The Chicago Central District Church of the Nazarene extends heartfelt congratulations to our brothers and sisters around the world, members of our global church family, on the occasion of our denomination's Centennial Anniversary Celebration!

Our 75 organized churches and 10,000 members join with you on Sunday, October 5, 2008 to worship the Lord, to be instructed in His Word, and to celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's supper in holy communion, as we express our appreciation and commitment to God for our heritage of holiness message and ministry. 

It was in 1905 that Phineas Bresee formally organized the First Church of the Nazarene in the city of Chicago and simultaneously birthed the Chicago Central District at our first District Assembly.  The first General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene was subsequently held in Chicago, Illinios, in  October 1907 and was highlighted by the merging of the Association of Pentecostal Churches of the America with the Church of the Nazarene. The denomination at that time consisted of four districts: Chicago Central, Northwestern, San Francisco and Southern California.

The 12 months that followed are known popularly as "the year of uniting", culminating in October, 1908 with the second General Assembly, in Pilot Point, Texas and a merger that emphasized the broad national representation of the Nazarene membership. Chicago is honored to have been one bookend of that year of uniting, and we join our hearts and voices again today in affirmation of the holiness message and global mission for which we believe God has raised up the Church of the Nazarene.

Out of Many, One; and out of One, Many. Praise be to the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Sanctifier. To Him be glory and honor both now, and forevermore.

With the recognition of God's guiding hand and with grateful hearts for His favor poured out on us for 100 years, Nazarenes in 151 world areas will gather Sunday, October 5, for the Celebration of the Centennial of the Church of the Nazarene.

We are committed to the holy heritage passed to us by dedicated servants of God who founded the church on the message of grace and holy living. We are committed to core values that stand not only throughout 100 years, but for perpetuity. We are Christian: We are captivated by the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. We are holiness: We are transformed by His Holy Spirit, redeeming, forgiving, and sanctifying us wholly. We are missional: We are passionate about sharing God's love with people of every language, culture, race, and nation. Our mission is to make Christlike disciples in the nations.

As we gather in worship in almost 21,000 local churches around the world, sharing common scriptures and partaking together of the Lord's Supper, from under a shade tree to the most spacious sanctuary, the Church of the Nazarene family celebrates as ONE an exciting century of global ministry and an inspiring hope for the future.

With unswerving commitment to the message and the mission, the Board of General Superintendents officially proclaims October 5, 2008, Centennial Celebration Sunday for the Church of the Nazarene and invites all into an even brighter missional future as we spread the good news of scriptural holiness to the entire world in a new century!

The Board of General Superintendents

Paul G. Cunningham
James H. Diehl
Nina G. Gunter
Jesse C. Middendorf
Jerry D. Porter
J. K. Warrick