History of NEW (formerly NIEA)

The Nazarene International Education Association (NIEA) was born out of the concern of Nazarene educators for a support network to strengthen their educational ministries. The Association of Nazarene Christian Schools (ANCS) was the first grass roots response to this need.

In 1980, the General Assembly placed responsibility for Christian Schools in Children's Ministries. In a 1982 report to ANCS, Miriam Hall, director of Children's Ministries, proposed a denominationally-sponsored organization. ANCS voluntarily disbanded in favor of the new organization. After two years of planning, the Christian School Steering Committee adopted the concept and name of NIEA on April 17, 1984.

In June 1984, the new NIEA Executive Council proposed a Constitution and Bylaws. In February 1985, the General Board of the Church of the Nazarene approved the documents paving the way for ratification by NIEA membership.

As a result of a growing desire to expand the focus of NIEA beyond the support of Christian Schools, a proposal was approved at General Assembly to expand the organization to include educators from across the globe serving as educators in churches, private Christian schools, public schools, home-school, and universities/colleges. 

Today, NEW (Nazarene Educators Worldwide) is comprised of individuals and schools associated with the Church of the Nazarene who recognize the need for a support network to provide fellowship and resources to strengthen their educational ministries.