How about a story about faith family and friendship? That is what the First Church of the Nazarene in Chicago values most.
Welcome to the First Church of the Nazarene. It stands as a beacon of faith in the Greater Chicago area. It emphasizes faith family friendship and moving “Farther Along” in one’s spiritual journey.
The First Church of the Nazarene’s values center around strong bonds. These bonds are faith family friendship and “Farther Along”. Through these values it grows as a church. It builds a community for Greater Chicago.
The church believes in one God. God reveals himself as Father Son and Spirit. It believes the Old and New Testaments fully inspire. These texts inerrantly reveal God’s will. This concerns all things necessary for our salvation.
People are sinners by nature and act. They need God’s forgiveness and cleansing. Salvation through Jesus Christ is for everyone. Whoever repents and believes is forgiven. They are made new and saved from sin.
Believers need the fullness of God’s Spirit. When we commit to Him He cleanses our spirit. He sanctifies us entirely. God fills us with His perfect love. He gives us the power to live victoriously.
The First Church of the Nazarene is part of a larger movement. It is the Church of the Nazarene. This denomination has a rich history. It involves mergers of various holiness churches. These mergers occurred throughout the 20th century.
The most prominent mergers took place in Chicago Illinois. They also happened in Pilot Point Texas. These happened in 1907 and 1908. C. W. Ruth was the primary architect of these mergers.
The denomination got its name from the Church of the Nazarene in Los Angeles. Dr. Phineas F. Bresee and Dr. Joseph Pomeroy Widney founded it. The name comes from the biblical description of Jesus Christ. He was raised in Nazareth. Jesus is called a Nazarene in Matthew 2:23.
The name focuses on Jesus as “The Nazarene”. Followers of Jesus were initially called “Nazarenes”. The term “Christian” developed outside Palestine. It grew in conjunction with the mission to the Gentiles.
In 1895 Joseph Pomeroy Widney recommended the name. Widney explained that the name symbolized Christ’s mission. It linked Him to the struggling heart of the world. The denomination ministered to the homeless and poor. It wanted to keep ministering to the “lower classes”.
The first General Assembly united Bresee’s denomination. It joined with the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America. The name became Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene.
The term “Pentecostal” soon became problematic. It gained new meanings. These meanings were rejected by Pentecostal Nazarenes. At the fifth General Assembly the word “Pentecostal” was removed. The name became Church of the Nazarene.
The First General Assembly took place in Chicago Illinois. It brought together the Eastern and Western streams. The Western group was the Church of the Nazarene. The Eastern group was the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America.
The Church of the Nazarene began with 10034 members. It had 228 congregations and 19 missionaries.
Today the Church of the Nazarene has grown internationally. It is located in 155 “world areas”. Each week Nazarenes worship in many languages. The church reaches out through the Internet and radio broadcasts.
The General Assembly and Conventions happen every four years. Nazarenes gather from around the world. They represent their home churches and districts. They participate in this global expression. These gatherings include worship services and workshops. They provide opportunities for fellowship. The first General Assembly took place in Chicago in 1907.
So as you stand before the First Church of the Nazarene remember its core values. They shape its identity and mission. The church emphasizes faith family and friendship. It is a welcoming place for all seeking spiritual growth.