Reaching People. Building lives. That's what we're about!
Bartlesville First Church of the Nazarene (BFCNaz), is a community of ordinary people with diverse backgrounds. We're teachers, contractors, computer operators, engineers, doctors, sales people, unemployed, retirees, and stay-at-home moms. We're black, white, and everything in between. Our community consists of students, young people, singles and families of all shapes and sizes. God has transformed our lives, so we gather together to demonstrate our love for God, love for people, and to serve our local and global communities. Hopefully you can see that you'd fit right in, just like everyone else does.
Nazarene Denomination
Bartlesville First Church of the Nazarene is part of the Church of the Nazarene, an evangelical denomination with headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. The Church of the Nazarene is part of the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition tracing its roots to an anniversary date of 1908. It was founded to spread the good news of the gospel and the message of hope and victorious, holy living.
The Church of the Nazarene is a Great Commission church. 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.
We believe that Christians can experience a deeper level of Christian living in finding victory over the sin that has held them captive and powerless. Power is available to every believer to witness and serve, through a deeper relationship with God, through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
There are over 30,000 congregations around the world located in 164 world areas. Each local congregation of the Church of the Nazarene is a faith community that cooperates together with other Nazarene churches. Local churches offer worship, opportunities for serving others, fellowship, and training.
Missions is a major emphasis in the Church of the Nazarene: sending missionaries around the world, starting new churches, and making disciples. The Church of the Nazarene is a compassionate church, sending help and volunteers to areas that are devastated by crisis. The church is involved in inner city works in many of our major cities. The Church of the Nazarene believes in Christian Education and investment in our youth, with colleges and universities located around the world.
The Church of the Nazarene is a Great Commission church. 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.
We believe that Christians can experience a deeper level of Christian living in finding victory over the sin that has held them captive and powerless. Power is available to every believer to witness and serve, through a deeper relationship with God, through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
There are over 30,000 congregations around the world located in 164 world areas. Each local congregation of the Church of the Nazarene is a faith community that cooperates together with other Nazarene churches. Local churches offer worship, opportunities for serving others, fellowship, and training.
Missions is a major emphasis in the Church of the Nazarene: sending missionaries around the world, starting new churches, and making disciples. The Church of the Nazarene is a compassionate church, sending help and volunteers to areas that are devastated by crisis. The church is involved in inner city works in many of our major cities. The Church of the Nazarene believes in Christian Education and investment in our youth, with colleges and universities located around the world.
Church Government
The Church of the Nazarene uses a representational form of government, through electing a Church Board to represent them in operating the church. We are organized into Districts, ours being the Northeast Oklahoma District, to cooperate together with other churches for greater effectiveness and stewardship. District Assembly is held every year with all churches who serve on that district coming together for reporting, fellowship, and accountability. Each local church elects people to represent them at this event. Leaders, lay and pastoral, are elected to serve in district leadership positions at this event.
Accountability
Annually pastors of each local church report on the condition of their church and what has happened in the past year, including statistics and finances. District officials give reports and account for monies spent and what has happened in their areas of ministry, as well as communicate upcoming plans and events.
Colleges & Universities
As a part of the Northeast Oklahoma District, BFCNaz is a part of the Southern Nazarene University Educational Region. Each district is in an Educational Region, served by one of the Nazarene schools.The Church of the Nazarene values Christian education and each church works and gives to keep this priority in place.
Pastoral Students
Pastoral students that are in training report on their educational progress and their spiritual lives, as well as what they are currently doing in ministry.