Florida Nazarene Bible Institute
“First Class” Information
(For New MITs and MITs in Level 1, 2, or 3 who have not taken “First Class”)
(Note: This information applies primarily to English speaking students. Students in the Hispanic language-based ministry, the Haitian language-based ministry, and any other language-based ministry in development, would take this this class in that language. Please see below for contact information.)
“First Class” is the required orientation event for the ministry and ordination preparation process for MITs on the Florida District Church of the Nazarene. It is preferred that new MITs take this class before starting other classes. However, if students have already started other classes, they should still take “First Class” as soon as it is offered. “First Class” is designed to answer the basic questions and outline the expectations in the process toward ordination. It will be offered once per quarter, either as an online Zoom class, or as a local on-site four-hour event, in various locations for convenient student access.
MITs must complete at least six classes prior to being considered for a first district license. If an MIT is new to the ministerial process and has not yet completed the initial six classes in the Course of Study, First Class may be counted as one of the first six classes. This option only applies to MITs who have not yet been granted a first district license.
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“First Class” District Orientation [English Only] [4 hours via Zoom]
Jeanne Morgan, instructor
Contact: Jeanne Morgan, jeanne@floridanaz.com, 863-838-2692
Next session to be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm., via Zoom
Registration opens 9/12/2025 and closes 03/01/2026
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“FIRST CLASS” PRE- ASSIGNMENTS
READING ASSIGNMENTS
(To be read and completed in advance of attending the class)
Regional Sourcebook for Ministerial Development click here
Guide to Ministerial Preparation for Ordination English , Spanish, French
“One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism”. English; French; Spanish
Nazarene Manual “Ministry and Christian Service” Part VI pages 198-244 click here
Recommended Reading: The following books are highly recommended: Holiness for Ordinary People Author: Keith Drury. Becoming Human Again. A Biblical Primer on Entire Sanctification. Author: Timothy Crutcher.
All the above reading should be read prior to your New District License Interview.
Reading, from the above documents, that must be completed prior to First Class will be listed below with page numbers.
READING AND WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
Part 1: Calling and Formation. Regional Sourcebook for Ministerial Development
Chapter 1:
Read pages 7-11 Sourcebook
Writing Assignment: briefly describe your call to ministry; the where? The what/the how/ the when? What area of ministry do you believe God is calling you to pursue? 1 page [Be prepared to share your “Call to Ministry” in First Class [time limit of 3 minutes]
Action Items Prior to First Class:
Read page 9, Guide to Ministerial Preparation for Ordination, Register your call.
Register your call to ministry. https://floridanaz.wufoo.com/forms/registration-of-call-to-ministry/
Contact your pastor and make sure the following online document has been submitted:
https://formsonline.nazarene.org/appnet/vch [on form the email for a district contact should be mary@floridanaz.com or jeanne@floridanaz.com]
For a local license the local church should order your certificate:
https://usacanadaregion.org/clergy-development/call-ministry/request-for-local-ministers-license
Chapter 2: Lifelong Learning: A Ministry Essential. Sourcebook
Read pages 13-16 Sourcebook
Chapter 3: Educational Foundations for the Practice of Ministry. Sourcebook
Read pages: 17-22 Sourcebook
Read pages 10-12 Guide to Ministerial Preparation for Ordination
Read page 18-20 Guide to Ministerial Preparation for Ordination. Assessment Events, Reporting Annually, Communicating with your District Board of Ministry, Ministry Experience and Mentoring.
Writing Assignment: The goal of a Nazarene minister is to develop certain abilities and capacities, categorized in 4 areas. Please identify the 4 areas and discuss how these 4 areas connect to the Ability Statements. [Sourcebook pages 19-20 and Appendix I [pages 84-88]
Identify which Ability statements do you identify in yourself the most? The least?
Chapter 4: Licensing and Ordination – Sourcebook
Read pages 27-32 Sourcebook
Read pages 13-18 Local/District Minister’s License — Guide to Ministerial Preparation for Ordination.
Read pages 21-24. Ordination — Guide to Ministerial Preparation for Ordination
Reading and Writing Assignment: Read the entire contents of the following booklets: Nazarene Essentials and One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.
Nazarene Essentials write 1 page discussing “Our Core Values” and “X. Christian Holiness and Entire Sanctification.” Choose a scripture listed in 10.1 and discuss how you could explain sanctification with that scripture.
From One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism write 1 page discussing: What did you learn, anything new, challenging, enlightening? Did it reaffirm anything to you?
NOTE: These writing assignments are not reports to parrot back facts, rather to discuss what you learned and the application of the knowledge presented.
Action Item after First Class:
If pursuing the Non-Degreed Course of Study [NCOS]
Enroll with TNU
To enroll click here and follow the steps to TNU’s Enrollment Process CLICK HERE
Register for Classes. See Class Schedule. click here
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CONTACT INFORMATION - “FIRST CLASS” OFFERED IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Hispanic Ministries (CEM): Rev. Nancy Diaz, Educational Director - click here
Haitian Ministries: Rev. Gilbert Dertes, Director - lobergy@gmail.com, 407-470-3825