More than 50 youth from the Dominican Republic and Haiti joined to serve in the first Maximum Mission event on the Church of the Nazarene's Dominican Republic East District from 9 to 11 March. During the weekend, the visiting participants partnered with two Nazarene churches in the city of Higuey, serving the Juan Pablo Duarte community through fellowship, service, evangelism, discipleship, and compassion.

Participants shared devotions together, cleaned the city’s streets, and engaged in both door-to-door and street evangelism. They also held a Vacation Bible School for children, a conference for teenagers, and a workshop for parents. Participants even donated toys, clothes, and shoes to the children and families in the community.

"My life was changed during this Maximum Mission," said participant Lioni Taveras. “I was able to share with different people who left an impact on my heart. We went out to preach, serve the community, and even cleaned houses ... I realized that it’s not only about preaching God’s Word verbally; it’s also about showing compassion. So I have a challenge ahead: listening to God’s voice and being obedient to Him.”

East District leaders, including Global Missions Coordinator Elba Duson and Nazarene Youth International President Ramon Joseph, worked together to organize the event. The event theme was “Transform: Change, Evolve,” which arose from Acts 17:6 and the desire to see the Dominican Republic transformed by the message of salvation.

"By the end of the weekend, I realized that transformation doesn’t happen spontaneously," Duson said. “It’s a process that starts in our own lives until it gets to the lives of others. I saw God working in each participant, how they confessed their own sin and need for God in the midst of this experience. Not only the community received the call to transformation, but this had already begun in our own lives.”

--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica