Everyday Eurasia | Relu Cristurean

30th District Assembly Highlights

On Saturday, November 15, the 30th District Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene was held in Sighișoara. The activities of the day were spread out over 4 sessions. 

1. The first session opened with worship, followed by reports from district officers and committees. District Superintendent Jonathan Phillips shared 8 milestones from the past year that have contributed to a healthier district, including new missionaries, new district leaders, new resources, and new initiatives, before identifying intentional discipleship as our emphasis for the coming year.

At the recent Eurasia Regional Conference, the Romania District received a "District of Excellence" certificate for giving to the World Evangelism Fund last year. At the district assembly, all 3 churches on the district were recognized as a "Church of Excellence" for their giving to the World Evangelism Fund either last year or this year. 

The session concluded with prayer for district leaders (district officers, those serving on various district boards, and missionaries):

2. After a short break, the second session began with a song reminding us of God's goodness.

Local ministry leaders shared updates from this past year:

3. After lunch and fellowship, participants were divided into small groups based on local church to discuss NDI's principles of discipleship during the third session.

4. The fourth session included music, special recognition of the youth present at the assembly, and guided prayer for various ministries, our communities, the country, and Nazarene leaders around the world. The assembly concluded with a message from John 15, delivered by district superintendent Jonathan Phillips, and celebration of the Lord's Supper. 

Everyday Eurasia Podcast | Monica Boseff

‘There Is MORE’: Eurasia Nazarenes Gather in Albania for Regional Conference

by Kristin Burchfiel, Eurasia Communications
Originally published at www.eurasiaregion.org/erc2025

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.