Nampa First Church of the Nazarene has demonstrated a heart of compassion for the neighborhood around its facility and the community of Nampa for decades. They have been committed to incarnating the hope and love of Jesus Christ in the center of the city of Nampa despite all the demographic changes that have occurred in the surrounding neighborhood.
Our Story and Staff
DR. BRIAN THOMAS
Board Chair + CEO
REV. TONY JOHNSON
Board Vice Chair + COO + Programs Director
MR. RYAN LEE
Treasurer + Finance Committee Member
MRS. REBEKAH GRINDSTAFF
Development Committee Chairperson
MR. NEAL MOORE
Food Bank Committee Chairperson + Care House Food Bank Director
REV. ERIKA PERRY
Education and Family Committee Chairperson + Liaison with Central Elementary School
DR. ANDY BENNETT
Medical and Dental Services Committee Chairperson + Care House Clinic Medical Director
MRS. PATTY CROUCH
CHP Administrative Assistant + Development Committee Member
MRS. JUDY BENNETT
Care House Clinic Administrative Assistant
Since 1991, Nampa First Church of the Nazarene’s efforts to incarnate the Living Hope in the brokenness around us continued to expand. In the early 1990’s, a partnership was developed with the neighborhood school, Central Elementary School, to provide teacher support and tutoring for at-risk students. In 2006, a ministry called Celebrate Recovery began with the intention helping people pursue recovery over their “hurts, hang-ups and habits.” Mental health and relational counselors from within the church began offering counseling services to individuals who contacted the church in need of guidance.
In 2017, under the leadership of Nampa First church of the Nazarene pastor, Dr. Brian Thomas, a decision was made to build on the legacy of the Care House Food Bank and unite the various compassionate ministries of NFC into a 501c3 non-profit known as "Care House Partnerships". A board of directors involving six individuals significantly involved in the ministries was developed and the ministry vision was expanded. The new ministry vision include the food bank, Celebrate Recovery, health services, counseling and mental health, After School Kid’s tutoring, and Foster & Adoptive Family Circle. The vision also includes developing partnerships with community non-profits so community needs might be served better through a spirit of collaboration.
Nampa First Church of the Nazarene has demonstrated a heart of compassion for the neighborhood around its facility and the community of Nampa for decades. They have been committed to incarnating the hope and love of Jesus Christ in the center of the city of Nampa despite all the demographic changes that have occurred in the surrounding neighborhood. Because of the heart of this people, what started as a Care Closet has grown into a ministry desiring to nourish the whole person – body, mind, and spirit.
The Care House began as “Care Closet” in 1955 as a group of Sunday School teachers sensed a need to help the Hispanic families in the community with the basic essentials of life. In 1981, the “Care Closet” grew into a “Care Room” where families in need could access clothing, food, and basic household goods in response to a church committee’s efforts to “devise a process by which we can become more aware of these needs and provide a ministry of those available to meet those needs.” As the community need increased, in 1992 the Care Room grew into the Nazarene Care House as NFC purchased a house across the street from the church to address this need. A 1995 church newsletter records that the Nazarene Care House served over 17,000 families over a three-year period, or 470 families a month. Presently, the food bank services an average of 650 families each month with enough food for three days.