Lafayette First Church of the Nazarene

Missions Beyond Lafayette

At Lafayette First Church of the Nazarene we are a church with a heart for people. Believing in Jesus’ words to go into all the nations (Matthew 28:19), we want to encourage all people, both locally and globally, to be passionate followers of Jesus Christ.

We are a part of Nazarene Missions International (NMI) which supports Nazarene World Missions through praying, discipling, giving, and educating. We support the mission of the Church of the Nazarene “to make Christ-like disciples in the nations.”

Through this website we hope to keep our church family informed of what God is doing around the world through NMI and Nazarene World Missions, and how we can be a part of reaching our world for Christ. Join us in discovering God’s love as you read about the mercy and hope He has extended to people of all nations.

You may also explore NMI’s website at nazarenemissions.org.

September Emphasis: Alabaster

Alabaster Offering provides funds for property and buildings around the world. 100% of the offering goes toward the purchase of property and construction of churches, schools, medical facilities, and homes for missionaries and national workers. 80% is used in world mission areas and 20% goes to multicultural congregations in the United States and Canada.

In many places globally, people hear God’s Word, live, receive an education, and are healed physically because you participated in Alabaster giving. Thank you for your generosity!

Alabaster Offering—September 27

For more information, click here: Alabaster

To watch video, click here: Alabaster: Building Hope

LINKS - Loving Interested Nazarenes Knowing and Sharing

chain links L.I.N.K.S. provides us with the opportunity to encourage and support the missionary families that are assigned to our church for a 2 year period. We can make a difference in their lives and ministries by:

Praying regularly for them.
Communicating via phone, E-mail, letters, and cards.
Providing them with items they may need or want.
Remembering them at special times of the year, such as, holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries.

Our 2008-2010 LINKS missionaries are:

Kyle & Jayme Himmelwright (Western Mediterranean)
Elmer & Dorothy Nelson (retired) (retired)

Mission Education

Knowledge is the 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.

Mission Education is made available through:

Missionary Speakers
Adult/Teen Mission Reading Books (available on the Missions table in the foyer)
Mission Vision Events
Mission Videos
Missions Bulletin Board and Table
Children’s Mission Lessons (during Children’s Church on 1st Sunday of each month)
Children’s Mission Reading Books
District Mission Events
Websites/Blogs

For questions, contact Norma Atkinson or any of the Missions Team members.

To watch this video, click here: Vessels of Hope

Prayer: Reaching the World on Our Knees

For current prayer requests and praises from around the world, click here: Prayer Mobilization Line

To watch this video, click here:

Missions News Flash

For current News from around the world, Nazarene Communications Network.

Missionaries Jeff and Susan Myers recently reported on that the “Jesus” film was shown on Easter weekend at the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea. 16 people gave their lives to Christ. Praise be to God! Please pray that God will strengthen these new Christians and help them to walk a holy life with Him.
J.K. Warrick, jurisdictional general superintendent for the South America Region, reports that church growth in Peru and Brazil is yielding new Nazarenes and large congregations while efforts are being made to reach areas where people have yet to hear the gospel. In Brazil, Warrick ordained 60 men and 12 women and noted times of great outpouring of the Holy Spirit as people were sanctified at altars.

Global Glimpses

For a glimpse of what God is doing around the world, Global Glimpses, then select “The Nazarene Scene”, “World Scene” or “Global Glimpses Archives".

NZone—A Boost for Tentena Church
World Mission Broadcast’s NZone (Nazarene Zone) radio program expanded to the outer areas of Indonesia including Tentena, a city in Central Sulawesi, one of the newest areas of work for the church. Several years ago it was a site of fierce fighting, and many people were killed. It is quieter now, people are moving back to the area, and there are several Nazarene churches in the area. Pastor Bertha secured a 90-minute block of airtime to play music, broadcast the half-hour NZone program, and field questions. The majority of her church’s members are people reached through the radio ministry.
The Boy on the Bike
At a JESUS film showing in the Caribbean Region, a Nazarene pastor noticed a young man on a bicycle who stopped and watched the film. The pastor prayed with the young man after the film. Afterwards, the young man said he had heard of Jesus but had not understood the life of Jesus as portrayed in Scripture. The young man explained that if his father—one of the major religious leaders in the country—learned that his son watched the film and prayed, the son would be killed as a dishonor to his family. With that, the young man rode off into the night.

Missionary Spotlight

Fred & Donna Otto

South Africa

In June 1985, Fred and Donna Otto arrived in Swaziland with four children. Their fifth child was born late in August that same year. Today, their children are grown. Fred and Donna now enjoy seven grandchildren spread across the United States from California to Maine.

In these 23 years, the Ottos have served in various capacities throughout Africa.

Fred’s first assignment was science teacher at Endzingeni Nazarene High School (near Pigg’s Peak, Swaziland). From there he served as Mission Director. Then it was on to East Africa as Field Director. In 1995, the Lord called Fred and Donna to West Africa, where they served as the first missionaries assigned by the Church of the Nazarene to Liberia. After ten years in this assignment a Liberian was ready to take this leadership role and Fred was asked to join Dr. Duarte, the then new Regional Director, as he moved to the Regional Offices. Fred currently serves as Finance Coordinator for Africa Region.

Donna has also carried important responsibilities throughout these years. Raising and educating five children was not the least of these tasks. The results are an agronomist, college professor, high school teacher, computer scientist, and Air Force crew chief. In her spare time, she has kept financial records and taught pastors and lay leaders. She currently serves in the Education and Discipleship Services at Africa Regional Offices. She was also serving as interim administrator for the Nazarene Theological College in South Africa for the last two years. Fred and Donna are an example of laypersons feeling God’s call in their lives and responding. Fred was ordained in 1996 and Donna is busy completing her preparation for ordination.

The Otto’s remain focused on training others—for now, that training is in areas of finance. However, with their experiences and in their current assignments, Fred and Donna are able to share about more than just “balancing the books”.

For more Missionary Profiles, click here: Missionary Profiles.