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Guatemala is known as the place of origin for the Mayan civilization, which flourished there for the first millennium A. D. In 1821, it won its independence from Spain following three centuries of...

For those who have worshiped in churches, been taught in schools, or lived in housing provided by Alabaster offerings, it is sometimes easy to forget how those buildings came to be built. Throughout...

Kenya gained its independence from Britain in 1963. Stability has often had to be negotiated through coalition-building, because of ethnic diversity and conflict. There are 70 distinct ethnic groups...

The work of the Church of the Nazarene began officially in the United States in 1887, though the formal organization of the denomination occurred in 1908 with the merger of several like-minded...

Mongolia, once a great Eurasian empire under the leadership of Chinggis Khaan in the 13th century, broke into smaller Mongol states in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually returned to their...

Did you know that Alabaster is often the confirmation and capstone of all the work that has gone into planting new churches in places where the Church of the Nazarene has not yet been able to...

Bulgaria, as a nation, has existed since the 5th Century, but much of its history has been under the rule of others. The Ottoman Empire ruled from 1396-1878, later followed by Communist rule from 1947...

Mozambique is located on the Africa Lusophone Field of the Africa Region. Mozambique’s history is one of Portuguese colonialization. Mozambique gained its independence from Portugal in 1975.

Nicaragua gained its independence from Spain in September of 1821 and has been an independent republic since 1838. However, its more recent history has been marked by dictatorship and civil war, with...

Following the end of World War II, in the late 1940s, the Church of the Nazarene was experiencing a need for more mission funding. At a meeting of the Global NMI Council, Elizabeth Vennum was asked to...

The work of the Church of the Nazarene began officially in the United States in 1887, though the formal organization of the denomination occurred in 1908 with the merger of several like-minded...

Aboriginal Australians are considered the oldest known civilization on earth, and Southeast Asian settlers arrived in Australia centuries before Europeans arrived in the 17th century. From 1788 until...

Following the end of World War II, in the late 1940s, the Church of the Nazarene was experiencing a need for more mission funding. At a meeting of the Global NMI Council, Elizabeth Vennum was asked to...

Once part of what was known as the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata, the countries of Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, declared their independence from Spain in 1816. Argentina, the remaining...

The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579. Throughout the 17th century, the Dutch became a leading seafaring commercial power, establishing colonies around the world...

Cote d’Ivoire (The Ivory Coast) was a composition of small kingdoms between the 15th and 19th centuries. In 1844, France established a protectorate there, until in 1960 Cote d’Ivoire achieved...

Throughout Alabaster’s history, there have been many places where funds could be used to help rebuild or establish church presence following times of war or other catastrophic events. The...

Armenia, a country that claims to be the first state to formally adopt Christianity in the early 4th century, lies between Turkey, to the west, and Azerbaijan. It has had a long history of being...

Korea was an independent kingdom prior to its being occupied in the early 20th century. The Peninsula achieved independence in 1945; and following World War II, a democratic government was adopted in...

There are mission fields around the world that have benefited from Alabaster in establishing work in difficult contexts, where having a building was to say: “We are here for the long run, and whatever...

Located just off the southern tip of Malaysia, the city nation of Singapore is a travel hub for Asia, a gateway to areas where the Church of the Nazarene is not yet established. Often referred to as a...

Nigeria is a country that has a stressed and divisive pre-colonial past, occupied by many diverse ethnic groups, each with different languages and traditions. These groups, ranging from large Islamic...

Alabaster connects with all ages in the local church. Some generations have used traditional Alabaster boxes, and others have used clay pots, glass jars, or tin cans. The container is simply a vessel...

Hong Kong was occupied by the British in 1841 and was formally ceded by China the following year. On 19 December 1984, an agreement signed by China and the UK set in motion a shift which eventually...

Italy has always been important in the European geographic landscape, because of its central location in the southern part of Europe. For nearly 800 years, the Roman Empire ruled much of the known...