WORD International Ministries Alberta-Edmonton (WIN Edmonton) is a God-honoring, Christ-centered church located in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Our Identity As A Church
I. WIN EDMONTON IS A FELLOWSHIP. A fellowship is an association based upon the sharing of something in common. Believers have fellowship with one another on the basis of their common fellowship with God, their participation in the blessings of the gospel and their common task of mission. True fellowship is demonstrated in concern for, and practical commitment to one another. (Manser, 2009: Dictionary of Bible Themes) As a fellowship, our top priority is HARMONY and UNITY. We strive to… “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)
II. WIN EDMONTON IS A FAMILY. As a family, We operate on the basis of RELATIONSHIPS not RULES. We strive to follow the Biblical principle to “Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. 2 Treat older women as you would your mother and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.” 1 Timothy 5:1–2 (NLT)
III. WIN EDMONTON IS A BODY. We are a body, not a business! We are an organism, not just an organization! “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.” (Romans 12:4–6, NLT)
IV. WIN EDMONTON IS A FLOCK. As a flock, it is cared for and led by a shepherd (pastor). “Jesus asked Simon Peter, ‘Do you really love me?’ ‘Yes Lord,’ said Peter. ‘Then take care of my sheep.’” John 21:16-17. The pastors served as administers while the people in the church are the ministers. This is the reason why various areas of service in the church are referred to as “ministries” because they exist to serve and to meet the needs of the people.
Our Identity As A Denomination
We are part of an international denomination (a religious organization whose congregations are united in their adherence to its beliefs and practices) called Word International Ministries or WIN. There are hundreds of WIN churches in different parts of the world (USA, Middle East, Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean). For more details, please visit www.wordinternational.com.
THE VISION OF WORD INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES
Winning People to become disciples of Jesus Christ
THE MISSION OF WORD INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES
The heart of WORD International Ministries is the adoption of a global strategy for church planting and leadership development to fulfill its commitment to evangelism and the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. To bring unsaved and nominal Christians to a saving knowledge of Christ and to train national leaders to proclaim the Gospel to their own people and to other nations, relieving people who are suffering and disciple them to be faithful members of the kingdom of God.
OUR CORE VALUES
I. WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORSHIP. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE WORSHIP OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD IN ACCORDANCE TO THE WORD AND BY THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. We believe that “God is spirit and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth”(John 4:24)- that we, the church, are called “to show forth the praises of him who has called us out of the darkness into his marvelous light”(1 Peter 2:9), that God alone is worthy of all worship and adoration (Revelation 5:12), and that everything that has breath is commanded to praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6). We believe that our whole lives are to be a “living sacrifice” to God. (Romans 12:1)
II. WE ARE COMMITTED TO OUTREACH. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE WORLD MISSION OF GOD THROUGH THE CHURCH. We realize that all people are lost apart from the saving knowledge and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23)-that one must be born again to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3-7). Furthermore, we the church, are called to carry the Gospel to the lost (Matthew 28:19-20) for this Gospel is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
III. WE ARE COMMITTED TO RELATIONSHIP. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE FELLOWSHIP AND COMMUNION OF THE BELIEVERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST (Acts 2:42-47). We believe that Christians are admonished by the Scriptures to not neglect meeting together for the times of sharing, encouraging, carrying one another’s burdens, and meeting the needs of each member of the Christian community (Hebrews 10:24, 25). We cherish the concept of the church as a family, recognizing that all believers are brothers and sisters in the LORD (1 Corinthians 12:12-26).
IV. WE ARE COMMITTED TO DISCIPLESHIP. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE TASK OF DISCIPLESHIP. We believe that being grounded on the biblical teaching and being guided by the Holy Spirit are vital to the life and ministry of the church-that every believer must be trained to correctly handle the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). We believe that the call to make the disciples involves the mandate to educate men and women in the ways of the Lord, to prepare the church for the works of service (Ephesians 4:11-13), and to provide avenues for each member of the body to develop the skills needed to operate in his or her area of giftedness (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
In essential beliefs — we have unity. “There is one Body and one Spirit…there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all…” Eph. 4:4-6
In non- essential beliefs — we have liberty. “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters… Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls… So then each of us will give an account of himself to God… So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” Romans 14:1,4,12,22
In all our beliefs — we show charity. “If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2, NLT)
WE BELIEVE…
• That the Bible is the inspired Word of God. • In one God revealed in three Persons, namely, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
• That Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at God’s right hand praying on our behalf.
• That all people have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and that repentance is commanded by God and is necessary for forgiveness of sin.
• That salvation is received by faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
• In being made holy through faith in the sacrifice of Christ, through the Word, and by the Holy Spirit.
• That God expects all believers to live a life of holiness.
• In being empowered by and filled with the Holy Spirit following a clean heart.
In exercising spiritual gifts for the edification of the Body of Christ.
• In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
• That divine healing is provided for all through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
• In observing the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saint’s feet.
• In the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.