On the front lawn of a Nazarene church in Eugene, Oregon, hangs a pearl-white sign between brick columns. It reads: YouTube Community Church. "We're the first church to drop preaching altogether in favor of video clips," Pastor Hodge says. "We're turning on a light for people who see more meaning in video."

Mission and Core Values

In order for the Church of the Nazarene to have a viable future, it needs to continue being visionary - with spiritual, not human eyes. Without a vision of God the people will perish.

In order for the Church of the Nazarene to 'make Christlike disciples in the nations,' it is necessary for us to experience God's sanctifying grace in our lives.

Holiness Today wanted to delve into the question of what ingredients result in successful lay ministry in the church. So we went to the experts-seasoned servants in their local churches-for answers. We think their responses will give you some insightful thoughts to ponder and practice as you become involved in lay ministry in your own church.

HT: How and why did you get started in lay ministry?

Why does the Church of the Nazarene ordain women? This question is posed by some from outside the denomination and sometimes arises from within. Even when not expressed, uncertainty about, if not hostility toward, women in ordained ministries can be a subtle issue affecting church boards and other leaders. This hampers or prevents the ministry of those women called by God to proclaim the gospel.

Why this resistance?

Growing up, I had a deeply ingrained mental list of all the things I wasn’t supposed to do. I was not allowed to swear or use other “questionable” words. Even though I knew swearing wasn’t allowed, I was seriously reprimanded when my mom heard me utter a bad word after missing a shot in the neighborhood basketball game. I also knew that I was not allowed to smoke. I was told, and really believed, that God would strike me with a lightning bolt if I even tried a cigarette. I had a clear understanding of curfew and knew that good grades were a priority.

Growing up, I had a deeply ingrained mental list of all the things I wasn’t supposed to do. I was not allowed to swear or use other “questionable” words. Even though I knew swearing wasn’t allowed, I was seriously reprimanded when my mom heard me utter a bad word after missing a shot in the neighborhood basketball game. I also knew that I was not allowed to smoke. I was told, and really believed, that God would strike me with a lightning bolt if I even tried a cigarette. I had a clear understanding of curfew and knew that good grades were a priority.

God called Tiffany Johnson, 26, and Philip Crouse, 24, to become missionaries. So, in obedience to God's will, they came from Minnesota and Alaska to Colorado to receive training through Youth With A Mission (YWAM). At midnight on December 9, 2007, Matthew Murray, 24, walked into the YWAM training center in Arvada, Colorado, seeking to spend the night.

God called Tiffany Johnson, 26, and Philip Crouse, 24, to become missionaries. So, in obedience to God's will, they came from Minnesota and Alaska to Colorado to receive training through Youth With A Mission (YWAM). At midnight on December 9, 2007, Matthew Murray, 24, walked into the YWAM training center in Arvada, Colorado, seeking to spend the night.

God called Tiffany Johnson, 26, and Philip Crouse, 24, to become missionaries. So, in obedience to God's will, they came from Minnesota and Alaska to Colorado to receive training through Youth With A Mission (YWAM). At midnight on December 9, 2007, Matthew Murray, 24, walked into the YWAM training center in Arvada, Colorado, seeking to spend the night.

Before E-mail, or air travel, or television, or computers, or the Internet, or the concept of furloughs, people responded to God's call on their lives and left the comfort of everything familiar to tell citizens in other countries about Jesus. They dealt with war, danger at sea, little preparation, disease, boarding schools, and sometimes said good-bye forever to loved ones.