Eastside NMI- Nazarene Missions International 

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NAZARENE MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL  (NMI) HISTORY 

In response to Christ’s Great Commission, missionary organizations were established by various groups and denominations. Nazarene Missions International (NMI) traces its origin primarily to the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America (APCA), when in April 1899, the Woman’s Missionary Society (WMS) was founded. 

The WMS was officially recognized as an auxiliary organization of the Church of the Nazarene in 1915 at the fourth General Assembly. It was recommended that there be an organization in each local church to increase knowledge and interest in missions by prayer, by obtaining special speakers, and by keeping in touch with the missionaries; and to cooperate with the (local) Church Board in raising their apportionments (for missions). 

The first General WMS Convention was held in June 1928; and it was at that Convention, the General Council members were elected by the Convention (prior to that the Council was elected by members of the General Assembly). 

The name of the ministry has changed over the course of its history: 1928—Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS), 1952—Nazarene Foreign Missionary Society (reflecting the introduction of men, youth, and children into the organization), 1964—Nazarene World Missionary Society, 1980—Nazarene World Mission Society (reflecting the international aspect of the organization), and 2001—Nazarene Missions International (NMI). 

The purpose of NMI shall be to mobilize the Church of the Nazarene in missions through 1) praying, 2) giving, 3) educating, and 4) engaging children and youth.

NMI is a direct line for missions in the local church and has often been described as “the face of mission in the local church.” In every sense of the word, NMI is the denomination’s organizational representative, dedicated to the cause of world evangelization. While other departments also support missions, it is the distinctive task of NMI to bring each mission area into the local church in such a vital way that every Nazarene will be glad to be a part of global outreach, spreading the good news of full salvation (holiness) to the ends of the earth. NMI provides the infrastructure, the spiritual dynamic vehicle, whereby the local church is mobilized in mission.  (More information about NMI located at: Nazarene NMI web page

Leaders of Eastside NMI