Brief history of Nazarene Missions International (NMI)
TL;DR
Nazarene Missions International (NMI) is the global missions mobilization organization of the Church of the Nazarene, inspiring prayer, giving, mission education, and participation in world evangelism. Its roots extend to a missionary society organized in 1899, with Susan Norris Fitkin as an early leader and later its first general president. Through several name changes, NMI expanded from a women-led organization to one involving the entire church. Today, it links Nazarene congregations worldwide to global outreach through prayer, giving, education, and service.
Nazarene Missions International mobilizes the Church of the Nazarene through passion, prayer, and financial support for global outreach.
Susan Fitkin was an early leader of what is now Nazarene Missions International.
Names of the organization have included Women's Foreign Missionary Society, Nazarene
Foreign Missionary Society, and Nazarene World Missionary Society.
“A church without missions is a church without a mission. A church that is not reaching out is passing out.”
Susan Fitkin
The Story of Nazarene Missions International
NMI mobilizes passion, prayer, and financial support for the Church of the Nazarene’s global outreach. At the global level, NMI holds an
international convention in conjunction with the quadrennial Nazarene
General Assembly. While NMI has its own Global Council composed of representatives
from all world regions, it operates within the World Mission Office structure of the General Board.
Every local Nazarene church is urged to have a functioning NMI organization. Each
geographical district of Nazarene churches has a functioning NMI organization. At the local and
district levels, all NMI officers are volunteers.
1899 — Women’s Foreign Missionary Society organized in Providence, Rhode Island.
Susan Fitkin (whose biography and story of a call to missions are
inspiring) was one of the eight charter members. That first year, the society raised $6.05 for world missions.
1915 — General Missionary Committee authorized by the Nazarene General Assembly. Susan Fitkin was one of the three original members. The others were Ada Bresee from Los Angeles and Mrs. J. T. Benson from Nashville.
1919 — Susan Fitkin elected general president
Relief and Retirement Fund (now Medical Plan) offering instituted Memorial Roll begun to honor deceased loved ones and friends
1921 — Box Work (now called Links) initiated to encourage local churches to ship personal items and ministry supplies to missionaries [more on Links]
First Nazarene missionary picture set produced
1923 — Women’s Missionary Society Constitution placed in the Nazarene Manual, initially without the qualifying word “foreign.”
General Budget (now called World Evangelism Fund) set up to unify denominational fundraising efforts
1924 — Prayer and Fasting League launched with an article in the April issue of Other Sheep. Members were asked to give 25 cents per week.
Requirements for Standard and Superior Societies established
1925 — Board of General Superintendents asks that the Prayer and Fasting League be devoted specifically to world missions
1927 — First adult missionary study book, Latin Americans, Our Southern Neighbors, published. NMI Central now continues NMI’s mission-education emphasis.
1928 — First General Convention. The name changed to Women’s Foreign Missionary Society
Indian Head penny and nickel offerings begun
1934 — Missionary Training Course launched (forerunner of current annual NMI mission books)
1936 — Foreign added to the organization’s name to distinguish its area of focus
1940 — Emma Word named first full-time general secretary
25th Anniversary Offering for Reynolds Memorial Bible School
1946 — First issue of General Council Tidings (later called Focus)
1948 — Louise Robinson Chapman succeeds Susan Fitkin as general president
1950 — Mary Scott becomes executive secretary of the organization
Mary Scott
1952 — Name changed to Nazarene Foreign Missionary Society. Men are invited to join.
Star Society emphasis begun (replacing Standard Society)
1953 — Spanish radio broadcast offering begun (now the World Evangelism broadcast offering) Prayer Chart introduced, with requests written on a printed chart posted in local churches and answers noted as news was received
1954 — Denomination-wide offering to open work in Papua New Guinea
1958 — Saturday night SKYWATCH promoted during the denomination’s 50th anniversary year. People were asked to pray for one hour on Saturday night: 30 minutes for work on mission fields and 30 minutes for an unsaved loved one.
Children's missionary lessons appear in Junior Topics
1959 — Denomination-wide children’s offering to open work in Samoa
1964 — Name changed to Nazarene World Missionary Society 50th Anniversary Offering to build a Papua New Guinea hospital
1965 — Mission books offered in recorded audio format for the first time
1966 — Denomination’s first construction mission trip (from Southern Nazarene University to Múzquiz, Mexico)
1972 — Paul Gamertsfelder becomes the first man elected to what is now the Global NMI Council
1974 — Men in Missions program (now called Work & Witness) introduced [more on Work & Witness]
“The church needs more Wanda Knoxes because our work is not finished. Without future Wandas who are obedient to God, we will not finish the Great Commission of taking the gospel to the ends of the world.”
Wanda Knox, NMI director
“Reading the biography of Wanda Knox made a huge impact on me. She had a passion for global missions but didn’t hear a clear call until after she was married. She had such a tender heart and a love for people groups who don’t know the Lord.”
1975 — The Other Sheep magazine is renamed World Mission.
1976 — Distinguished Service Award introduced Star Society program changed to
Mission Award Number of international representatives on the General Council expanded
1980 — Name changed to Nazarene World Mission Society
Phyllis Hartley Brown Perkins succeeds Wanda Knox as director
Phyllis Perkins
1981 — Telephone Prayer Mobilization Line inaugurated (now the weekly NMI Central email publication)
1982 — Denomination-wide offering to begin work in Venezuela
1989 — One Million Hours of Prayer plan for General Assembly and conventions
1990 — Denomination-wide offering for evangelism in Hong
Kong and Chinese communities worldwide in celebration of NMI’s 75th anniversary
Global Glimpses, a Sunday bulletin insert, introduced
1991 — First Youth Mission Commitment Day sponsored jointly by NMI and NYI
Award of Excellence for World Evangelism Fund overpayment launched Bibles for Russia project
1992 — Special World Mission Radio offering in honor of Louise Robinson Chapman’s 100th birthday
1994 — MedCare Pak program formed with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries; the first
shipment goes to Mozambique
1995 — World Mission Video Magazine begins production Prayer
Mobilization Line expands to email delivery Casa Robles missionary retirement home 50th Anniversary Project
1996 — Nazarene World Week of Prayer begins as an annual March observance
1997 — Children’s “Wings for the Gospel” project to purchase an airplane General
Budget changed to World Evangelism Fund Bev Borbe
elected as general president Denominational participation in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
2001 — Organization’s name changed to Nazarene Missions International; former missionary
Eunice Brubaker elected general president
2005 — Following the election of Nina Gunter as a Nazarene general superintendent,
missionary Dan Ketchum is named NMI general director
2009 — Jennifer Brown of Jamaica becomes the first person from outside the United States to be elected NMI general president
2013 — Philip Weatherill of the British Isles North District is elected global NMI president
2015 — Lola Brickey becomes global NMI director
2022 — Mission books and the Prayer Mobilization Line are incorporated into the weekly
NMI Central email publication
2025 — Cheryl Crouch becomes global NMI director
“I have a link on our church website to your pages. You have lots of information. You are a blessing and an encouragement.” — Marge R., California, USA
Nazarene Missions International (NMI) is an organization within the global Church of the
Nazarene dedicated to mobilizing and supporting missions efforts around the world. Here are six things you need to know about NMI:
Mission Statement: The mission of NMI is to
mobilize the church global in mission through praying, discipling, giving, and educating. NMI
aims to engage every member of the Church of the Nazarene in the work of world missions.
History: Nazarene Missions International has roots in a women’s missionary society organized in 1899. A General Missionary Committee was authorized in 1915, and the organization continued to develop into today’s NMI.
Organization: NMI operates at various levels within the
Church of the Nazarene, including local churches, districts, regions, and globally. Each level of
organization has a leadership structure to handle world missions activities and initiatives.
Activities: NMI coordinates and supports a wide range of missions-related activities and programs, including:
Prayer initiatives for missionaries and global mission needs.
Fundraising efforts to support missionaries and projects around the world.
Educational resources to raise awareness about global missions and cultural sensitivity.
Short-term mission trips and other volunteer opportunities for church members.
Global Reach: Nazarene Missions International serves alongside Nazarene churches in more than 165 world areas, supporting missionaries, church-planting efforts,
community development projects, disaster relief, and other mission initiatives.
Financial Support: NMI plays a major role in raising financial support for missions through offerings, pledges, and fundraising events organized at the local, district, and
global levels.
In a nutshell, Nazarene Missions International serves as a vital link between local congregations and missions efforts worldwide. It mobilizes and equips church members to participate in fulfilling the Great Commission of making disciples of all nations.
