Power of One on the Move in Eurasia

Razgrad, Bulgaria – More than 100 pastors from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo and Romania met for the Southeast European (SEE) Field “Power of One: Eurasia Region Missional Church Initiative” training weekend in the Eurasia Region 15-17 April.

It was the ninth and final field event in the region to train leaders in how to use the new initiative resource package since it debuted last September. Several more districts will hold training events later this month and in May.

Dr. Carlos Saenz, the director of the new Mesoamerica Region (formerly the Caribbean and the Mexico and Central America regions), attended the Razgrad event along with two of the region’s field strategy coordinators. They were interested to see how “Power of One” might be adapted for the Mesoamerica context.

“We need to know more about the project … to see what is happening as a result of ‘Power of One’ here,” Saenz said.

Dr. Louie Bustle, director of Global Mission, opened the event with a holiness message, saying, “It is the Power of the Holy Spirit in us that moves the church for mission.” At least 75 participants knelt at an altar to seek the second work of grace, entire sanctification.

Jay Sunberg, strategy coordinator for the SEE Field, challenged the participants to a journey of holy living demonstrated by perfect love. Saturday, Regional Director Dr. Gustavo Crocker challenged the participants to move their congregations to fulfill the mission of God in the Power of His Spirit.

On Sunday, the event concluded with many making personal commitments to “passionately pursue and portray the presence of God in their lives,” and covenanting with God and with one another to mobilize their churches to missional effectiveness, Crocker said.

“Power of One” initiative, launched in September, is designed to help local churches in every field become engaged in evangelism, discipleship, church planting and community transformation, providing tested and proven resources written by Nazarenes across the region.

The initiative is centered around a package of materials that is believed to have local and regional impact. Translated into 23 regional languages in all, the materials offer sound holiness doctrine and strategies for the local church to engage their communities and start new churches. The materials cover the four growth dimensions of missional development: internal, external, devotional and transformational growth.

The British Isles North District trained 38 pastors at the “Power of One” launch during the district’s annual prayer conference 7-8 February. The British Isles South District trained 300 pastors and lay leaders during the launch at its district assembly 25 March.

Trevor Hutton, director of Momentum, which contributed materials to “Power of One” provided training along with Rev. Philip McAlister, strategy coordinator of the Northern Europe Field.

“They’ve come just at the right time,” McAlister said. “In the last 18 months, at any meetings – youth, pastors – there is a new air of expectancy. It [the “Power of One”] will help local churches to capitalize on the move of the Spirit that we’re experiencing in the British Isles.”

In Jordan, 63 participants, including youth, teens, Sunday school teachers and pastors, gathered for the Middle East launch of “Power of One” in March. District pastors conducted training during workshops. Several training participants gave public testimony that the Holy Spirit renewed their passion and morale for evangelism and discipleship during the conference.