Denominational Identity

Why I Chose the Church of the Nazarene:
A Pastor’s Reflection on Denominational Identity and the Mission of Emmanuel Nazarene

By Pastor Jonathan W. Pannell

In a world filled with denominational diversity, it is both a blessing and a challenge to find a spiritual home, a place where doctrine, mission, and community align with your heart and calling. As someone who has journeyed through years of ministry, study, and service, I’ve encountered the unique beauty of many Christian traditions. From the liturgical richness of Catholicism to the revivalist passion of Pentecostalism, the theological depth of the Reformed Church, and the evangelistic drive of the Baptists, each tradition offers something meaningful. Yet, after prayer, study, and reflection, my soul found its truest home in the Church of the Nazarene.

This article is not intended to criticize other denominations, but rather to explore their distinctives, celebrate our commonalities, and make a case for why I (and many others) have chosen to embrace the Nazarene identity. More than that, I want to highlight how our local body, Emmanuel Nazarene Church in Rock Hill, SC, is actively living out the mission and values that make our denomination powerful, purposeful, and prophetic in these last days.

Denominational Distinctives: A Brief Overview

While all Christian denominations confess Christ as Lord and seek to uphold the authority of Scripture, they differ in areas such as theology, sacraments, worship style, church governance, and holiness teachings.

• Catholicism and Orthodoxy emphasize apostolic succession, sacramental theology, and tradition. Their liturgies are rich, reverent, and centuries old.
• Baptists strongly affirm believer’s baptism by immersion, congregational governance, and personal responsibility in faith.
• Methodists emphasize grace (prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying) through both sacraments and service, and are governed by a connectional structure.
• Pentecostals and Charismatics stress the baptism of the Holy Spirit, often evidenced by speaking in tongues and divine healing.
• Reformed traditions, such as Presbyterians, center on God’s sovereignty, covenant theology, and expositional preaching.
• Non-denominational churches often focus on contemporary worship, simplified structures, and an emphasis on relational discipleship, sometimes at the cost of doctrinal clarity.

These groups all contribute to the body of Christ. But my heart has always longed for a movement that combines the passion of revivalism, the structure of Wesleyan theology, and the mission-mindedness of the early church. That’s exactly what I found in the Church of the Nazarene.

What Sets the Church of the Nazarene Apart

The Church of the Nazarene is a global Wesleyan-Holiness denomination that stands firmly on the authority of Scripture, the doctrine of entire sanctification, and the belief that God’s grace not only saves us but empowers us to live holy lives.

We believe:

• In prevenient grace—God’s grace that goes before salvation.
• In justification by faith—that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
• In entire sanctification—a second, deeper work of grace where believers are empowered to live holy, Spirit-filled lives (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
• In the Great Commission—the call to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Church of the Nazarene is more than a denomination. It is a movement—a holiness revival committed to transforming the world through Christlike discipleship. With a strong emphasis on education, missions, and compassion, Nazarenes operate more than 50 educational institutions globally, minister in over 160 world areas, and support efforts like the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, which feed the hungry, house the homeless, and respond to disasters around the world.

As of 2023, the Church of the Nazarene has over 2.6 million members globally and continues to grow rapidly, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America (Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center, 2023).

Why I Aligned with the Nazarene Church

I chose the Church of the Nazarene because its theology does not separate holiness from love, and doctrine is never disconnected from mission. I found a church that believes holiness is not legalism, but love perfected by the Spirit, a life wholly devoted to God and His people.

Unlike some traditions that veer toward emotionalism or others that become intellectual without fire, the Church of the Nazarene preaches balanced holiness—where theology is passionate, missions are prioritized, and communities are transformed.

We are a people who believe in real transformation. Not just behavior modification, but Spirit-led metamorphosis. I chose the Nazarene church because it empowers me to lead a congregation in deep worship, clear doctrine, and impactful mission without sacrificing any of those elements. It’s not only what I believe; it’s who I am.

Emmanuel Nazarene: A Local Church with Global Impact

Here at Emmanuel Nazarene (ECN), we are a local expression of this global movement. We are a church that prays boldly, worships passionately, preaches the truth uncompromisingly, and serves selflessly. Our altars are open, our hands are lifted, and our hearts are surrendered to the Spirit.

Through children’s ministries, youth discipleship, food drives, mission trips, and local outreach, we are showing our city what it means to live holy lives in an unholy world. We are influencing the next generation, discipling families, and making Jesus known. In every worship service, every community event, and every moment of crisis, we are present, not just as a church building, but as a church family.

We are a part of something bigger than ourselves, and yet, what happens here at Emmanuel is deeply personal and life-changing. We don’t just “go to church.” We Are the Church, and we love our city!

A Final Word to the Seeker

If you’re reading this and you’ve been searching for a spiritual home, I invite you to prayerfully consider the Church of the Nazarene. Consider a church that preaches holiness, lives out compassion, and exists for the sake of the world.

And if you’re near Rock Hill, come experience Emmanuel Nazarene for yourself. Not just a name on a sign, but a movement of people who are committed to making Christlike disciples in the nations… and right here in our neighborhood.

Blessings!
Pastor Jonathan W. Pannell III

References

Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center. 2023 Annual Report. Lenexa, KS: Church of the Nazarene, 2023.
https://nazarene.org/article/2023-annual-report

Church of the Nazarene Manual 2023–2027. Kansas City, MO: Nazarene Publishing House, 2023.
https://www.nazarene.org/manual

Staples, Rob L. Outward Sign and Inward Grace: The Place of Sacraments in Wesleyan Spirituality. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 1991.

Purkiser, W.T. Exploring Christian Holiness, Volume 1: The Biblical Foundation. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 1983.