What Matters Most

Dear SoCal Nazarene Family,

Let me say how much I appreciate and love all of our pastors and people across the SoCal Nazarene District. This first year with you has renewed my hope in the church—specifically, in the Church of the Nazarene. The church of Jesus Christ truly is the hope of the world.

As we move through summer and into a new ministry year, I have been praying and seeking the Lord for His focus for 2025–2026.

Last year, as I arrived, the Lord gave me a clear missional statement for our district for 2024–2025: “Lost and broken people matter to God; lost and broken people matter to us.” Many of our pastors and churches rallied around this mission, which beautifully reflects the heart of Jesus. In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories showing us exactly what matters most to Him.

The 2025-2026 statement’s focus naturally flows from last year’s theme: “What Matters Most!” What mattered most to Jesus still matters most to us—the lost, the broken, and the call to bring them to Him.

As your District Superintendent, my heart is to help our churches remain both missional and fruitful. The key is simple: stay focused on His mission, His church, and His people.

Whenever I visit our churches, I leave encouraged. Nazarenes are good and godly people. We minister in some of the most difficult and ungodly places in the world, and yet God is at work among us. Let’s continue to lead with overflowing love—for each other and especially for the lost and broken.

SoCal Priorities – What Matters Most!

1. Mission – Luke 15: Lost and Found

• Evangelism and outreach – missional leaders uniting in purpose and strengthening the church.

• Celebrating what’s working – baptisms, new memberships – the fuel of the church

  
  

2. Ministers – Healthy and Holy, Leaning Into Our Calling

• Equipping and resourcing ministers

• Leading with transparency and authenticity – brokenness leads to relevance

3. Making Christlike Disciples (2026) – Holiness and Wholeness

• The ministry of the local church should be bringing healing to broken people

• Transformed lives, deliverance, transparency, and grace

• Great Reports from Around Our District: Recently, both Yucca Valley and Chula Vista Parkway Hills Nazarene shared with me about incredible ministries God is using to change lives in their communities and I will be sharing the details with you in the near future.

• Pastors, I would love to hear how your church is living out What Matters Most! Whether it’s a ministry, an outreach, or a special event, your stories can inspire others. I’ll be sharing these in a regularly scheduled report called 'Celebrating What Matters Most' so we can encourage one another and give God the glory for what He is doing across our district.

Looking Ahead Together

As we step into this new ministry year, my prayer is that we will stay deeply committed to What Matters Most—loving God, loving people, and bringing the hope of Jesus to the lost and broken. I truly believe our best days of ministry are ahead of us as we remain faithful to His mission. Let’s keep praying, keep serving, and keep celebrating every story of God’s transforming work across our district. Together, we are making a Kingdom impact—one life at a time!

In Christ,

Shawn Siegfreid

District Superintendent

Southern California District Church of the Nazarene

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Scripture & Denominational Focus

Philippians 1:9-11

"I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return."

Cycle of Resurgence

• 2024: Blessing our Community

• 2025: Bringing People to Jesus

• 2026: Becoming Christlike Disciples