Moving Into the Neighborhood: Rediscovering Our Incarnational Mission in Columbus
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood…” John 1:14a (Message)
This Advent we remember that Christ did not shy away from the messiness of our world. He stepped into our broken lives, bringing light, hope, and redemption. As Nazarenes, we believe we are called to do the same—to be a holiness people who move into neighborhoods and embody Christ’s presence among those who need hope most. We hold fast to the conviction that Christ can transform even the most broken neighborhoods, but the church must be present there to shine His light.
Over a century ago, the Church of the Nazarene began in the streets of Los Angeles, entering places of poverty and despair with the belief that Christ’s transforming power could bring hope. That same spirit soon reached Columbus, where evangelistic meetings at Parsons and Main Street in 1913 birthed the first Nazarene church in the city. With just 13 charter members, they worshiped in a tent until eventually purchasing a building on King and Hunter Avenues. From those humble beginnings, congregations spread across different neighborhoods, living out the incarnation mission to bring hope to every corner of Columbus.
In recent years, I have been researching Nazarene congregations within the I‑270 Outerbelt—home to nearly 900,000 people, almost half of our district’s population. Since the birth of Columbus First Church, at least 19 congregations have existed within I‑270. Sadly, today only 7 remain. I am deeply grateful for these faithful congregations, yet as Nazarenes we should continue to long for more neighborhoods to experience the hope of an incarnational holiness church.
This Advent season, God is already moving. A team is praying about planting a new church on Parsons Avenue—the very place where our Nazarene story in Columbus began over 100 years ago. Will you join me in praying for them, and for our inner‑city churches to thrive and multiply, so every neighborhood in Columbus can encounter the transforming hope of Christ?
If you would like to help support this possible new church plant, please reach out to me—I would be glad to connect you with the right people. If we are going to see more churches planted in the city, it will take a team effort across our district.
Pastor Jeremy Stanley
JStanley@sconaz.org
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