“If you are 60 years or older, or have an illness that puts you more at risk, I am offering my time to go to the supermarket or pharmacy once a week. Make a list, and I’ll go. I won’t charge you anything.” 

This was reaction of Abraham Saucedo, a young Nazarene in Paraguay, to the stay-at-home restrictions imposed upon older adults in his country. Abraham is not alone. The Church of the Nazarene has responded swiftly to the COVID-19 pandemic, uniting to care for those most impacted by the virus and associated shutdowns. What makes the Nazarene church so well-positioned to respond in a crisis is that it’s a global church. Nazarenes are already caring for their communities in 162 world areas, and thus are already on the ground ready to serve the most vulnerable through this pandemic.

Some churches are caring for medical workers. Others are making sure those who are isolated are still surrounded by community. Even more are providing food, sanitation supplies, income assistance, and learning-at-home guidance for students in child development centers. 

In countries all over the world, the Church of the Nazarene is living out the compassionate love of Christ. 

Paraguay

Abraham’s willingness to serve his community in Paraguay impacted many. Because of his efforts, others in his church are joining him to deliver groceries and supplies to those stuck at home. “More than anything else, what we are doing is what God has commanded us to do,” Abraham says. “We need to help one another.”

Dominican Republic

In the Dominican Republic, the Nazarene church in San Juan began collecting donations for families most impacted by the virus shutdown. The church has so far supported 700 families with food, sanitation supplies, masks, and gloves, including families of children who attend their child development center. Pastor Benny Sanches Ramirez shares that church closures haven’t meant the end of ministry. “Though the temple is closed, the church is still a church coming to their aid … the local church [becomes] a benchmark of loving your neighbor in the most difficult times.”

 

Rwanda

Economic difficulties due to lockdowns are intertwined with the public health threat of the new virus. That reality is especially true for the day laborers in Gisenyi, Rwanda, who would normally cross borders to trade or work. When the shutdown started in March, the church in Gisenyi immediately began raising funds to support those who were vulnerable due to loss of income. More churches followed suit, and between five churches, 2,400 people have been cared for through food donations. “We cannot help everyone, but we can help and save some lives,” the pastor of the Gisenyi church, Rev. Simon Pierre Rwaramba, explains. “From my understanding, the time to start was now with what we have and keep praying for God to provide more.”

 

Albania

In Albania, residents were still recovering from the earthquake in November of 2019 when the coronavirus began to spread. The economic strain of two disasters coming so close together has been difficult. During the earliest days of the pandemic, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries joined six Nazarene churches in Albania to mobilize in their communities. Each project addressed the greatest need: making sure people had enough to eat. So far, food distributions have supported more than 912 families. Another church has shared weekly food distributions with the families of their enrolled child development center students. 

 

The Philippines

“You really cared for us. This would be our meal for today and in the days to come.” Saturnina, a mother of a student at a child development center in the Philippines, spoke these words to Nazarene volunteers who gave her food and supplies.

Though the Nazarene churches in the Philippines are small and scattered, they have been sharing hope and encouragement to thousands of people during the pandemic. Eight churches and several Nazarene child development centers prepared food packs to share with their communities, and nearly 3,000 families have been reached through the distributions.

Razel, a parent of a student at a child development center, says the support has made a huge difference. “This is an answer to what I was praying for,” she says. “Since the first day of quarantine, we worried how we can get money for our food since we are many in our home.”

 

The Global Response

The resources of these churches may be limited, but that has not stopped their desire or efforts to care for those in need. As of June, 2020, there are 176 church or district-led compassionate projects around the world caring for those impacted by the coronavirus. These projects have impacted more than 350,000 people.

To learn more and support the compassionate response to COVID-19, click here.

Adapted from the latest issue of NCM Magazine.