Nearly 800 Nazarenes from across the Eurasia Region gathered in Tirana, Albania, November 4–8, for the first Eurasia Regional Conference since 2019. Under the theme ‘There Is MORE,’ pastors, leaders, missionaries, church members and their families came together for a time of inspirational worship, preaching, teaching, interactive fellowship, collaborative learning, and multicultural celebration of what God is doing across the region.
Participants represented a wide range of contexts, languages, and cultures, reflecting the diversity of the Church of the Nazarene throughout Eurasia.
The conference focused on six key Gaps, areas in which the Church seeks to grow in faithfulness and ministry effectiveness. These included: Engaging the Next Generation, Developing Leaders of Christian Character: Integrity and Anti-Corruption, Doing Church and Discipleship in a Digital Age, People on the Move: Caring for Immigrants and Refugees, Caring for Creation and the Vulnerable, and Responding to Secularism.
Plenary session speakers addressing these Gap topics included General Superintendents Filimão Chambo and Carla Sunberg; Global Missions Director Jim Ritchie; Eurasia Regional Director Mark Louw; Principal of Nazarene Theological College Deirdre Brower; Central Europe Field Strategy Coordinator Cezi Glendenning, and Eurasia Regional Discipleship Coordinator Chad Gibbons. Insights from several of these sessions are available now on the Everyday Eurasia Podcast.
Attendees also participated in collaborative breakout sessions designed to foster open discussion, cross-cultural collaboration, and the development of practical strategies for ministry in their local contexts.
A special Theology Day event on November 4 served as a stepping stone into the Gap discussions. Papers on each topic were presented, followed by panel conversations encouraging thoughtful engagement with the issues facing the church today.
Other highlights of the week include the ordination of one elder, prayers for those on the region unable to attend, the sharing of the Lord’s Supper, and celebrating the creativity, cultures, and community on the region through events hosted by Nazarene Youth International. These included Albania Night, the Eurasia World Market, a quiz night, and a talent show, all emphasizing the creativity, culture, and community of the Eurasia Region.
Following the conference, some participants remained in Tirana for Mission Experience Albania, a hands-on opportunity to serve alongside local pastors and church members through acts of service, compassion, and love in the community.
For many, the conference was a deeply spiritual time of renewal, reflection, and connection. The transforming work of the Holy Spirit was not only preached, but experienced. “It was a time of renewal and confirmation of the call of God, and to see old friends,” said Jennifer Lima, a participant from Portugal.
Regional Director, Dr. Mark Louw reflected, “It has surpassed our wildest expectations and our desire to experience the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit was realized. It was awesome worship, awesome fellowship, and awesome fun!”
He also concluded the conference by challenging participants to carry the momentum, learning, and inspiration from the gathering back to their local churches and ministries across the region.
– written by Kristin Burchfiel, Eurasia Communications
