Welcome to the Church of the Nazarene

The Church of the Nazarene is a Protestant Christian church in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, tracing its roots to an anniversary date of 1908. It was founded to spread the message of scriptural holiness (Christlike living) across the lands. Today the Church of the Nazarene is located in 162 world areas.

The Church of the Nazarene is a Great Commission church. Our mission is to make Christlike disciples in the nations. We believe that God offers to everyone forgiveness, peace, joy, purpose, love, meaning in life, and the promise of heaven when life is over by entering and experiencing a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are called to take this message to people everywhere.

The Church of the Nazarene is also a holiness church. We believe that Christians can experience a deeper level of life in which there is victory over sin, power to witness and serve, and a richer fellowship with God, all through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

With over 28,000 congregations, our vision and mission embraces the entire world. Each local congregation of the Church of the Nazarene is a faith community ready to greet you in Jesus' name. There you will discover opportunities not only to encounter Jesus as your Savior and Lord but also to grow as a follower of Christ. Local churches offer worship, opportunities for serving others, fellowship, and training. We invite you to experience the unique fellowship of your nearby Church of the Nazarene.

You can learn more about the mission, history, purpose, basic beliefs, Articles of Faith, and core values of the Church of the Nazarene by clicking here.

Our Mission
What We Believe
Superintendent & Staff

OUR MISSION

Establishing and resourcing the development of healthy churches.

Our Vision

WAPAC DISTRICT STRATEGIC VISION 2021-2025

A framework for adaptive ministry in Western Washington

On October 21 -22, 2020 WaPac district leaders gathered in Olympia, WA to consider strategic and structural changes that will be required to position our ministries and churches for an effective response in the face of shifting realities of ministry in western Washington. It was the consensus of these leaders that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed some growing weaknesses in our ministry efforts which demand a thoughtful but immediate response. Subsequent meetings have been conducted with working teams to address the broader issues of structural change and the more focused question of metrics for success. This formal proposal reflects the work of both groups.

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What We Believe

We believe in one God-the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe that the Old and New Testament Scriptures, given by plenary inspiration, contain all truth necessary to faith and Christian living.

We believe that people are born with a fallen nature, and are, therefore, inclined to evil, and that continually.

We believe that the finally impenitent are hopelessly and eternally lost.

We believe that the atonement through Jesus Christ is for the whole human race; and that whosoever repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is justified and regenerated and saved from the dominion of sin.

We believe that believers are to be sanctified wholly, subsequent to regeneration, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe that the Holy Spirit bears witness to the new birth, and also to the entire sanctification of believers.

We believe that our Lord will return, the dead will be raised, and the final judgment will take place.

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Superintendent and Staff

 
 

Rev. Jerry
Kester

District Superintendent

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REV. JERRY R. KESTER

Rev. Jerry Kester is the superintendent of the Washington Pacific District Church of the Nazarene and lives with his wife Sharon in Olympia. Prior to his election to district superintendent in 2011, he served as the lead pastor in Twin Falls, Idaho for 17 years.

Jerry grew up in Boise, Idaho and attended Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma, where he earned a BA and MA in religion. The early years of his ministry were involved with youth. He served four local congregations as pastor to students, including 10 years in Kent, Washington, and 3 at Nampa 1st Church in Nampa, Idaho, where he was an adjunct professor of youth ministry at Northwest Nazarene University.

He has served the Church of the Nazarene on a variety of boards and committees, including The General NYI Council, Intermountain District Advisory Board and is currently a member of the NNU Board of Trustees.

Jerry and Sharon have 2 Sons. Greg, and his wife Denice, live in Nampa, Idaho, with a grandson Declan. Brad, and his wife Merrily, live in San Diego, California. Sharon loves all things domestic, and is a retired Family and Consumer Sciences teacher. She also serves on staff with the district as the Washington Pacific Board of Ministry Registrar. Jerry enjoys woodworking and tries to play golf.

The mission of the Washington Pacific District is: Establishing and Resourcing the Development of Healthy Churches. Jerry and Sharon are passionate about fulfilling that work.

 
 
 

Debra
Voelker

District NMI President

 
 
 
 

 

 
 

Sonya
Edgbert

Administrative Assistant

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Megan
Wighaman

District NYI President

 
 
 

David Rocha

Hispanic Ministries Coordinator

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 

Sharon
Kester

Office Assistant/Board of Ministry Registrar

 
 
 

Justin Barksdale

District SDMI President

 
 
 

Tino
Feliuae

Samoan Ministries Coordinator