Our History

The Church of the Nazarene is the largest denomination in the classical Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. The doctrine that distinguishes the Church of the Nazarene and other Wesleyan denominations from most other Christian denominations is that of entire sanctification. Nazarenes believe that God calls Christians to a life of holy living that is marked by an act of God, cleansing the heart from original sin and filling the individual with love for God and humankind.

The Church of the Nazarene traces its anniversary date to 1908. Its organization was a marriage that, like every marriage, linked existing families and created a new one. As an expression of the holiness movement and its emphasis on the sanctified life, our founders came together to form one people. Utilizing evangelism, compassionate ministries, and education, their church went forth to become a people of many cultures and tongues.

Two Central Theme Illuminate the Nazarene Story

Unity in Holiness

The spiritual vision of early Nazarenes was derived from the doctrinal core of John Wesley’s preaching. These affirmations include justification by grace through faith, sanctification likewise by grace through faith, entire sanctification as an inheritance available to every Christian, and the witness of the Spirit to God’s work in human lives. The holiness movement arose in the 1830s to promote these doctrines, especially entire sanctification. By 1900, however, the movement had splintered.

P. F. Bresee, C. B. Jernigan, C. W. Ruth, and other committed leaders strove to unite holiness factions. The first and second general assemblies were like two bookends:

In October 1907, the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America and the Church of the Nazarene merged in Chicago, Illinois, at the First General Assembly.

In April 1908, a congregation organized in Peniel, Texas, drew into the Nazarene movement the key officers of the Holiness Association of Texas.

The Pennsylvania Conference of the Holiness Christian Church united in September 1908. In October 1908, the Second General Assembly was held at Pilot Point, Texas, the headquarters of the Holiness Church of Christ. The “year of uniting” ended with the merger of this southern denomination with its northern counterpart.

With the Pentecostal Church of Scotland and Pentecostal Mission unions in 1915, the Church of the Nazarene embraced seven previous denominations and parts of two other groups. The Nazarenes and The Wesleyan Church emerged as the two denominations that eventually drew together a majority of the holiness movement’s independent strands.

The seven denominations were: the Central Evangelical Holiness Association (New England), the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America (Middle Atlantic States), New Testament Church of Christ (South), Independent Holiness Church (Southwest), the Church of the Nazarene (West Coast), the Pentecostal Church of Scotland, and the Pentecostal Mission (Southeast). Several mergers occurred regionally before regional churches, in turn, united together in 1907 and 1908.

A Mission to the World

In 1908 there were churches in Canada and organized work in India, Cape Verde, and Japan, soon followed by work in Africa, Mexico, and China. The 1915 mergers added congregations in the British Isles and work in Cuba, Central America, and South America. There were congregations in Syria and Palestine by 1922. As General Superintendent H. F. Reynolds advocated “a mission to the world,” support for world evangelization became a distinguishing characteristic of Nazarene life. New technologies were utilized. The church began producing the “Showers of Blessing” radio program in the 1940s, followed by the Spanish broadcast “La Hora Nazarena” and later by broadcasts in other languages. Indigenous holiness churches in Australia and Italy united in the 1940s, others in Canada and Great Britain in the 1950s, and one in Nigeria in 1988.

As the church grew culturally and linguistically diverse, it committed itself in 1980 to internationalization—a deliberate policy of being one church of congregations and districts worldwide, rather than splitting into national churches like earlier Protestant denominations. By the 2001 General Assembly, 42 percent of delegates spoke English as their second language or did not speak it at all. Today 65 percent of Nazarenes and over 80 percent of the church’s 439 districts are outside the United States. An early system of colleges in North America and the British Isles has become a global network of institutions. Nazarenes support 14 liberal arts institutions in Africa, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, Korea, and the United States, as well as five graduate seminaries, 31 undergraduate Bible/theological colleges, two nurses training colleges, and one education college worldwide.

Our History in Portland, Michigan

The year was 1923. The first issue of Time magazine was published. Rainbow trout were introduced in Yellowstone National Park. Old Yankee Stadium hosted its first game, with Babe Ruth hitting a three-run homer to beat the rival Boston Red Sox. Insulin became widely available for the treatment of diabetes. The prohibition was revoked in New York. Legislation was passed in United States that allowed women to wear pants. (And all our women said, “Amen!”) Harry Houdini freed himself from a straight jacket while hanging upside down. The Hollywood sign was dedicated in California, originally reading Hollywoodland. The first dinosaur eggs were discovered by Roy Chapman Andrews. Vice President Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as the 30th President of the United States, after the sudden passing of President Harding. Hank Williams and Bob Barker were born. And Roy and Walt Disney founded the Walt Disney Company, known at the time as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. 

The year before in 1922, a much less renowned woman by the name of Hannah Martin lamented the absence of a holiness church in Portland, Michigan. She had been taught by holiness teachers and desired to have such a church to attend. So, she traveled to Lansing, and through her efforts District Superintendent R.V. Starr came to Portland, gathered a few people, and made plans for a new church. On March 18, 1923, District Superintendent Starr and Rev. Claud Smith organized Portland Church of the Nazarene with 14 inaugural members. Rev. Smith was appointed the first pastor and served until September 14, 1924. The list of pastors succeeding Rev. Smith includes but is not limited to the following: Rev. Clifford Peabody, Rev. Edith Mitchell, Rev. James Estelle, Rev. Raymond Smith, Rev. Blanche Neller, Rev. Claud Studt, Rev. Glenn Ide, Rev. Glenn Brooks, and Rev. Carl Noffsinger.

Under the direction of the Holy Spirit and the leadership of Rev. Noffsinger, twenty acres of land were purchased for a new church and parsonage on Cutler Road. In October 1965, ground was broken; and after a year of prayer, toil and sweat, the faith community met for worship in the new building on Sunday, October 16, 1966, a little more than 47 years ago.

Succeeding Rev. Noffsinger was Rev. Frank Davison, Rev. George Otto, Rev. Thomas Voyles, Rev. Dwight Meade, Rev. William Tibbetts, Rev. Jim Thompson, and Rev. Todd Lafond. Under Rev. Lafond’s leadership, ground was broken for the construction of a new sanctuary, but it was his successor, Rev. Dan Stemen, who was pastoring when construction was completed. The first service held in this sanctuary was on Sunday, August 24, 2003.

During Rev. Stemen’s tenure, the church launched a financial giving campaign for the construction of a Family Life Center, which would include a children’s playground, full-sized gymnasium, children’s chapel, youth center, numerous classrooms, kitchen, restrooms, storage areas, and foyer. Ground was broken on Sunday, April 30, 2006; and on Sunday, February 10, 2008, the Family Life Center passed its final inspection and was ready for use. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held as the faith community celebrated what God had enabled it to build. 

Rev. Stemen retired on September 11, 2016, after more than thirteen and a half years of service; and after a brief but greatly beneficial stint by interim pastor, Rev. Will Baker, Rev. Jimmy Guffey humbly accepted the call to become pastor on March 26, 2017.