5 Areas of Impact

PRAYER

The first is PRAYER. NMI gathers believers together for prayer in the local church, linking us to our brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe.

WORLD EVANGELISM FUND

The second is the WORLD EVANGELISM FUND, which fuels the Church of the Nazarene’s mission by combining gifts from each person and church to fund ministries everywhere.

ALABASTER

Through the ALABASTER OFFERING, the third emphasis, ministries around the world receive funds to purchase property and buildings.

NEXT GENERATION

The fourth is to ENGAGE CHILDREN AND YOUTH through education and fostering calls to missions.

Called into ministry or missions service?

SEND ME

Are you a young person going on a Work & Witness trip. Apply for our district scholarship.

CARE & CONNECTION

CARE & CONNECTION is the last area of emphasis, it strategically connects Nazarene missionaries and Nazarene churches through prayer, personal contact, and generous giving.

Who are AZ District’s LINKS Missionaries?

Meet the team

  • AZ District NMI President

    Pastor Josh, his wife Tara and their 2 children James and Kinley joined the pastoral team at Phoenix First in July of 2019 as Lead Pastor. He has pastored churches in Missouri and California after earning a Bachelor’s degree from Point Loma Nazarene University in 2004 and a master of divinity degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 2011. He most recently completed his Doctor of Ministry degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 2023. In addition to his calling as a pastor, he enjoys coffee, woodworking, reading a good theology book, and spending quality time with family and friends. Josh served on the NMI Council on the Central California District as the Work & Witness Coordinator, participating in and leading trips to Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Kenya, and other district projects. He also served as the district Board of Ministry Director and the district assembly recording secretary. Josh has a passion for Nazarene missions, specifically in teaching, supporting, and equipping the local church to be a part of local and global missions as we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus together.

  • Arizona District NMI Vice-President

    Cheryl is currently serving as the Pastor of Prayer at Turning Leaf Church of the Nazarene. She has been on the AZ District NMI Council for the past 15 years serving in a variety of roles. She loves missions “across the street and around the world.”No task is too big or too small for people who love Jesus.

  • AZ District NMI Secretary

    Toni was appointed as Lead Pastor at the Kingman Church of the Nazarene in January 2020. Previously she has served as an associate pastor and Pastor to Youth, Children & Families. Ordained as an Elder in 2015, she has served on the District NMI Council for 5 years and is the current secretary. Toni led the AZ District Jesus Film Trip to Sri Lanka in September 2017 and served on teams in Rocky Point, Mexico twice and to Sri Lanka to help build a CDC with the Prescott First church. She loves serving alongside others as they discover God’s love and how we can impact our world, locally and globally, through missions.

  • Council Member

    Cindy is an Associate Pastor at Village of Oak Creek in Sedona, AZ where her husband Jim pastors. She is in the course of study through NBC pursuing her ordination. She has been on numerous Work and Witness teams throughout the years. She believes that missions is the heart of the church.

  • Council Member

    Susan serves as Local NMI President and has served on the AZ District NMI Council for three years, the last two years as Deputation Coordinator. There is an excitement in the future of Nazarene Missions in Arizona and Susan is passionate about the varied opportunities for individuals to serve alongside Jesus and others in God's Global Mission to make disciples who make disciples.

  • Council Member

    "Pastor Geoff is the lead pastor at Chino Valley Church. He has been in ministry since 2001, starting as a youth ministry intern at a local church in Virginia. Right after his service in the Navy, he entered the vocational ministry as a youth pastor. Since his intern days, he has graduated from Full Sail University with a Bachelors in Business Administration and was ordained as an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene in November of 2020. Geoff has a passion for instilling a foundation in Christ with families and their chilren.

  • Council Member

    I am currently serving as the Senior Pastor of Mosaic Church from October 2019 to present, prior to that I served as the Senior Pastor of Oakland Church of the Nazarene in Topeka, KS from 2013 to 2019. I served as Executive Director of Hope House Ministries Compassionate Ministry Center from 2014 to 2017. I served as Internship Director at Encuentro 2016. I graduated from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 2015 with an M.Div. I have been involved in international and local missions in various forms throughout the years.

  • Council Member

    Donna currently serves on the District LIFE Council as Retreat Registrar. She was a missionary around the African continent for 28 years, living and working in Swaziland, Kenya, Ghana, Liberia, South Africa - receiving and working with W&W teams on the field; Plus working in the surrounding countries as Child Sponsor Coordinator, Pastoral training, NMI training, etc. Donna has been on W&W teams to Mexico and Sri Lanka. She has served as the local NMI President and/or on the NMI council, SS teacher, Children’s Quizzing leader, organist – pianist.

  • im has been a member of Turning Leaf Church since 2007, where he sits on the local NMI Council. Before becoming part of the team to plant the new church start – TLC, His family served as missionaries in Rhodesia, which became Zimbabwe, during the 11 years they ministered in Africa. He ministered as a pastor, church planter, Bible College Principal, Mission Director in Zimbabwe, and Central Africa Field Director. Jim was focused on church growth: church planting, establishing a second District in Zimbabwe (today they have a 3rd district), and overall He did leadership development/training. Jim remains passionate about the mission of the Gospel – “Go and make disciples!” The total picture of spreading the message of “Jesus Saves;” at home, in our Nation, and all nations of our global community is His constant prayer.

  • Council Member

    I have attended Globe Nazarene Church for 5 years. I have been doing mission work for over 20 years.. I have done mission work in Mexico, Ireland, and around the United States of America. I have worked with Children Evangelism Fellowship for many years. I love to see when people come to the Lord.

  • Kayte Sanford is a District Licensed Minister who has served as an associate pastor in Prescott Valley for the last five years. She is passionate about mission work, especially in the local field, and has been the NMI President at Prescott Valley Naz for the five years she has been there; Kayte and her husband, Chuck, have three wonderful children and are currently looking forward to what God has in store for them as they follow His leading and make a move back to Tucson.

  • Council Member

    Penny has served on NMI Councils at Peoria, Orangewood and Surprise over the past 30 years. She is currently the NMI President at her local church. She has a passion for supporting missions both locally and around the world by participating on Work and Witness trips to Sun Valley, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador and Brazil.