it looks at the unintended consequences as well.

LISTEN
Sing Compassion: NCM at NYC 2023
Check out this playlist NCM put together for youth
leaders and students over the summer at Nazarene
Youth Conference 2023 in Tampa, FL. The songs
featured themes of compassion, justice, restoration,
and hope. It was shared with the desire that students
would find new encouragement and motivation to
live out Christ’s compassion through listening.

Find it here: ncm.org/nyc2023-playlist

NCM.ORG
NCM.ORG 33 33
Snapshot

“Radical servanthood
challenges us, while
attempting persistently
to overcome poverty,
hunger, illness, and any
other form of human
misery, to reveal the
gentle presence of
our compassionate
God in the midst of
our broken world.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen,
Compassion: A Reflection
on the Christian Life

To read more about how churches are prioritizing community in Cote D'Ivoire, turn to page 12.

34 2023 // ISSUE 2
N A Z A R E N E
C O M P A S S I O N A T E
M I N I S T R I E S

SHARE HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE

THIS CHRISTMAS.
SPONSOR A CHILD TODAY.

For more information about signing up to become a sponsor, visit NCM.ORG/SPONSOR

Have questions? Email [email protected] or call 800.310.6362

I would like to sponsor a child for $30 a month: l Yes

I would like to sponsor: l Greatest Need l Boy l Girl

I would like to sponsor a child from: l Greatest Need l Africa l Asia l Asia-Pacific l Caribbean
l Eastern Europe l Latin America l Middle East

Name / Group____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person (if different)_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Address / City / State / ZIP_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone ________________________________________ Email ____________________________________________________________________

Church to receive 10% giving credit ______________________________________________________________________________________

You can mail this form to: Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Child Sponsorship
17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66220

No payment is due now. You will receive information by mail about the child you sponsor.

NCM.ORG 35
NAZARENE COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES
Nonprofit Org.
Church of the Nazarene U.S. Postage
17001 Prairie Star Pkwy
Lenexa, KS 66220
PAID
General Board
of the Church of
(800) 310-6362 the Nazarene
[email protected]

Will you give now

for when they need it most?
By giving to NCM’s Greater Compassion
fund, you ensure compassionate action
right away, no mater the crisis or need.

In Ukraine, Kyiv Church of the Nazarene

supported families through the Acts
of Mercy giveaway in January 2023.

36 2023 // ISSUE 2
G I V E BY D E C E M B E R 3 1 AT N C M .O R G / Y E A R E N D