The Church of the Nazarene has launched a new church planting and theological education strategy for the island of Ireland, aiming to strengthen ministry efforts across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Nazarene News reported that the initiative, called The Ireland Partnership, launched around St. Patrick’s Day as a way to connect Nazarene churches in Ireland with supporters across the wider global denomination and Irish diaspora.
“Launching on St. Patrick’s Day, The Ireland Partnership is seeking to create an avenue for the wider Church of the Nazarene to support Ireland in ministry, directing people to approved Nazarene projects on the island,” the publication wrote.
According to the report, the partnership will focus on church planting, theological education, building projects and leadership development initiatives, while also facilitating short-term mission opportunities.
The Church of the Nazarene has maintained a presence in Northern Ireland since the 1930s and in the Republic of Ireland since the 1950s. The denomination currently has 12 churches across the island — 11 in Northern Ireland and one in the Republic of Ireland, Greystones Church of the Nazarene in County Wicklow, south of Dublin.
The Greystones church is expected to serve as a resource hub for the wider district while expanding its ministry to the local community and growing congregation.
Tim Bowen-Evans, coordinator of The Ireland Partnership and pastor at Greystones Church of the Nazarene, told Nazarene News that the vision grew out of conversations about how to connect Nazarene churches in Ireland with Irish communities abroad.
“We were thinking of all these different ways that we can engage people who are interested in Ireland,” Bowen-Evans said. “It is at its best when it’s all of Ireland. So, The Ireland Partnership is a joint effort with our churches in Northern Ireland.”
An all-island worship night recently held at the Greystones church reflected support for the initiative, according to the report. About 130 people from churches in Northern Ireland rented two buses and traveled three-and-a-half hours to attend the gathering.
“The appetite in the congregation to be together was beautiful,” Ruth Turner, superintendent of the British Isles North District, told Nazarene News. “Out of that has come this desire to really journey through things together.”
Turner said the collaboration had generated enthusiasm among church leaders and members involved in the effort.
“We’re excited about the potential,” Turner said. “But to be able to partner in that and be joint partners is really hopeful for me.”
Bowen-Evans also pointed to the scale of the Irish diaspora, estimated in the report at 70 million people worldwide, as an opportunity for greater connection and support.
“One of the special things about the Church of the Nazarene, globally, is how interconnected we are,” Bowen-Evans said. “We’re part of a global church family, and people love to make connections, to support ministry in different places.
“Their Irishness matters to them. But we’ve never really had a way before for people who actually have that inclination to support ministry here to say, ‘Here’s a way you can do that.’”
