Nazarene Compassionate Ministries

06/01/2026

Sarah* is 16 and attends a Nazarene child development center in Peru.

Here’s her story of faith, in her own words:

“I joined the child development center at age 5. I've progressed through various classes until I reached the teen class, now called the Eden group, where I currently attend. I've met several pastors who have taught me a great deal. At age 12, I decided to be baptized. This decision was very important to me, not only because of the significant change I noticed in myself, but also because I observed that change throughout my discipleship.

Since joining the Church of the Nazarene, my love for God's word has grown considerably. I love worship music, and I can say that since my baptism, everything I do for Christ fills me and makes me feel complete. Along with the guidance of my pastor and other members of the Church of the Nazarene, I continue to grow spiritually.”

You can support teenagers and children in centers just like Sarah’s by becoming a sponsor.

Learn more about these holistic programs for students here on our website: ncm.org/holisticchilddevelopment

05/29/2026

*Weekly Prayer Update*
ncm.org/prayerupdate

➡️ Fast-Spreading Ebola Outbreak Intensifies

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, an outbreak of Ebola continues to cause suffering as aid organizations sound the alarm about future spread. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has no treatment or approved vaccines. As of May 29, 125 cases have been confirmed in DRC, and 906 cases are suspected. In Uganda, seven cases have been confirmed. So far, 18 people have died, and 238 additional deaths are suspected to have been caused by the virus. According to the aid organization Save the Children, at least 25% of the confirmed deaths in DRC are children.

Conflict in impacted regions and reduced international aid are hampering the response to this outbreak. The Church of the Nazarene’s Africa Region has called on the global church to pray.

🙏 Lord, we again lift up this outbreak to you and all who are impacted by the spread. We pray earnestly for containment to become possible, for those who are sick to recover, and for the safety and protection of healthcare workers. Comfort all who have lost loved ones, especially the parents of children who have lost their lives. Send aid to the most vulnerable, and move the hearts of global decision-makers to act decisively and generously to fund all available measures. Lord, hear our prayers.

➡️ Giving Praise for Emergency Relief in Peru

This past February, severe flooding and mudslides caused by coastal “El Niño” rains impacted the Arequipa region of southern Peru, damaging homes, disrupting transportation, and leaving vulnerable residents without income or basic necessities. Roads became impassable after mud and debris flooded streets, local markets closed, and floodwaters inundated thousands of homes across the region. In just January and February in Peru, at least 52 lives were lost due to flooding.

In response to this disaster, Nazarene churches in Arequipa partnered with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) to provide emergency food assistance to 310 affected families. Local pastors and church volunteers worked together to identify vulnerable households, package food supplies, and distribute aid directly within impacted communities.

The response also became an opportunity for the local church to walk alongside families experiencing crisis and loss. One woman shared how the flooding impacted her family:

“My name is Rosa. I have four children and am a single mother because my husband abandoned us. I live in a rented home. When the rains came to the city, my house flooded, and we lost clothing and blankets,” she shared. “What was most difficult was that the house where I worked also flooded, and we could not work for several days.”

Rosa explained that she earns a living making tamales to sell in the market, but the flooding blocked access to the area where she worked.

“I normally receive my wages every weekend, but that week we were not paid because the products could not be sold,” she said. “Thanks to the church, we received food supplies, clothing, and blankets to replace what we lost.”

Church leaders later shared that Rosa and her oldest son have now begun attending church, reflecting the lasting spiritual impact of the church’s compassionate response in Arequipa.

🙏 Lord, we praise you for this outpouring of support in Peru to uplift families struggling in the wake of recent floods. What an encouraging example of living out compassion and your love. Give us equal capacity to serve when disasters come to our own neighborhoods, that we may be avenues of your loving kindness. Continue encouraging those rebuilding after these floods. Lord, hear our prayers.

➡️ Giving Praise for Food Security in Rwanda

A church-led food security project in Rwanda is helping 700 vulnerable families improve nutrition, strengthen food security, and build sustainable sources of income. Through local Nazarene churches, families are receiving training in nutrition, agriculture, and animal husbandry, along with seeds, fertilizers, and other resources needed to grow fruits and vegetables. The project focuses on communities where poverty and food insecurity are common, equipping families with practical skills and knowledge that can create lasting change.

Mukashyaka, a mother of four, joined the project after struggling to provide enough food for her children. Limited space, poor soil conditions, and a lack of agricultural knowledge left her family facing malnutrition and uncertainty. Through training sessions led by project staff and a local pastor who also serves as an agronomist, she learned improved farming techniques, including irrigation, crop rotation, and soil management. She also received agricultural supplies and participated in a livestock initiative that provides families with pigs, creating new opportunities for food production and income generation. Read more about her story on our blog: ncm.org/blog/lastingchange

Thanks to the partnership of local churches, community members, and generous supporters, families across Rwanda are gaining the tools they need to move from vulnerability toward long-term resilience.

🙏 God, we praise you for the way families are finding their way back to health and well-being thanks to this food security project in Rwanda. Bless Mukashyaka and her children. Help her and other parents continue to access meaningful training and support so their efforts can expand and multiply. Thank you for compassionate efforts like these that meet needs by relieving hunger. Lord, hear our prayers.

05/28/2026

“I felt helpless,” she remembered. “As a mother, not being able to feed your children is the greatest pain.”

Read about a food security project in Rwanda that's meeting needs and improving lives, new on our blog: ncm.org/blog/lastingchange

05/27/2026

Stories of compassion are unfolding every day through local churches around the world.

Take a few minutes today to read how lives are being changed and communities are being strengthened through faithful, consistent care.

Explore more at ncm.org/blog

05/26/2026

If your church hasn’t started sharing encouraging stories from local churches living out compassion, now is a great time to start! Access free, ready-to-use resources designed to help your church report on the compassionate work being done in Christ’s name, all around the world.

Visit ncm.org/share to view available resources (in both English and Spanish) and start sharing.

05/25/2026

We are grateful for our partnership with Growing Hope Globally! 💚💙

Aline is a smallholder farmer and mother of four. Her family often faced food shortages, especially during the lean season. Their meals mainly consisted of cassava and maize – foods that filled their stomachs, but don’t offer the protein and vitamins their bodies needed to thrive.

“I had limited knowledge of nutrition, and meals were staple-heavy with little variety,” said Aline.

Things changed when she recently participated in training on climate-smart agriculture and nutrition. The training was offered through the local church in her community in partnership with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries NCM. There, she learned about agricultural techniques like composting, intercropping and proper crop spacing. She also gained a better understanding of her family’s nutrition needs and considered how she might be able to meet those needs by growing more vegetables to include in their diet.

“Now I can grow vegetables and feed my children better. NCM helped me understand and apply what I learned. I feel stronger and more hopeful for the future,” said Aline.

Although this program has just begun, families like Aline’s are already eating better, earning more, and actively participating in community learning. As they continue to work together, they’ll build
long-term resilience, nutrition security, and economic stability in their community.

The Burundi Nyanza program is led by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries - Burundi. For more information on this program and ways you can help, visit our website: https://www.growinghopeglobally.org/program/burundi-nyanza/

05/22/2026

*Weekly Prayer Update*
ncm.org/prayerupdate

➡️ Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda

On May 15, 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo officially confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in the country’s northeast region. As of today, there have been 82 confirmed cases in Congo, close to 750 additional suspected cases, and 177 suspected deaths.

The Africa Region of the Church of the Nazarene has issued a call for prayer:

“Let us unite in prayer with our brothers and sisters in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda during this challenging time. The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak a global public health emergency, as cases continue to rise in both countries.

Pray for:

• Protection and healing for those affected
• Strength and wisdom for healthcare workers and responders
• The Church’s work as they serve and support communities
• Guidance, discernment, and wisdom for leaders and government officials navigating this crisis

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:2"

🙏 Our God, we join our sisters and brothers in the Africa region to pray for your grace and mercy to be present in the midst of this outbreak of disease. As hundreds are suffering with illness, we pray for their recovery. Protect every healthcare worker and public health official as they navigate this crisis. Uplift local churches, protect those who are at risk, and bring a swift end to this outbreak. Lord, hear our prayers.

➡️ Risks Rise for Global Migrants

According to new data released by the International Organization for Migration, nearly 8,000 migrants were reported dead or missing worldwide in 2025, bringing the total since 2014 to more than 82,000.

The report also shows that even though the number of people migrating has fallen in some areas, that doesn’t mean fewer people are leaving their homes. Instead, people are taking different routes as border policies tighten and challenges like conflict and climate pressures change where and how they travel. For many people, desperately seeking safety and security, journeys have become longer, riskier, and more geographically dispersed.

Nazarene churches around the globe provide care for refugees, immigrants, and migrants, extending hospitality and vital assistance. Through economic development initiatives, food security projects, and the holistic ministry of child development centers, churches also provide meaningful opportunities for people who might otherwise be forced to migrate to overcome poverty and find stability.

🙏 Lord, we pray for people who face terrifying choices: To flee to safety or stay in danger? To struggle to grow enough to eat or travel to better climates? To lack opportunities for work or leave for the hope of employment?

We know that for those who choose to undertake a migration journey, that road is often paved with risk. Protect people seeking security and hope. Continue to bless churches as they greet travelers with kindness and care. Give us postures of welcome and protection toward all who have made difficult choices to protect their families. Lord, hear our prayers.

➡️ Praising God for Ministry in Syria

For nearly 15 years, Syria has been marked by an ongoing crisis. Civil war, displacement, a global pandemic, and the devastating earthquake of 2023 have all left deep marks on communities across the country. Today, the challenges continue through extreme inflation and an unstable security situation following the fall of the previous regime. The reduction in global aid is raising food insecurity, as the World Food Program was recently forced to cut emergency food assistance in half and ended a bread distribution program that has supported millions.

Yet in the midst of this, the Nazarene congregations in Latakia and Aleppo continue to stand, gathering, worshiping, and serving as a place of refuge. Throughout years of hardship, the churches have played both spiritual and social roles within their communities. They have become a place of safety, especially during times of displacement and crisis, offering care, presence, and support when it was needed most.

Pastor Harout Youssef, lead pastor of the church in Latakia, reflects on this journey, sharing, “No one is unaware of the Syrian crisis and the various challenges we have faced … yet in the midst of all these trials, we find for ourselves a secure refuge, the Rock of Ages, our great Lord Jesus Christ.”

Even during difficult days, the church has not stopped meeting. Throughout Holy Week and on Easter Sunday, the congregation gathered with joy and hope, lifting their voices together in worship and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.

🙏 Lord, we pray for the churches in Syria who serve as beacons of light in their communities. We praise you for their care for people in need after the earthquake in 2023, when churches opened their doors as places of refuge. Uplift and encourage these pastors and congregants as they seek to show your love in concrete, compassionate ways. Lord, hear our prayers.

05/21/2026

Tonight, let's unite in prayer for all who are ill or at risk from this current outbreak of Ebola.

05/21/2026

Graduation season has arrived across much of the world, and students who are part of Nazarene child development programs and centers are marking this important milestone by both celebrating the completion of their schooling and reflecting on the people who helped make the journey possible. For them, graduation is the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another shaped by years of encouragement, opportunity, prayer, and support. 🎓💙

Learn more on our blog: ncm.org/blog/graduates

05/20/2026

Looking for a practical way to involve your church or small group in compassionate ministry?

Assembling Crisis Care Kits or School Pal-Paks is a simple, hands-on way to support people facing challenging situations and help meet real needs around the world.

Find everything you need to get started at ncm.org/kitsandpaks