September 18, 2025

Dear Central Church, 

I lived in Bentonville, AR, for 12 years. That means two things: 1) I own a mountain bike, and 2) I can tell you more than you ever wanted to know about Walmart Stores, Inc. For example, did you know Walmart has a presence in 19 different countries? Every year at the annual shareholders meeting, the town square would be decorated with all the flags where Walmart operates.

Impressive, right? Well, as a Nazarene, I wasn’t too moved. Our church has a presence in 168 countries and world areas! Nice try, Walmart.

Here’s the difference: Walmart goes where there’s profit to be made. The Church of the Nazarene goes where there are people to be loved. We’ll send missionaries to places where the GDP of an entire country is less than the annual revenue of a single Supercenter. For us, the bottom line isn’t profit—it’s people. Our mission is “loss prevention,” but not in the retail sense. We’re on a mission to prevent lost people from spending eternity without Jesus.

This weekend we’ll celebrate that mission during Faith Promise Sunday with our guest speaker, Rev. Carlos de la Cruz, district superintendent in the Dominican Republic. Pastor Carlos is a dynamic communicator of God’s Word, and I know you’ll be encouraged and challenged.

So, what is Faith Promise? It’s a commitment to give above your tithe to support local and global missions. And it makes a real difference. Last year, your Faith Promise giving helped to create a new district in Cuba. This added layer of leadership ensures that Cuban pastors have the resources and support they need to grow their congregations and serve their communities. That’s the power of your generosity—it changes lives, churches, and even nations.

This year, our Faith Promise goal is $192,400. That’s a God-sized goal for a God-sized vision. These resources will send missionaries, fund mission trips, provide disaster relief, support our food pantry, introduce interns to cross-cultural ministry, and so much more.

It will take all of us—each giving as God leads—to reach this goal. Some can give a lot, others a little, but together our collective faith and sacrifice will accomplish more than we could ever do alone.

Will you pray this week about how God might want you to participate in Faith Promise? I believe He will use our church to impact lives around the world and right here in our community.

Let’s join together in this mission of eternal “loss prevention.”

Until He’s Finished,
Pastor Mark