Missions

The Alabaster Offering is a Nazarene Missions International (NMI) offering that helps build the Kingdom of God by providing funds for churches, schools, medical facilities, missionary homes, and ministry centers around the world. While the Church is made up of people—not buildings—these facilities provide a lasting place for worship, discipleship, compassion ministries, and outreach. Every gift helps establish a permanent presence for the gospel in communities around the world. 

What Alabaster funds are used for
Alabaster offerings help pay for:

• Purchasing land for new churches
• Constructing church buildings
• Building or purchasing parsonages
• Missionary homes
• Regional ministry and missions facilities
• Buildings on Nazarene Bible college campuses
• Limited initial rental costs for new church plants when needed

How it works
Traditionally, Nazarenes collect the Alabaster Offering twice a year—in February and September. Many churches encourage members to use an Alabaster Box, setting aside the cost of something they could do without as an act of sacrificial giving and prayer for global missions. 
A brief historical note
The Alabaster Offering began in 1949 and has helped establish thousands of ministry locations around the world, allowing local churches to have permanent places for worship and ministry.

Faith Promise is one of the primary ways churches in the Church of the Nazarene support global missions. It is a commitment made in faith—above and beyond a person's regular tithe—to give specifically toward world evangelism, trusting God to provide the resources to fulfill that commitment. Faith Promise gifts are typically directed to the World Evangelism Fund (WEF), which supports missionaries and global ministry in every world region. (Church of the Nazarene)

What makes Faith Promise unique?
Unlike a pledge based only on what someone already has, Faith Promise is:

• Prayerfully considered – Members ask God what He would have them give.
• Faith-based – They trust God to provide what is needed to fulfill that commitment.
• Above the tithe – It is not intended to replace regular tithes but to expand a believer's participation in God's global mission.
• Focused on missions – Every dollar is designated for world evangelism through the Church of the Nazarene. (Church of the Nazarene)

What does Faith Promise support?
Faith Promise giving helps fund the World Evangelism Fund, which provides the foundation for the denomination's worldwide ministry. These funds support:

• Missionaries serving around the world
• Church planting
• Leadership development and theological education
• Evangelism and discipleship resources
• Compassion ministries and disaster response
• Administrative support that enables missionaries to remain on the field and focus on ministry rather than fundraising. (Church of the Nazarene)

The biblical principle
While the phrase "Faith Promise" isn't found in Scripture, the idea is rooted in biblical teachings on generous, faith-filled giving:

• 2 Corinthians 8–9 – The Macedonian churches gave generously out of their poverty, trusting God to provide.
• Philippians 4:19 – "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
• Luke 6:38 – Jesus teaches about generous giving and God's provision.
• Malachi 3:10 – God invites His people to trust Him with their resources.

How it differs from Alabaster

• Faith Promise supports the ongoing work of global missions through the World Evangelism Fund—missionaries, evangelism, discipleship, and ministry around the world.
• Alabaster Offering provides buildings and property such as churches, schools, missionary homes, and ministry centers where that mission can take place. (Church of the Nazarene)

A simple way to explain the difference is:
Faith Promise sends the missionaries. Alabaster helps provide the places where they minister.
Together, these two offerings allow the Church of the Nazarene to both sustain global ministry and establish lasting ministry centers in communities around the world.