Faith Statemnt/What we believe

Nazarenes are most like the early Methodists. Nazarenes are simply Bible-believing, evangelical Christians. We believe that Christ provides salvation for all people as we confess our sins and believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Nazarenes practice water baptism and observe the Lord’s Supper, which are the two sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ. They study the Bible in Sunday School classes and in small groups both in church and in homes. They pray, they worship, they fellowship together, and they share the good news of Jesus with others.

The distinctive Nazarene doctrine of entire sanctification or “heart holiness” teaches the possibility and urgency of a Christian’s heart being cleansed from sin and perfected in God’s love by the infilling of the Holy Spirit. With the help of the Holy Spirit, a Christian can have a positive Christian witness before the world and be moving toward the goal of becoming more like Jesus each and every day.

Nazarenes are not Pentecostal, though many have friends and loved ones in the Pentecostal movement. Nazarenes believe that the true evidence of being baptized or filled with the Holy Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, – not “speaking in tongues.” Nazarenes particularly like the heartwarming approach to worship and evangelism, the concern for the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the love for God’s word which are found in the Pentecostal churches.

The church is divided into 90 districts in the U.S. and Canada, and approximately 1,000 districts in 150 world regions. The work of each district is directed by a district superintendent. The General Assembly, composed of ministers and laymen in equal numbers, meets every four years. They elect a board of six general superintendents who supervise the worldwide work of the church. The Church of the Nazarene celebrated its Centennial on October 5, 2008 in its over 21,000 Nazarene churches around the world.

In 2009, the Anaheim First Church of the Nazarene celebrated its 85th anniversary. Many activities were held to honor our rich heritage and the vision of our original founders in 1924.