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The actions of the 1919 General Assembly are seen as the official beginnings of the work of Pensions and Benefits in the Church of the Nazarene. Born of compassion for the church's ministers and their widows, this ministry is entering its 75th year of service.

In 1990, the Board of Pensions and Benefits USA took action to encourage the writing of this book which relates the history of the work of pensions in the Church of the Nazarene. In a sense, it presents a 75-year report on the ministry of pensions and benefits on behalf of Nazarene ministers and "kicks off" the 75th anniversary celebration.

The Board of Pensions and Benefits USA is grateful to John C. Oster, editor in the Pensions office, for his willingness to devote nearly four years of research and writing to this special project.

John C. Oster has been editor for the Board of Pensions and Benefits USA since 1988. Prior to that, he served the Church of the Nazarene as editor in the Division of Church Growth and as coordinator of lay training in the Division of Sunday School Ministries for a total of 19 years of service at the International Headquarters, Church of the Nazarene. He is a graduate of Nebraska State College at Chadron, NE, and has done graduate study in journalism at the University of Missouri at Columbia. A 10-year career in secular newspaper journalism preceded his coming to work for the denomination. Other books he has written include Communication and Growth, Ever the Pioneer, and Mission Possible Churches. John and his wife, Dee, are members of the Olathe, KS, College Church of the Nazarene.

© Copyright 1993 Board of Pensions and Benefits USA, Church of the Nazarene