“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." [Mat 26:6-13 NIV].    

​

This is the scriptural basis for our Alabaster Offering, a ministry that has resulted in more than 8,800 Nazarene building projects globally. Just as the woman in scripture gave up something costly for her Lord, Nazarenes do without things they want but do not need. Alabaster funds help provide land for many Work & Witness projects, and the entire Alabaster Offering goes toward the purchase of land and construction of churches, schools, medical facilities, and homes for missionaries and national workers. 

​

Alabaster is an ongoing offering. Please take an Alabaster box home with you, pray for those people who live, learn, grow spiritually, and receive an education through your generous Alabaster giving, and fill your box so that we can continue to ‘put down roots’ throughout the world. The Alabaster Offering is collected in February and September, so we can continue to give to Alabaster all year.