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Who We Are

 

Building the Rising Generations—Glorifying Jesus Christ through Distinctive Education

Friends of Nazareth (FON). The FON ministry is a 501 (c)(3) corporation that is dedicated to supporting the Nazareth Baptist School. FON serves at the invitation of the Nazareth Baptist School (NBS), Nazareth Israel.

Nazareth Baptist School (NBS) began as a ministry of the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1935-36 school year. It has been in continuous operation, except for a break for the 1948 war period, since its inception. Its foundational principles are Evangelical. Its vision is for Building the Rising Generations – Glorifying Jesus Christ through Distinctive Education. It is a K-12th school with about 1000 students. Unique to any of the Christian schools in Israel, NBS requires that EVERY student attend age-graded chapel and Bible class.

 7 Initiatives

7 Initiatives to help Nazareth Baptist School enrich and enlarge its capacity for ministry:

Pastors, Bible Teachers and Theologians are quick to point out that the number seven (7) in the Bible is significant. It is one that represents fullness or completion. A careful study or search of the Scripture would point to many examples. For instance:

  • Seven days in a week (Gen 2:2)

  • Seven indigenous fruits of land (Deut 8:7-8)

  • Seven “I Am’s” of Jesus (John)

  • Seven “sign” miracles of Jesus (John)

  • Seven statements from the cross (Gospels)

  • Seven churches of Revelation (Rev 2-3)

  • Seven years of Tribulation (Matthew 24, Rev 7)

Actually there are many more examples that are seen in Scripture.

Friends of Nazareth (FON) also has 7 areas of application that we are either beginning or enhancing. Each of these areas is an outgrowth of, or an opportunity to help us … “build the rising generations, glorifying Jesus Christ through distinctive (Christian) education”. Each area helps FON teams better serve the needs of the Nazareth Baptist School and her work.

These seven areas and goals are as follows:

  1. Working - to expand and enrich the VBS Day Camp and Potter’s Wheel Youth Camps. These events are gospel-centric and are two of the longest running evangelical events in Israel.

  2. Training - to further develop the Potter’s Wheel Youth Center for Discipleship. The PWYCD is an after school “club” which enhances and develops students’ physical, relational, and spiritual development.

  3. Building - FON/NBS have a constant need and challenge in renewing, renovating, revitalizing, and ultimately relocating (a portion of) our campus and facilities. In recent years, FON donors and locals have given to or provided over 1 Million for Capital expenditures and improvements. FON provides a “Renovation” team yearly, biannually, or as needed.

  4. Encouraging - to partner with NBS teachers and leaders in a personal growth track that aids in personal development, leadership training, and ways of practical encouragement. FON’s goal is to create an ‘Adopt A Teacher’ program through our American church and school partnerships.

  5. Partnering - to enlist, build, and grow in our Global Christian (school) Learning Partnerships. This opportunity would be for American and International K-12 Christian schools to partner and adopt an NBS class or grade; and, for Christian Universities to partner with FON/NBS to recruit NBS students to their school to further their studies.

  6. Helping - to initiate, provide, and expand the children’s and family programs and the leadership for such a program. FON currently partners with Shandon Baptist Church of Columbia, SC to staff this need.

  7. Connecting - to serve as a conduit to connect American and International local churches and leaders with NBS, the Nazareth community, and the larger evangelical family.

While the overwhelming focus of FON must be NBS and her needs, we recognize that to grow or aid this footprint one must help the overall Christian community. This includes churches, businesses, Nazareth Village, and Christian leaders. A rising tide of evangelical good will help all causes.

It is the desire of FON leaders to see each of the areas adopted, staffed (by FON Board and Ambassadors) and implemented for success.

Dr. Roger D. Mardis, President
Friends of Nazareth, Inc.
roger@friendsofnazareth.org
(256) 599-6344

  • 1. Working

    To expand and enrich the VBS Day Camp and Potter’s Wheel Youth Camps. These events are gospel-centric and are two of the longest running evangelical events in Israel.

  • 2. Training

    To further develop the Potter’s Wheel Youth Center for Discipleship. The PWYCD is an after school “club” which enhances and develops students’ physical, relational, and spiritual development.

  • 3. Building

    FON/NBS have a constant need and challenge in renewing, renovating, revitalizing, and ultimately relocating (a portion of) our campus and facilities. In recent years, FON donors and locals have given to or provided over 1 Million for Capital expenditures and improvements. FON provides a “Renovation” team yearly, biannually, or as needed.

  • 4. Encouraging

    To partner with NBS teachers and leaders in a personal growth track that aids in personal development, leadership training, and ways of practical encouragement. FON’s goal is to create an ‘Adopt A Teacher’ program through our American church and school partnerships.

  • 5. Partnering

    To enlist, build, and grow in our Global Christian (school) Learning Partnerships. This opportunity would be for American and International K-12 Christian schools to partner and adopt an NBS class or grade; and, for Christian Universities to partner with FON/NBS to recruit NBS students to their school to further their studies.

  • 6. Helping

    To initiate, provide, and expand the children’s and family programs and the leadership for such a program. FON currently partners with Shandon Baptist Church of Columbia, SC to staff this need.

  • 7. Connecting

    To serve as a conduit to connect American and International local churches and leaders with NBS, the Nazareth community, and the larger evangelical family.