Refugee and Immigrant Support

Faith that Does Not Falter

aheckman — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 23:11:35 +0000

Faith that Does Not Falter aheckman Thu, 02/12/2026 - 23:11

Faith that Does Not Falter

FEBRUARY 12, 2026 ~ BRANDON SIPES

Myanmar has faced near-constant conflicts since 1948, when it achieved independence from Great Britain. The country has alternated between civilian and military rule, with the most recent coup in 2021 cementing the current regime’s control. Christians, along with other religious minorities, face discrimination, while ethnic groups like the Rohingya continue to suffer violent persecution.

Since violence escalated in the past four years, displacement in Myanmar as soared—more than 3 million people are now displaced across the country. Internally displaced people (those forced to flee their homes but remain within the country’s borders) are seeking shelter wherever they can find it.

Most of them are children.

In church buildings across the country, congregations have opened their doors, becoming homes for children who have been forced to flee. Some arrive with family members. Others arrive alone.

In one church, two girls, ages 13 and 8, and a boy, age 12, shared part of their story:

“Our father left many years ago, to another country to work. But he stopped sending money after a little while. My mother was caring for us, but there were too many days when fights and war broke out near us. So she made a plan to bring us [here]. But she became sick too and died not long after we arrived.”

Now orphans, they live with nine other children at the church.

“These children, and dozens more, are being given shelter, food, trauma care, education support, and a model of faithfulness,” said a church leader, Ram Thein. “Faithfulness is rooted in love. With a heart that loves Jesus, we offer many prayers together with our very lives.”

In March 2025, Myanmar experienced a 7.7 magnitude earthquake—the second deadliest in its modern history, killing over 5,300 people. Nazarene leaders quickly mobilized, despite the risk of military checkpoints. They brought food, water, and spiritual care, and made plans to provide trauma support to children in local schools.

“The headmaster welcomed this initiative, sharing that while many groups had provided food, clothes, and medicine, no one had yet focused on the emotional needs of the children,” said Jasmin Eugenio, SEA Field NCM coordinator.

Even in conflict. Even in disaster. The focus remains clear: children, healing, hope.

These crowded church homes for displaced children and the trauma care offered in schools are signs of God’s faithful work in Myanmar—making all things new, mending what is broken, and restoring what has been destroyed.

This article is adapted from the latest issue of NCM Magazine. Click here to read the rest of the story and learn more about how the churches in Myanmar are responding with courage and faith to ever-present conflict, displacement, and disaster.

Myanmar

Eurasia

children and youth

From the Magazine

Refugee and Immigrant Support

From Protest to Embrace: One Church’s Role in Welcoming Refugees

aheckman — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:08:32 +0000

From Protest to Embrace: One Church’s Role in Welcoming Refugees aheckman Fri, 10/24/2025 - 18:08

From Protest to Embrace: One Church’s Role in Welcoming Refugees

October 24, 2025

In May 2024, the arrival of refugees in rural Ireland did not go unnoticed. Tent shelters appeared almost overnight, and with them came a wave of uncertainty—questions about safety, identity, and what this change might mean for the community. As protests grew louder and tensions rose, members of a small local church found themselves confronting a deeper question: if people seeking refuge showed up at their door, how would they respond?

In 2023 and 2024, Ireland was experiencing one of the largest increases in legally recognized refugees and asylum seekers in its modern history. Thousands of men, women, and children arrived through official processes, fleeing conflict and persecution, and entered a system already strained by limited housing and support services. It was amid this growing humanitarian crisis that one Church of the Nazarene in Ireland opened its doors to newly arriving refugees so they could socialize, learn English, and integrate into life in their new country.

“My father always told me, ‘If ever you are in trouble in life, find a church, and they will help you,’” said Sofiane, a Palestinian man seeking safety in Ireland who attended English classes at the Nazarene church.

There were many residents in the area who welcomed the refugees and were delighted to have a chance to connect with them but did not know how to help. The Church of the Nazarene began to connect closely with others in the community who wanted to support these new neighbors—joining hands to respond together.

A few weeks after the tent shelter opened, the church became the main location for English classes. Due to the daily protests, the church organized buses every Monday and Wednesday to transport people safely to the class. While the church hosted the classes, the teachers and volunteers came from throughout the community.

“I was a little bit scared from the protesters,” said Anas, a young man from Gaza. “When we started going to the church and seeing Irish people in the church, we met good people and a good community. It was going better and better. We started to feel safe, because we found people in the church that love us and care about us.”

The classes paved the way for deep friendships to grow. “Learning their names, their stories, their likes and dislikes, and what they are good at—it was a joy to be able to be in a relationship with them,” said Rachel, a volunteer. “I have made a few lifelong friendships from that group, and that has been priceless.”

The church became a hub for language classes and the collection of material donations such as clothes, toiletries, and blankets. In addition, the local government’s integration team—responsible for helping refugees settle in Ireland—began to operate from an office at the church for one-on-one sessions with the men to connect them to services available to them, such as health care, education, and work permits.

The tent shelter became a temporary home to people from all over the world—Palestinians, Afghans, Somalis, Nigerians, and Sudanese. A number of men from Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) were there, including Muzi, who was born in the Nazarene hospital there.

“I must say in those days, Ireland had begun to feel like home; I really enjoyed studying the Bible with people who actually show the heart of Christ,” said Muzi, who began to attend a weekly home group at the Nazarene pastor’s house near the tent shelter.

Over the course of the year, the church had developed a reputation for being a place that cared for refugees.

“Our life as a church has been enriched by the whole experience,” said Rev. Tim Bowen-Evans. “To welcome the stranger is part of the fabric of Christian life. To work hand in hand with others in the community and practice compassion together has been incredible. We can do so much more when we partner with others.”

Volunteers and pastoral staff at the church

“We take seriously Christ's command to welcome the stranger, especially when they are the recipients of hostility and violence for simply seeking refuge,” said Rev. Luke Carrig, one of the other pastors of the church. “The English classes, hosted at our church, provided safety and friendship and the mutual blessing of learning from each other—it was a joy! In welcoming them, we were, in fact, welcoming Christ.”

When asked about coming to church for the first time, Anas explained, “you feel completely that you are with your family. You are home.” That had been the church’s dream all along: that these men, who had traveled thousands of miles in dangerous conditions, would feel loved and embraced—that they would indeed feel like they were home.

Story adapted from the most recent issue of NCM Magazine. Read more stories of hope here.

Ireland

Eurasia

Refugee and Immigrant Support

Refugee Support

Refugees

From the Magazine

Ministry in Action: Creative Compassion in Jordan

aheckman — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 04:22:36 +0000

Ministry in Action: Creative Compassion in Jordan aheckman Sat, 09/06/2025 - 04:22

Ministry in Action: Creative Compassion in Jordan

SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 ~ AMY HECKMAN

In Jordan, several churches are meeting community needs through creative and compassionate ministry.

GARDENS CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

Gardens Church of the Nazarene hosts a thriving compassion center—a welcoming place where young adults from the church volunteer to serve anyone in need. The center offers job-skills training, language classes, small-business support, and children’s activities. Each program helps participants gain confidence and open doors to greater e

Refugee families, people seeking employment, and those experiencing hardship all find support at the center. The Eastern Mediterranean Field NCM Coordinator shared how two brothers who first joined the center’s programs later chose to give back. After completing barbering courses at the center, they opened their own barbershop and began offering free services to others.

“You always offer us useful and free programs and activities. We want to provide free barber services,” they told the team.

~~~

Omar* is 31 years old. He and his family fled Iraq as refugees in 2021.

“I was forced to leave everything behind in search of a safe life for myself and my family,” he explained.

Omar and his family found help at Gardens Church.

When they arrived in Jordan, Omar discovered the compassion center and enrolled in the barbering course. For him, this was more than a practical skill—it was a lifeline.

“What I found at the center went beyond education,” he said. “It gave me tremendous moral and psychological support, helping me get back on my feet despite the harsh challenges.”

Today, Omar's young daughter attends children’s classes at the center, giving the entire family a sense of belonging and stability.

“In all of this, I find solace in the Lord’s promise: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble,” he shared. “I pray the Lord will open a path for us and lead us to a future where we live in peace and dignity.”

~~~

Hana*, 64 years old, also found hope through the center after finding herself a refugee.

“We came to Jordan after my husband was subjected to an attempted murder, and my daughter and I faced a terrifying kidnapping,” she shared. “We left our homeland filled with fear and uncertainty, but we never lost hope that God was with us on the journey.”

Hana attended classes at Gardens Church.

In Jordan, Hana learned about the center through her church.

“It was a door of grace at a time when we desperately needed support,” she shared. “We participated in English classes, and the education and support the center provided were free—a sign of God’s love and mercy in the midst of our exile.”

Even with this support, life was not easy.

“We faced significant challenges, most notably the high cost of living and the lack of job opportunities, which placed psychological and financial pressure on us as a refugee family,” she said.

What keeps Hana hopeful is her dream for the future.

“We pray that the Lord will open the doors of mercy for us and guide our steps toward a new life of hope and healing,” she expressed. “In the midst of all this pain and hope, we find our comfort and strength in the Word of God: The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

The field coordinator reflects on the ongoing impact:

“The center remains a place where Christ’s love is translated into action. We pray its influence will continue to transform lives and fulfill the Gospel’s mission through work and service.”

IRBID CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

Another congregation, Irbid Church of the Nazarene, is serving young people through a vibrant youth and young adult club, supported by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Born out of the church’s desire to deepen ministry to this age group, the club offers a safe space for teenagers and young adults to connect, worship, study, watch football, and share meals together.

Young adults at Irbid Church.

Small groups at Irbid Church provide social connection and spiritual support.

Throughout the week, small groups for men, women, junior youth, and university students meet for spiritual nurture and support. The club is open seven days a week, and many activities are organized and led by the church’s own young adults.

“The club provides a quiet and safe place, internet service, and even academic assistance for students in Arabic and English through volunteer tutors,” explained a project leader.

Looking ahead, the church plans to expand their language classes to include local refugees and those outside the Christian community.

“Irbid Church of the Nazarene is perfectly positioned to offer these practical services,” said the leader. “Families in our congregation need this support, and we want to share it with the entire community.”

Members of a Global Care Force team visiting Irbid Church.

Beyond the youth club, Irbid Church has long supported those in need by distributing food packages, clothing, fuel coupons, blankets, and school supplies. Recently, the congregation partnered with Global Care Force to host a medical outreach, providing care to 223 people during a pop-up clinic.

Free medical care at Irbid Church through Global Care Force.

This is the Church at work in Jordan—meeting practical needs, creating spaces of hope, and showing Christ’s love in tangible ways.

*Names are changed for protection.

Jordan

Middle East

children and youth

Refugee and Immigrant Support

Refugee Support

Refugees

Live Compassion

From Crisis to Care: Churches Stand with Displaced Families

aheckman — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 23:06:27 +0000

From Crisis to Care: Churches Stand with Displaced Families aheckman Fri, 08/15/2025 - 23:06

From Crisis to Care: Churches Stand with Displaced Families

AUGUST 15, 2025 ~ AMY HECKMAN

Since the start of 2025, more than 70,000 people have fled the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into Burundi to escape ongoing conflict.

“Some have traveled from as far as Goma, hundreds of kilometers to the north—another devastating example of repeated displacement in the East Africa region,” said a Nazarene Compassionate Ministries leader in Burundi.

Those who can’t find space in refugee camps have sought shelter in schools, churches, stadiums, or open-air camps. Governmental and aid organizations cannot fully meet the need for food, healthcare, and shelter, leaving people already traumatized by war to face yet another crisis.

To help restore hope and protect the dignity of displaced people, local Nazarene churches and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in Burundi prepared a compassionate response in Rugombo and Buganda. Before launching the project, a leadership team observed refugee shelters, held listening sessions, met with health professionals, and surveyed refugee households to understand these families' most significant needs. Their data showed that 98% of refugees in the area do not have enough to eat or enough essential supplies to survive.

The project leaders value focusing their efforts on helping the most vulnerable to survive and heal.

“We want to meet household needs and reduce the malnutrition of children, nursing mothers, and elderly people who have been affected the most,” explained one leader.

The project provides essential items (such as mosquito nets, water cans, and soap) and food packs (consisting of rice, beans, and cooking oil) to support refugee families. A recent distribution provided care for 375 people from 130 households. In addition, trained church volunteers are offering trauma and child protection training for leaders in the refugee community and raising awareness about avoiding cholera and other communicable diseases.

“Through this support, refugees were able to obtain nutritious food and other essential items they needed,” shared one volunteer. “They also received items to improve their living conditions, well-being, and dignity.”

Refugees who received aid have expressed gratitude to church volunteers for the support, including food and non-food items. However, they also highlighted ongoing challenges they face, such as insufficient food rations, limited access to healthcare, and the need for psychological support. Many—especially women and children—are struggling with inadequate living conditions and the trauma that comes with enduring conflict and displacement.

Florence, a widow with children, expressed appreciation for the gestures of solidarity provided by the church.

“It’s the first time I’ve felt considered since arriving [here],” she explained.

Many refugees, including women like Mapendo and Promesse, reported that food rations are insufficient and that they sometimes go days without eating.

“The support we got will help us to eat for some days,” they said.

Pascal emphasized the significant need for psychosocial support, particularly for women and children.

“We want to thank you for thinking about this,” he said.

Through these kinds of distributions, church leaders are certain they are faithfully representing Christ and his love. With each food pack or supply distributed, they aim to help displaced people heal, thrive, and live out their God-given potential. Some people impacted by the outreach have also begun attending local Nazarene churches.

“[The project] planted a seed of compassion,” said one volunteer. “There is always joy when you serve.”

Burundi

Africa

Refugees

Refugee and Immigrant Support

Emergency Relief

Compassion Through the Word of God with Teenagers

aheckman — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 17:00:01 +0000

Compassion Through the Word of God with Teenagers aheckman Thu, 08/07/2025 - 17:00

Compassion Through the Word of God with Teenagers

AUGUST 7, 2025 ~ HUNTER STEINMETZ

This first-person account was written by Rev. Hunter Steinmetz, High School Pastor at Hermitage Church of the Nazarene in Old Hickory, Tennessee. It was originally shared in NCM Magazine. Read the rest of the issue here.

Luke 15 is Jesus’ response to a quiet murmur:
“This man eats with the wrong people.”

The Pharisees and teachers of the law were troubled by Jesus' choice of dinner companions. In response, Jesus tells three parables: a shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to search for the one that’s lost, a woman who celebrates after finding a lost coin, and a father who runs to welcome home a son who has squandered everything.

These parables flip the script. While the Pharisees are preoccupied with optics and religious appearances—“You’re condoning their behavior,” “You don’t care about holiness”—Jesus is concerned with something deeper: restoration and welcome. Where the Pharisees see categories and behaviors, Jesus sees names, faces, and the potential for transformation. It’s as if Jesus is saying, “Have you even asked their names?”

For the past ten years, I’ve served as the high school pastor at Hermitage Church of the Nazarene just outside Nashville, Tennessee. Each summer, we guide our students into encounters that challenge them to wrestle with what it means to follow Jesus in the real world. These experiences are designed to expose them to people whose lives look nothing like theirs. We want our students to reflect on how they will respond to the Spirit of God through God’s church, participating in God’s mission.

It’s easy to have an opinion on a situation you’ve never entered. But everything changes when an “issue” becomes a person—with a story and a name.

In the mid-2010s, the refugee crisis in Syria reached a breaking point. More than 4.8 million people were displaced by the civil war. Countries around the world scrambled to offer aid and resettlement. Turkey and Lebanon opened their borders to millions. The United States allowed about 12,500 Syrian refugees to resettle here.

That same year, we learned about the work happening at Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center in Cactus, Texas—a small town with a surprisingly diverse population due to refugee resettlement. We knew we couldn’t solve a global crisis but could choose how we responded. We decided we would not judge others based on political narratives.

We wanted to do what Jesus did: sit down at the table, learn names, listen to stories, and honor the dignity of those who had been displaced.

So we loaded up a 56-passenger bus with high school students and drove 18 hours to Cactus, TX. On the way there, I addressed the elephant in the room. I told our students plainly:

“We’re heading into a town filled with people from all over the world—South America, South Asia, Africa. You’re about to be in the most diverse place you’ve ever experienced. You’re here to serve, yes—but more than that, you’re here to listen.”

I challenged them: When you’re at a restaurant, a worksite, or in someone’s home, take a risk.

I asked them to listen closely and assume the posture of a learner. I told them to write down what they heard—on paper, on their phones, anywhere—because these were stories worth remembering. These weren’t statistics or policies—these were people.

Each evening, we debriefed as a group. I’d ask, “Whose story did you learn today?” Sometimes, it was a 13-year-old girl from Myanmar. Other times, it was a 30-year-old man from Haiti or a father from Somalia. The students leaned in, shared what they had heard, and reflected. And in those stories, something shifted.

What had been a “hot topic” political issue started to feel more like a theological one. How do we treat those caught in the middle of political, cultural, or religious tension? Do we hold them at arm’s length like the Pharisees did? Or do we pull up a chair, learn their name, and listen—like Jesus did?

We chose to listen, to be present, to be compassionate. Perhaps God used those moments to grow compassion in us.

Compassion doesn’t usually erupt out of nowhere. It grows—slowly, intentionally—when we create space to encounter someone else’s humanity. When our students listened to the stories of people who had fled violence or persecution, something softened. They weren’t forming opinions from the sidelines anymore; they were engaging in relationships.

The students didn’t return from Cactus with easy answers or political talking points. They came home with names and stories. They came back more aware of the sacred dignity each person carries, more awake to Jesus’ call to love without agenda.

In a world filled with noise, fear, and division, it’s easy to become numb. But when we ask, “Can you tell me your story?”—walls come down. Hearts open. Compassion has a chance to grow.

Media, politics, and social pressures shape our young people every day. The church has an opportunity—even a responsibility—to help shape that formation by inviting students into spaces where they see the humanity of their neighbors, where they can ask questions, listen closely, and experience the transforming love of Jesus in real time.

It might start with one simple question:
“Can you tell me your story?”

From the Magazine

Refugee and Immigrant Support

Live Compassion

Changing Ministry, Changing a Neighborhood

aheckman — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:12:50 +0000

Changing Ministry, Changing a Neighborhood aheckman Thu, 02/20/2025 - 14:12

Changing Ministry, Changing a Neighborhood

FEBRUARY 20, 2025 ~ AMY HECKMAN

It was nearing the end of 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the staff and members of Clearwater First Church of the Nazarene (CFN) decided they had to do something to reintroduce themselves to the neighborhood. Months of careful gathering required the congregation to focus primarily on the needs of those closely connected to the church. Now, they wanted to look beyond the church walls to the community. Health and safety measures required that whatever they planned had to be outside—but what would resonate?

Pat Glenn, lead pastor, explains that they settled on a simple Christmas block party.

“We decided ... we would just invite our neighbors and just put up a sign and put it out there on social media.”

That sign and a few posts did the trick. Close to 350 people arrived for a free meal and activities, most of whom had never visited the church before. The staff was also surprised to notice that at least two-thirds of these guests spoke English as a second language.

“Our community looks nothing like what we thought it did,” Pastor Glenn recalled realizing. “It doesn’t look like anything that all our reports say.”

The response to this free event and the demographic questions it raised fueled a radical change in the church's ministry direction.

Today, that single block party has evolved into an ongoing ministry called Hope in the Park, a monthly food distribution and community meal that reaches around 500 people. Between 10,000 and 20,000 pounds of food are distributed at each event. The annual Christmas block party now sees nearly 2,000 people in attendance.

After a year of Hope in the Park, CFN staff was ready to expand their community support. They knew from the beginning that their neighborhood had a high immigrant population and that English classes were consistently requested.

Elizabeth Lauer grew up at CFN and stayed connected to the congregation as she earned her degrees in English language education and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Elizabeth was preparing to move overseas to teach English and share her faith until the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause in her plans. She started volunteering with Hope in the Park, encountered the diverse participants, and soon came to Sandi Herrington, church administrator, with a revelation.

“‘I don’t think I need to go overseas,’” Sandi recalls Elizabeth saying. “‘I think God is bringing the world right here. Can I start English classes?’”

From there, the church’s connection to its community deepened in ways the congregation couldn’t have imagined at first. The staff made sure the English classes were easy to attend. From free tuition and no documentation requirement to childcare and snacks, they knew that a foundation of treating students with dignity would send a clear message of love and care.

“Now, we have beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes and three childcare groups,” Sandi said. “It’s a wonderfully crazy place here on Friday nights!”

Sandi, Pastor Pat, and ESL class sign

Elizabeth has joined the church staff as director of Compassionate Ministries. She’s also begun training with the U.S. Department of Justice so that the church can open an official immigration legal services center.

When the legal services center opens, Elizabeth and others will be able to offer official guidance and legal representation for people undergoing immigration proceedings and status changes, such as applying for green cards or pursuing citizenship.

The demographic inside the church is slowly starting to match that of the local community. That slow change has been mirrored in the congregation's feelings. Church-wide prayer, fasting, and devotionals on immigration have helped shape the congregation’s hearts.

Nasima lives just down the street and is an English student at CFN. Her story of transformation started at the church, where her family also received help with meeting some of their basic needs.

It was a long journey paved with lots of heartache for Nasima, her husband, and three daughters to find their way to Clearwater. They came from Afghanistan, where decades of war took their toll on the entire population. Her husband, formally educated as a school teacher, worked for the U.S. military for several years, earning him, his wife, and his children the right to apply for refugee status.

Nasima remembered what it was like to live under authoritarian rule as a girl, prohibited from attending school or traveling freely. When she was a young teen, she spent several years forced to learn at home. Her father did his best to continue her education. Then, once the leadership of Afghanistan shifted, Nasima entered school again, eventually graduated college, and became a professor of Pashto literature.

While leaving as refugees provided an escape, it meant leaving behind many loved ones with little hope of seeing them again.

After months of vetting and waiting for approval to travel, Nasima and her family arrived in Florida and, like all refugees, immediately began to work on setting up a life and finding work. But during that process, her children still needed to eat. Nasima walked to Hope in the Park, received some food, and returned to their new apartment. The isolation was hard—she didn’t understand the language, and each task felt overwhelming. She was struggling.

“I am always in [my] house. Three months, always in [my] house. I was a teacher in Afghanistan, but [I had depression]. I’m always shy. I’m not [wanting to] speak to other people,” she shared.

Nasima’s daughters needed more food, and her husband urged her to return to the church. She walked into CFN, terrified to try to communicate. The church staff quickly gathered food and invited her to English class. She came the next day.

Elizabeth has taught Nasima for almost two years, and they consider themselves as close as family now. Nasima’s face brightens when she talks about learning from Elizabeth.

Elizabeth in a classroom at the church; Nasima (l) and Elizabeth (r) holding hands

“She is a good teacher, always a good teacher!” she exclaimed.

Elizabeth has equally warm words about Nasima.

“Nasima is the best student,” she said, beaming. “She is always very eager to learn. She challenges herself. Her ability to read and write is very proficient. She just inspires a lot of people.”

Nasima says that CFN is her church and school now. She expresses that through her friendship with Elizabeth, she knows that God sees her and cares for her.

“God is loving me, even as I do [a] very hard journey,” Nasima said. “I come here. I still love it here. I see Elizabeth, and she helped me. Now I’m speaking. This is a big change.”

Pastor Pat easily explains what he hopes his church will be known as in the community.

“A place of hope!” he said. “But we want to also make sure we explain that hope has a name. We want to make sure that [the community participants] understand the foundation of hope is Jesus Christ. We’re going to bless our community with the intention of leading them to Jesus.”

Hope in the Park volunteers

This story adapted from the latest NCM Magazine. Read the entire story here.

From the Magazine

Compassion

United States

Refugee and Immigrant Support

Food Security

Between Borders: A Story of Displacement, Suffering, and Hope

aheckman — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 20:50:29 +0000

Between Borders: A Story of Displacement, Suffering, and Hope aheckman Thu, 01/23/2025 - 20:50

Between Borders: A Story of Displacement, Suffering, and Hope

On the set of her latest film Between Borders, actress Elizabeth Tabish (The Chosen, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever) testifies before a judge. From the witness stand, her character recounts a humiliating experience as a refugee, forced to repeat the phrase that she was “quieter than water and lower than grass,” in order to secure a job. The actress’ eyes well up with tears, and not all are for show.

While filming the scene, Elizabeth looked off screen and into the face of her character’s real-life inspiration, Violetta Petrosyan.

“As I’m recounting this story,” Elizabeth reflects, “I was able to look at her and remember that this was a real story. This really happened to this woman, this wonderful, kind woman.”

“It was a little bit of a cheat for me as an actress,” she adds. “It was very easy to get emotional, because I was sitting right across from the person that this happened to. It was a very special moment.”

Between Borders shares the harrowing tale of the Petrosyan family—Violetta, Ivan, and their two young daughters Julia and Olga—as they flee violence in Azerbaijan in the late 1980s. In their search for safety and a sense of home, they meet Jesus in a budding Russian Church of the Nazarene.

When Connie and Lonnie Norris moved their family from the United States to Volgograd, Russia, in 1993 as volunteer Nazarene missionaries, they soon crossed paths with Violetta and Ivan, ardent atheists and exhausted parents trying to build a life for their family in yet another country. The couple skeptically visited a worship service after Violetta’s mother began attending a church planted by the Norrises. Initially, Violetta stopped by solely to listen to English, but found herself returning, drawn to the message of hope and healing found in Jesus.

“I always say that my life started when I accepted Jesus,” Violetta remembers. “Everything changed from that day.”

“I’d never seen joy that much on display,” says Violetta and Ivan’s daughter Olga, recalling her first encounter with believers as a child. “They actually wanted to know me,” she says, adding, that “it was such a big thing, to feel loved by people.”

“And then realizing why they’re so different than people just across the street—oh my, it’s Jesus. I want to know that Jesus,” she remembers thinking. “That’s why the hunger for Christ came, because I saw that.” Every Sunday after, the family returned, finding peace and warmth in a violent, unwelcoming world. “That was the place I ran, because I felt loved and accepted by others,” Olga says.

“People need each other,” adds Lonnie, who spent seven years planting churches with Connie in and around Volgograd. “Hospitality is one of the things that’s noted in the Bible that we crave. It’s an inner need. It also gives us an opportunity, in community, to work out the Scripture, interpret the Scripture, make it practical. It’s in community that we encourage one another.”

Community in Christ—the tragedy when it’s missing and the safety net it weaves—is a focal point of Between Borders.

“It is a story that reminds us to be good to each other, to love each other—especially those who are on the outside of society, or ‘othered’ or rejected,” Elizabeth says. “It’s a beautiful story of what can happen when you take care of each other.”

Through the eyes of the Petrosyans, Between Borders explores racism, displacement, and human suffering, as well as humility, hope, and trust. “It’s important to tell stories that represent complex issues that Christians should wrestle with,” says producer Isaac Norris—son of Connie and Lonnie. He also emphasizes the film’s deep Nazarene roots. “The Nazarene Church’s global mentality and focus on compassionate ministries are so evident throughout the film,” he says.

“God is active,” adds Lonnie, emphasizing that Violetta and Ivan’s journey is a powerful testimony to God’s unchanging nature. “He loves our displays of faith that ignite his power and true miracles,” Lonnie adds. “He remains very serious about establishing his Church.”

“I’m so grateful that this movie is coming into existence,” Violetta says. “It is telling our life story, which probably mirrors thousands of other life stories, and we are happy to be in all of it as a tool to bring that message of hope and love.”

“Telling stories through film is an approachable medium that can cast a wider net,” Isaac says. “Jesus told parables, and this is our way to stand on a hill in front of thousands of people and share the Gospel message through story.”

- Story originally shared by the Eurasia Region of the Church of the Nazarene

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The Hands and Feet of Christ: Venezuelans Find Hope in Colombia

aheckman — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 05:08:01 +0000

The Hands and Feet of Christ: Venezuelans Find Hope in Colombia aheckman Fri, 09/01/2023 - 05:08

The Hands and Feet of Christ: Venezuelans Find Hope in Colombia

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 – SANDRA MILENA PEÑA, NCM COLOMBIA

There are many Venezuelan families arriving week after week to Colombia in search of refuge, help, and the hope of starting a new life. Many flee from the violent situations and inequality at home, but above all, they flee from hunger. If they have the financial means, families arrive by bus. But those who have enough are few. In reality, the majority come by foot—with a backpack, their newborn babies, wives, husbands, uncles, grandparents, and anyone who can get out. They carry only what they need to survive, hoping to find help along the way. Tulio, who left Venezuela with his family, shared that it was not an easy decision to leave home.

“We left everything in Caracas, in Maracaibo, in Valencia,” he says. “Many of us leave even our souls: wives, husbands, children, parents, siblings, friends, our homes. The homeland.” The journey begins at the Simón Bolívar International Bridge, the most symbolic border point between Colombia and Venezuela. According to figures from Colombia Migration, some 70,000 Venezuelans cross the bridge on foot each day. Of these, five percent do not return to their country. After the bridge comes three days of walking before reaching the Picacho—part of a paramo, or an alpine ecosystem above the tree line, that spans more than 550 square miles. This is the place most feared by Venezuelan migrants, who come from coastal regions and do not know this beautiful and dramatic landscape. On the paramo, they suffer intense cold and very strong winds.

Across Colombia, Nazarene churches are responding to those who have made the journey. From providing support in hospitals to partnering with organizations who provide immigration aid, they are working together with those who have come in the name of Christ.

A significant percentage of the Venezuelan population works in the informal sector where they face unsafe conditions and have little protection. The pandemic further complicated the situation, restricting work possibilities, which increased the needs considerably. All these facts led us to question the church’s role while facing such a complex time and so much need. The Hechos 29 (Acts 29) Nazarene church took action thanks to a statement on Facebook and the diligence of the pastor regarding a great need of the Venezuelan migrant population in the village of Fagua. In this small village alone, there are more than 50 families in a state of vulnerability and extreme poverty. After understanding the needs, members of the church contributed to the purchase of items such as diapers, clothes, shoes, blankets, and more. The church was able to deliver items required to meet the basic needs of those who were living there, bringing a moment of hope in the midst of the pandemic. When the church visited the community again, the group gathered details about those who were living there, returning regularly and establishing further connections as well as sharing the Word of God.

When people move away from their countries, needs arise that make their stay a little more complex. Many of the Venezuelans who arrive in our area do not have documents, nor legal permits, which are important to be able to access a formal job, health services, and schools for children, among other things. And we as a church wondered: How can the church help at this point? We understood that we were not going to make it on our own, that we needed help to further reach the population, and that together we could create a solution to the bigger problem rather than just supplying primary needs.

Partnership was key. While NCM provided experience, training, and support, many other organizations were also engaged in the work. So, the local Nazarene church took action to contact local mayors in the area, governmental organizations, and foundations. These organizations have been the essential units in finding the solution to this situation thanks to their management and availability. They have been great allies and help for the immigrant population. As a result of this support, more than 200 families have been legalized. Now, they have the necessary documents and permits to work, with access to school for their children, access to free health care, programs for pregnant mothers, and government aid programs for mothers who are heads of households. Many have decided to stay in Colombia; others have decided to return to their country. As they go, they take with them spiritual tools to continue the journey with Christ.

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A Ministry of Presence at the Border

aheckman — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 15:57:10 +0000

A Ministry of Presence at the Border aheckman Wed, 03/08/2023 - 15:57

A Ministry of Presence at the Border

MARCH 8, 2023 · BY NMI STAFF

In Przemyśl, Poland, the global Church of the Nazarene has been responding since the onset of war in Ukraine.

When the war broke out, the first Nazarene responder at the Polish-Ukrainian border was a Syrian pastor, seeking ways to serve. Soon after, a team formed, putting out the call for volunteers to come and physically provide resources to the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing their homes.

In Arizona, USA, Ukrainian Ira Petersen immediately knew that she needed to go.

“The help ‘path’ was kind of obvious,” Ira says. “Get as close as possible to Ukraine and Ukrainians. I couldn’t just sit and watch from the distance when I could actually do something.” Through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries’ presence at the border train station in Przemyśl, Poland, Ira says, “God showed the direction and opened the door.”

Since then, a steady stream of Nazarenes from Ireland, France, Bulgaria, England, the United States, South Africa, and beyond have flowed from their homes toward the tiny train station flooded with people in crisis. Students, families, professors, nurses, farmers, and pastors have all found a place to serve those fleeing the danger of war. Some haul suitcases up and down hundreds of flights of stairs, providing a moment of relief from a heavy burden. Some brew pot after pot of steaming tea, offering warmth within bitterly cold outdoor lines to passport control. Some sit and color with the littlest travelers, giving weary moms the chance to recharge a phone or repack a bag or simply rest in a chair.

Whatever their role, these Nazarene believers are answering the call to provide the ministry of presence in a moment of pain.

“This group of people had their safety and humanity taken from them,” says Caleb Sandlin, who lives in Missouri, USA. “I chose to volunteer on the border because I believe that’s what Christ would have done. I chose to volunteer on the border because I am a servant of Christ, and I refuse to not share the love of Christ with those in need.”

Matteo Ricciardi, of Italy, knew the call for volunteers was meant for his own ears. “I was moved by God to help,” Matteo says. “When we pray that God gives us ways to serve him and opportunities like these come to our attention, the response can only be to commit one’s strength, invest one’s time, and share grace.”

“Here at the border,” Ira says, smiling, “We have people that speak English with many accents, Ukrainian, Russian, and a lot of different languages. But,” she continues, “the language of love, language of care—anybody who cares and loves, they know that language and they could show it, they could share it.”

Shared from NMI Central. Subscribe to this weekly update here.

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Breaking Down Barriers

aheckman — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 20:42:08 +0000

Breaking Down Barriers aheckman Thu, 02/09/2023 - 20:42

Breaking Down Barriers

FEBRUARY 9, 2023 · BY DENISE AND PHIL ANDERSON, CACTUS NAZARENE MINISTRY CENTER

Cactus, Texas, is a small town of about 3,100 people, a large number of whom are living as refugees or immigrants. The town is truly multicultural, with people from North and Central African countries, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico.

In fact, it is this population of Cactus that encouraged the West Texas District Church of the Nazarene to start a compassionate ministry here. With so many different ethnicities in one small town, the socioeconomic, cultural, linguistic, and religious barriers have caused significant segregation, especially among those who are new to the area. It is this diversity and this segregation that inspired us to come together to build a community that is culturally diverse, trusting, loving, and mindful of one another. Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center (CNMC) was born.

One way we have found to foster community is through offering English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, which have been part of CNMC’s ministry since the beginning. Students from the community join a class based on their language level, and conversation practice in the advanced classes helps pique the students’ interest to learn more about one another. From the very first class, each student is encouraged to find a partner who can speak English with them.

Some of the staff have been recruited to sit and have one-on-one conversations, which often include asking about the student’s culture, language, family, and current life situations. The cultural diversity of our staff and the diversity of our students make this one-on-one time incredibly rich. Elsowar, a student from Sudan, explains that the very act of conversing helps build confidence and relationships.

“You can understand what they are talking about,” he explains. “Just being able to communicate with other people can help you develop relationships.”

Through the ministry, the desire is that each of us would grow to understand others better—that those in the classes would not simply learn a new language but come to realize the things we share. While learning English is part of job training and access, many students have also come to realize the benefits of simply being in class—learning a common language and getting to know one another. It also helps parents support their children academically, since the children’s homework is in English.

“We are now friends because we come to class together,” one student said. “I also am able to find more people to get to know from other countries at work, or at shops, and we can communicate in English if both people can speak it well.”

Teaching English is one of the holistic ministries we focus on as we serve the many cultures of Cactus. In the coming months, Cactus International Church, a church plant that will create another safe and inviting environment that promotes oneness, will open its doors. The new church will invite the many cultures of Cactus to be, live, and worship together.

“I am able to share about my culture with others, including the food and how I live,” another student shared. “If you have a common language, then there is good listening, good talking, good meeting with other people."

This story taken from the latest issue of NCM Magazine.

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