Nazarene Discipleship International (NDI) announced on Monday, 7 July 2025, that the Church of the Nazarene is launching a significant global effort to prioritize the discipleship of children.

Led by NDI, this initiative is designed to address a critical gap in fulfilling the mission to reach and disciple children across all six world regions. As a step in this initiative, Trey and Candice Brooks of Equip to Engage, Inc., have been appointed to serve as the denomination's first global child discipleship advocates.

In their new role, Trey and Candice will work closely with leaders around the world to form a global child discipleship council, spearhead international children's initiatives, and equip local churches and districts to deepen their impact on children and families. 

"Children are an integral part of the Body of Christ," Candice said, "and should be represented globally."

This effort reflects a growing commitment within the Church of the Nazarene to live out the values expressed in its manual:

"…the Church of the Nazarene acknowledges that children are important to God and a priority in His kingdom. We believe God directed us to attend to all children—to love, nurture, protect, uphold, guide, and advocate for them" (paragraph 922).

The Global Child Discipleship advocate position represents the first of its kind since the establishment of the international director of children's ministries role, a role in which Miriam Hall, Lynda Boardman, and Leslie Hart all served between 1976 and 2011.

Trey hopes that the creation of a global child discipleship council can help facilitate greater global collaboration in child discipleship.

"We believe child discipleship is happening in Africa that will help in South America, and there is child discipleship happening in Mesoamerica that will help in Eurasia, and child discipleship happening in Asia-Pacific that can help in USA/Canada," Trey said. "Now, the approaches might have to be tweaked; they might have to be changed a bit and contextualized. But, collectively, if discipleship of each child is our goal, then we can learn from one another about the ministries we're doing as a global church to accomplish that."

Trey and Candice also serve as the USA/Canada Region child discipleship advocates. They have led discipleship efforts at major denominational events, including GA Kids at the 30th General Assembly and Conventions. Through Equip to Engage, they provide training, resources, and encouragement to child discipleship leaders.

Trey holds degrees from Southern Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary and is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene. Candice holds a degree in elementary education from Southern Nazarene University and is a licensed teacher and certified story trainer through Tell the Story. Together, they are passionate about seeing every child grow as a faithful follower of Jesus.

For more information or to connect with Trey and Candice, contact: kids@nazarene.org.