The Eurasia Region of the Church of the Nazarene is a diverse and dynamic area, stretching across Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and Central Asia. Home to over 52,000 members, the region includes more than 1,800 churches, with ministry efforts spanning from church planting to theological education. Under the leadership of Regional Director Mark Louw and his wife, Linda, the Eurasia Region is committed to equipping leaders, fostering discipleship, and sharing the transformative power of Christ in contexts ranging from secularized Western societies to deeply religious cultures in South Asia and the Middle East.

Throughout the region, men and women are responding to God's call to ministry, many of whom serve in challenging and ever-changing environments. Among them is Cezi Glendenning, the Field Strategy Coordinator (FSC) for the Central Europe Field. As the first woman ever appointed to this position, her journey—from a searching child in communist Albania to a pastor and leader in the Church of the Nazarene—exemplifies God’s relentless pursuit of his people and the role women play in the mission of the church.

As a child growing up in Albania, Cezi would write letters to God, placing them on her balcony in hopes he would answer. Raised under communist rule by parents who had suffered political imprisonment, she was taught to ask questions and seek truth. When the country’s communist government fell, she explored faith alongside her father, eventually converting to his religion.

However, when he passed away unexpectedly, Cezi found herself disillusioned and searching for a God who welcomed her questions rather than silencing them.

In the midst of her grief, God was still working. Two Christian classmates patiently befriended her, demonstrating Christ’s love even as she challenged their faith. When she finally agreed to visit their church, she intended to disprove their beliefs. Instead, she encountered a faith that transformed her life. A moment of desperation one evening led her to pray a simple prayer of surrender, opening her heart to Jesus.

Cezi’s faith journey led her to study theology at European Nazarene College (EuNC), where she met her husband, Martin. Together, they served in Germany, Hungary, and Croatia, where she pastored an international Nazarene church in Zagreb. There, she baptized and discipled believers who would later carry their faith into new countries, continuing the ripple effect of her own transformation.

Now, as FSC for Central Europe, Cezi leads a field that includes nations with deep religious histories as well as growing secular influences. She is passionate about meeting people where they are on their spiritual journeys, believing that “where there are people, there is God’s grace.” She encourages the church to engage with those of different faith backgrounds, emphasizing that loving our neighbors requires understanding what is important to them.

Cezi’s story is a testament to the ways God calls and equips women for ministry in the Church of the Nazarene. Through leaders like her, and under the guidance of Mark and Linda Louw, the Eurasia Region continues to shine the light of Christ in diverse and complex settings, proving again that God’s love knows no borders.