Fall 2025 Missions Newsletter
My name is Jacci Wicks-Eckstein, the Missions Coordinator, and Pastoral Intern at Calgary First Church of the Nazarene! You may know that I care about missions, but more than that, I have been called by God to be a long-term missionary. This is my first newsletter, and in it I will be answering these 5 questions:
- What is Nazarene Missions?
- Who are this year’s Missionaries?
- How can I be praying for missions?
- What is a Missionary Myth?
- How can I be involved?
What is Nazarene Missions?
Do you know what the mission statement is for the Church of the Nazarene?
It is “to make Christlike disciples in the nations.”
Jesus’ ministry was not just in the synagogue, but everywhere else! Jesus sent people out to spread the word of who He was and what He did. This is what missions is.
Nazarene Missions exists to start new churches around the world, seeking to develop each church body to be effective in ministry and outreach. This includes local outreach! Nazarene Missions provides every church with ongoing resources, enabling each church to thrive in its own context! Nazarene Missions focuses around compassion, evangelism, and education.
What is NMI?
NMI stands for Nazarene Missions International, which is the missions advocate in every local church, nurturing a spirit of missions, mobilizing into action, and impacting people around the world. In the proper terms, I am our church’s NMI President!
My aim is to inspire people to think missionally in their contexts, to pray and give to Missions, and to learn more about what is going on outside of our church, and our district.
“People can’t care if they don’t know!” - Kristi Senica (Missions Mobilization, USA & Canada Region)
Who are this year's Missionaries?
For the year of 2025, we have 2 families, for us to Care and Connect with. We also have the Manswells who are originally from our district! The Jotiz’s were able to tour around our district to give Missionary services, and I was able to drop them off at the airport on their last day here. There will be a chance to watch a recorded service from them in the near future.
For the sake of suspense, only 2 missionary couples are highlighted here.
Dave and Kim Hane - Singapore
They were first appointed as missionaries in 1991 and were assigned to the Asia-Pacific Regional Office. Dave serves as the regional coordinator for Personnel and Kim assists in the regional office. Dave and Kim planted an organic Nazarene church in Singapore that was officially registered in February 2016.
They have a son and a daughter who are both married, and they have one grandson!
Arnel and Christine Jotiz - Cambodia
As missionaries they discipled through teaching English to youth and children, and helped establish ministry in the drug rehabilitation centre in Siem Reap Province, helping drug dependents find freedom from drug addiction in Jesus' name. Arnel and Christine also helped start the First Church of the Nazarene in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, along with other Nazarene missionaries.
They have a son and daughter who are both young adults.
How can I be praying for missions?
- They are looking for a pioneer church planter for their district! Pray that God would bring someone who will best serve God’s plan.
- For Wisdom as they think about retirement in the next few years
- Pray for their district’s growth and development
- Pray for their family’s health and protection
- Pray for the Church’s presence in the devastating earthquake in the Philippines that happened on October 1st. Pray for the resources to repair the buildings, and to support the families who have lost people to this natural disaster.
- Pray for the rest of the sent Missionaries. For the resources and effectiveness of their ministries, for the safety and health of their families, and for God’s will to be done through them.
- Pray for the next generation of Missionaries, that God would continue to call and prepare them.
What is a Missionary Myth?
One myth about Missions is that Missionaries go to teach others a better way.
Nazarene missionaries partner with local ministers and lay leaders to bring restoration, share the gospel, and build sustainability within the community that they are in! Because Missionaries often are going into a new culture and joining with the church there, they commonly go through culture shock for about a year (at least) as they try to adapt to the culture of where they now live. This creates meaningful and sustainable work, in which the missionary is constantly learning, along with the people who are being ministered to.
Additionally, our missionaries are sent TO everywhere FROM everywhere! There are missionaries from Venezuela that have been sent to the USA, and missionaries from the Philippines that are sent to Cambodia! Our church is global! How cool is it that we get to celebrate all different cultures in our ministries!
How can I be involved?
- Join us in participating in our church’s food drive! We have partnered with Bethany Chapel Community Pantry! Bring non-perishable goods to make a difference to those in need in our community! This will end October 31st.
- Our church also has a partnership with the Mustard Seed. Through this, on the fourth Sunday of every month, a team cooks and serves people who are facing homelessness and other big challenges.
- This year, the missions team will be collaborating with our Christmas Bless Project! This means that during this project, there will be an opportunity to prepare and send Christmas gifts to our missionary families to show them Care and Connection! Stay tuned for this upcoming event!
- Subscribe to “NMI Central” by clicking here This is a weekly email that sends information about a country and their prayer needs.
- Follow Canada West District NMI Facebook and Instagram
In the past, First Naz has been part of meaningful short-term mission experiences. I’m beginning to prayerfully explore whether this might be a season for us to consider something like that again. If you sense curiosity or interest, I’d love for you to fill out this simple survey.
Want to donate to World Evangelism Fund, or a specific Missionary? Click here!
Do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns about Missions in our church or otherwise!
Send all messages to jacci.wicks-eckstein@firstnaz.ca