New NMI president brings global perspective
Orlando, Florida
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Jennifer Brown of Burnt Savannah, Westmoreland, Jamaica, made history when she was elected global president of Nazarene Missions International (NMI), Church of the Nazarene. Brown is the first person elected to this position from a country other than the United States. The election took place Friday, June 26, at the NMI General Convention.
Brown sees this historic election as a positive direction for the international church. "I've seen so many people coming to me to express their delight because this is the direction of the church - to be inclusive," she said. "For so many years, the focus [of the church] has been on the U.S. and Canada, and now we can have a greater global voice."
Brown's election came four days before Eugenio Duarte, a Cape Verde citizen, was elected as general superintendent. He became the first citizen from outside the USA/Canada region to take on this role.
John Smee, Caribbean regional director, said Brown "brings the fulfillment of what we mean when we say we're a global church."
Scoffield Eversley, president of Caribbean Nazarene College in Trinidad, where Brown studied during her ordination process, agreed, saying, "The election of the Rev. Jennifer Brown as Global NMI president in the Church of the Nazarene is a superlative landmark in our history. This is so in that she is the first person of color to be elected to such a position."
"The superlativeness of this election also demonstrates the internationalization of the Church of the Nazarene," added Eversley, who also serves as Caribbean English Field strategy coordinator for the Church of the Nazarene.
As the new global president for NMI, Brown's hope is to "bring about that greater awareness of who our [Nazarene] people are in the world regions. There are a lot of talents out there. I believe in unity and doing whatever we can do to advance the kingdom of God."
"I'm excited that [the church is] now in 155 world areas," Brown added, "and I'm particularly excited about work going on in areas that we are not able to call by name - 'creative access' areas - by the fact that there are persons willing to risk their lives for the gospel."
According to Smee, Brown will profoundly affect Nazarene missions worldwide. "She has a global perspective and an understanding of needs around the world," he said. "She balances being a team player and being a strong leader very well."
An ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, Brown is also associate pastor at Burnt Savannah Church of the Nazarene, where her husband, Lionel Brown, serves as pastor and superintendent of the Jamaica West District. Jennifer Brown holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the University of West Indies. She teaches English and Spanish at Westmoreland's Mannings High School and also directs the Burnt Savannah Nazarene Evening Institute, a ministry that offers basic adult education courses for those who have dropped out of school.
For this educator, the new role is more than just a figure-head position. It's an opportunity to help educate a worldwide audience. "I've always been involved in missions," Brown said. "That really is my passion - sharing Christ with others and doing what I can to mentor. My guiding motto has been 'saved to serve,' and I believe in serving people."
"I do believe that Rev. Brown will approach this assignment with passion, vision, and a world view," Eversley said.
Before election to her global position, Brown previously served as the Caribbean representative to the Global NMI Council. Brown said she is proud to be a representative of the church in the Caribbean. "It's a vibrant church," she said. "There are people who want to serve the Lord in the Caribbean. Maybe for many years we haven't been at the forefront, but there are those willing to serve God whether they're on the platform or not."
As a minister in Jamaica, Brown said one of her dreams is to see more people being sent out of the Caribbean to serve in other world areas. "We need to move out of the syndrome where we are always receiving so that we are also giving," she said. "I think that we're working on that. It's time for us to stand up and be sent."
As Global NMI president, Brown hopes "to see people 100 percent committed to whatever they're doing. If you can't go far off, just give it your best wherever you are. I want to see our church around the world coming together and working to advance the kingdom of God."
"It's not about me," Brown emphasized. "It's not about us. It's about God. We need to keep to that at the forefront."
--By Beth Clayton Luthye, Caribbean Region Communications
Note: For an in-depth profile of Jennifer Brown, see Engage Magazine by clicking here.
Brown sees this historic election as a positive direction for the international church. "I've seen so many people coming to me to express their delight because this is the direction of the church - to be inclusive," she said. "For so many years, the focus [of the church] has been on the U.S. and Canada, and now we can have a greater global voice."
Brown's election came four days before Eugenio Duarte, a Cape Verde citizen, was elected as general superintendent. He became the first citizen from outside the USA/Canada region to take on this role.
John Smee, Caribbean regional director, said Brown "brings the fulfillment of what we mean when we say we're a global church."
Scoffield Eversley, president of Caribbean Nazarene College in Trinidad, where Brown studied during her ordination process, agreed, saying, "The election of the Rev. Jennifer Brown as Global NMI president in the Church of the Nazarene is a superlative landmark in our history. This is so in that she is the first person of color to be elected to such a position."
"The superlativeness of this election also demonstrates the internationalization of the Church of the Nazarene," added Eversley, who also serves as Caribbean English Field strategy coordinator for the Church of the Nazarene.
As the new global president for NMI, Brown's hope is to "bring about that greater awareness of who our [Nazarene] people are in the world regions. There are a lot of talents out there. I believe in unity and doing whatever we can do to advance the kingdom of God."
"I'm excited that [the church is] now in 155 world areas," Brown added, "and I'm particularly excited about work going on in areas that we are not able to call by name - 'creative access' areas - by the fact that there are persons willing to risk their lives for the gospel."
According to Smee, Brown will profoundly affect Nazarene missions worldwide. "She has a global perspective and an understanding of needs around the world," he said. "She balances being a team player and being a strong leader very well."
An ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, Brown is also associate pastor at Burnt Savannah Church of the Nazarene, where her husband, Lionel Brown, serves as pastor and superintendent of the Jamaica West District. Jennifer Brown holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the University of West Indies. She teaches English and Spanish at Westmoreland's Mannings High School and also directs the Burnt Savannah Nazarene Evening Institute, a ministry that offers basic adult education courses for those who have dropped out of school.
For this educator, the new role is more than just a figure-head position. It's an opportunity to help educate a worldwide audience. "I've always been involved in missions," Brown said. "That really is my passion - sharing Christ with others and doing what I can to mentor. My guiding motto has been 'saved to serve,' and I believe in serving people."
"I do believe that Rev. Brown will approach this assignment with passion, vision, and a world view," Eversley said.
Before election to her global position, Brown previously served as the Caribbean representative to the Global NMI Council. Brown said she is proud to be a representative of the church in the Caribbean. "It's a vibrant church," she said. "There are people who want to serve the Lord in the Caribbean. Maybe for many years we haven't been at the forefront, but there are those willing to serve God whether they're on the platform or not."
As a minister in Jamaica, Brown said one of her dreams is to see more people being sent out of the Caribbean to serve in other world areas. "We need to move out of the syndrome where we are always receiving so that we are also giving," she said. "I think that we're working on that. It's time for us to stand up and be sent."
As Global NMI president, Brown hopes "to see people 100 percent committed to whatever they're doing. If you can't go far off, just give it your best wherever you are. I want to see our church around the world coming together and working to advance the kingdom of God."
"It's not about me," Brown emphasized. "It's not about us. It's about God. We need to keep to that at the forefront."
--By Beth Clayton Luthye, Caribbean Region Communications
Note: For an in-depth profile of Jennifer Brown, see Engage Magazine by clicking here.