In January of 2025, large and devastating wildfires swept through parts of Southern California. The two largest blazes, the Palisades and Eaton fires, collectively burned 37,728 acres and destroyed more than 16,000 homes and other buildings. Close to 200,000 people were evacuated from their homes. The Eaton fire directly impacted the cities of Pasadena and Altadena, home to several Nazarene churches. Out of the ashes, stories of hope and healing continue to emerge from communities of faith.

This January, young Nazarene leaders from around the world gathered in Orlando and Lake Placid, Florida, for the Nazarene Youth International Third Wave conference. Together, these young men and women experienced worship, learning, and service opportunities. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries joined the Third Wave event for a day of training and ministry.

“My family and I have faced very difficult times during the long crisis.”

Magalie, a mother of five, had just received a food parcel to help stave off the hunger that was growing in her home, after her crops and animals were lost in a flood—just one of many difficulties her family has faced in recent years. Though she was describing her own experience, Magalie’s words could have easily been uttered by many of her neighbors in this Haitian community.

“After losing my home to the wildfire, I found myself in a very distressing situation."

Carolina, 43, was devastated by the fires that raged through Chile during the first week of February, 2024, following days of extreme heat.

“I felt like I had lost everything and didn't know how to move on," she shared.

More than 160 fires burned at once, and the disaster left Carolina and at least 1,600 other people homeless in and near the city of Viña del Mar. A total of 130 people lost their lives in the blazes that have now been linked to arson.

When wildfires devastated parts of the island of Maui, Hawaii, Nazarene churches were there to provide hope and healing. Now that the initial relief work is done, the focus of these congregations is shifting to providing long-term, sustainable compassionate ministry in their community. Learn more in the video below.

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 Oswald, 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.

Across the world, food insecurity is an ongoing struggle that has been exacerbate

In March of 2023, Cyclone Yaku caused devastation across northern Peru, with rains causing rivers to overflow and landslides adding to the loss of lives, homes, businesses, and schools. At least 71 people died, and more than 131,000 people were impacted. As the summer of 2023 continued, heavy rains continued to plague the country. By August, the Government reported 839,760 people needing humanitarian aid since the start of the rainy season in January. Of this group, 123,691 people have been rendered homeless, and 48,903 houses are reported destroyed or uninhabitable.

This summer’s rainy season in Nepal brought heavy rainfall, causing severe landslides in several districts. Villagers in the small town of Mehele were especially impacted from rains and slides at the beginning of July. More than 50 families were displaced from their homes and most crops were damaged or destroyed. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in Nepal distributed food relief packs to almost all the families impacted in the area. Contents included essentials like rice, lentils, oil, and salt. Other distributions included tarps for shelter and soap.

VAPNIARKA, UKRAINE

“We had no clue what was going on and what we will do.”

With that simple statement, Tolik Galagan sums up the deep feelings of Ukrainians who were stunned when war broke out in their nation. It was February 24, 2022, and in Vapniarka, where Galagan leads the local Church of the Nazarene, confusion soon turned to fear and grief.

“The church was very panicked,” said Galagan. “Everybody was sad that tragedy came to our country.”