 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
| Word International Ministries | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Classification | Pentecostal |
| Orientation | Evangelical |
| Region | Worldwide |
| Origin | 1970s Makati, Philippines |
| Official website | www |
Word International Ministries, also known as Word International (WIN), is a non-denominational Evangelical church based in the Philippines, with established presence in other countries.
The Word International Ministries’ name was derived from John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” The church believes that Jesus Christ clearly impressed upon the church leaders that no endeavor will succeed if it does not start with God. Collectively, it was agreed by the church leadership that the name aside from identification purposes was to principally declare that Jesus Christ – the Creator, the Master – is the Lord of the church. Thus the Word, or the logos, became the church's main name. The inclusion of the word “International” was deemed necessary since the church's mandate extends outside the Philippines and the inclusion of the said word was influenced by the presence of WIN churches in numerous countries outside the Philippines by the time the name was adopted and was influenced by the Filipino diaspora. The addition of the word “ministries” was also necessary as the church believe that the door to servanthood and creative evangelism is the ministry. It will also be the main strategy in the achievement of the vision of the new church. The word WIN, which stands for Word International, was adopted to describe the mission and its people to remind its members to win the lost to the Lord.
Word International Ministries core beliefs include: [1]
The church traces its origin as early as the 1970s in the Philippines, a period describe by the church as the “charismatic movement.” The Church's foundations were laid in Makati where a group of lay people who are at least college graduates including professionals, entrepreneurs, rank and file personnel and office workers initiated gatherings in various places outside churches and other traditional venues to hold bible studies and worship services. They met in their homes, in their offices during breaks, in functions rooms of business establishments and even hotels. The meetings of the group grew in frequency and number of attendees. The entry of seminary-trained men and women was an open alternative. In the second semester of 1979, a group of these lay church workers were meeting regularly to study the Bible, to have fellowship, and to pray. One of those who would meet regularly was a small group composed of lay people from the International Charismatic Service (ICS), an Assemblies of God Fellowship. They met regularly in a bible study in a Makati Subdivision led by a Church of God missionary, and evolved finally as Word for the World Christian Fellowship.
Their regular meetings were moved from a small residence to a progressively bigger place as the membership of the church grew. They went from renting a disco to a function room, to the ballroom of the Hotel Intercontinental and later the Rizal Theater. They held worship services on Sunday and on Thursdays.
The King's Highway was later established allowing World International Ministry to establish its presence outside Metro Manila throughout the country under the initiative of Bro. Joseph Samson.
The 1970s was also the decade where many Filipinos went to countries abroad as Overseas Filipino Workers. same decade saw the migration of Filipino workers to other nations all over the globe. [2] The Overseas Filipino Workers community is a big influence to the establishment of churches abroad.
In 1984, the church targeted Hong Kong as its first overseas mission outreach. In late 1986, Bro. Chito Cordero together with Bro. Raymond Lim of the Church of Singapore-Balestier established a Bible study targeting the Filipinos in Singapore. Sisters Liza Mayo, Elvie Sinel, Marcia Anderson followed shortly.
In 1988, Bro. Lito Estanislao of the Cell Ministry and Christian Couples Ministry in Makati migrated with his family and established a church in Sydney, Australia. By 1990, the efforts of Bro. Priam and Sis. Marlyn Guiuan led to the establishment of the church in Los Angeles, United States.
The missionary couple, Bro. Rene and Rosanna Nepomuceno were sent to pastor the church in Dubai, United Arab Emirates as a follow up on a work that was formally received by Bro. Joseph Samson. The local church in Dubai was organized leading to various other works in others parts of the Middle East.
In the 1990s, the church increased its presence in the United States and established itself in Canada and Europe. In 1992, Bro. Ed Miciano, a former Youth Ministry worker, sought to stabilize the work done in San Francisco, California initiated by Bro. Elmer Salazar, who was also a former Youth worker, into becoming a local church. Succeeding years saw Bro. Alberto “Chito” Cordero arriving to pastor the Los Angeles church. [3] Later, Bro. Dino Miciano was sent to pastor the church in Seattle, Washington that was initiated by Roderick “Dondi” Castillo. At the same time, Bro. Vicente “Jun” Que, Jr. and Bro Rolando “Rollie” Pascual saw the establishment of a church in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. In December 1992, Bro Babes and Sis. Nickie Paulate, the National Overseer then of the church were transferred to the United States to oversee the expansion of the Filipino ministries developing towards Canada.
In 1994, the works in Europe started in the Netherlands through the efforts of Bro. Bani and Sis Cecila “Ching” Lansang with the help of the Paulates, the Guiuans, and the Nepomucenos. In the same year a church was planted in Switzerland. In the same year, Bro Gonga “Butch” and Sister Manju Yu were sent to pastor the church in Singapore. Bro Francisco Guinto, an engineer from the Middle East and some friends started the works in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Pastor Ramon Solidum, also another engineer and a former pastor of the church in Saudi Arabia pastored the church in Toronto, Canada. On the same year another church in Toronto was established through the efforts of workers from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates under Bro. Edgar Gelacio. These churches were either pastored by missionaries that came from the Youth, Young Adults and Christian Couples Ministries, and other professionals.
In the early 1990s, To address the needs and the continuing growth of the fellowship in the Philippines, the Church of God created the COG National Urban Region under the leadership of Pastor Babes Paulate. The establishment of the COGNUR placed all the Word for the World Christian Fellowship (WWCF) under this office. By January 1993, Pastor Joseph E. Samson was appointed to replace Ptr. Babes who was appointed as the Assistant International Director of the fellowship based in the United States.
By the late 1990s and into the 2000s, the establishment and strengthening of churches was becoming a reality in Canada, the United States and Western Europe. But then in the mid-1995, the occurrence of a crisis in church leadership led several of its pastors to found the need to establish a new church.
The leaders who have been meeting for more than a year once again met for the last time to strengthen the churches worldwide. 80 churches all over the Philippines including the majority of the churches abroad unified together. In June 1997, the first church service in Makati was organized. And on August 4, 1997, the pastors registered the Word International Ministries as a non-profit organization and was certified by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines under SEC No. A- 1997–13753. Churches outside the Philippines likewise formally organized and registered in their respective countries.
In November 1997, the Word International Ministries (WIN) gathered in Tagaytay for its first Pastors and Pastor's Wives conference which culminated with a National Gathering held at the Mandaluyong Gym. The theme for the said gathering was “A New Beginning.” 2000 members came to attend the gathering filling the gym to the Gym.
On its first national gathering in November 1997, Two thousand members attended the worship convergence held at the Mandaluyong City Gym. The city government of Mandaluyong granted the use of the gym for free. During the said gathering, new vision and mission statements were introduced. Likewise a new global cry “Win the World for God's Glory,” was also adopted. In 1998 another gathering with a theme, “Each One Win One,” was held at the Ramada Hotel in Manila. 3000 people attended the gathering. The year 1999 also marked the launching of the Word Leadership Institute (WLI) which gave the church a structured equipping and edifying programs. In 2000, another gathering was held at the Makati City Gym with the theme “Getting Closer, Growing Stronger,”. An estimated crowd of 4000 came to join the Gathering. In 2004, in spite of a super typhoon that hit the country, a National Pastors and Pastor's Wives conference was held at the WIN Pasig church. A National gathering followed held at the Ynares Sports Complex in Antipolo with theme “Bayan Ko Aaabutin Ko.” 5000 people attended the said gathering.
In June 2001, the leaders of Word International Ministries from the Philippines, [4] Asia, [5] Canada, [6] the Middle East, [7] Europe [8] and the United States [9] met in Burbank in Los Angeles, California, United States. The objective of that meeting was to consolidate the leadership as well as the structure of the church worldwide. On this year also, two more churches were added on the lists, the WIN New Jersey started by Mando Zacharias, and another one in Israel by Ferdie Melendres. [10]
By 2002, Word International Ministries has outreaches and influences in more than 26 countries with over 200 churches worldwide. In the said meeting the International leaders structured the church to have five regions, namely, The Philippines and the Pacific islands, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Canada, and the USA. Pastors Joseph E. Samson, Butch Yu, Rene Nepomuceno, Ronaldo de Villa, Chito Cordero were appointed as regional directors respectively. Pastor Babes Paulate was also installed as the first International Director of the Church. It was also agreed that the WIN Los Angeles becomes the official and corporate address of the International office.
A ministry was founded in Ireland in 2002, [11] and in September 2003 works in Myanmar was added. The Hong Kong ministry was re-established in May 2004. Attempts to establish works in Japan and Nepal were made. In April 2004, the second International Leaders Meeting and Conference was held at a venue owned by Meralco in Antipolo, Philippines. The year 2004 ended with a Pastors and Pastor's wives conference at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig. Meanwhile, the ministry continued to grow, and in 2006, new church was established in New York, and in 2014 another church in Massachusetts. [12]
With people continually being added, Under Bro. Emerito “Babes” Paulate, the church established various ministries such as Christian Couples, Young Adults, Youth, Cell ministry, Reach Youth, Singles, and the Growth Program Institute (GPI). The establishing of churches outside the Makati area was then led by Bro. Joseph E. Samson, which saw the mobilization of other lay leaders even those from the provinces. These people later become ministry heads, Bible study teachers and some became pastors. Continuity was also ensured as various training and equipping modules were developed, combined with basic discipling and mentoring methods. The Growth Program Institute, or the GPI, had become the main training program of the fellowship.
The Word International Ministries seeks to expand its presence through an outreach ministry named The King's Highway. It has established itself outside Metro Manila under Bro. Joseph Samson. The project seeks to conduct Bible study in a certain province with the later intent to conduct regular worship services until it becomes a local church that has the capability to conduct its own outreaches.
Its corporate office is located at Cityland Condominium, Herrera Tower, VA Rufino corner Valero Street, Makati.
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS), also known as the Missouri Synod, is a confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 1.7 million members as of 2022 it is the second-largest Lutheran body in the United States, behind the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The LCMS was organized in 1847 at a meeting in Chicago, as the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, a name which partially reflected the geographic locations of the founding congregations.
Kenneth Erwin Hagin was an American preacher. He is known for pioneering the Word of Faith movement, following in the footsteps of E. W. Kenyon.
The Church of God General Conference (CoGGC) is a nontrinitarian, Adventist Christian body also known as the Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith. The Church of the Blessed Hope, some of whose congregations also use the name Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith (CGAF), are a separate denomination, although they share the same origins.
Elim Fellowship is a Finished Work Pentecostal denomination of Christianity. It was founded in 1933 in Lima, New York, United States. It is named for a biblical location named in Exodus 15:27, wherein Elim is described as an oasis in the wilderness.
The Independent Assemblies of God International (IAOGI) is a pentecostal Christian association with roots in a revival of the 1890s among the Scandinavian Baptist and Pietist communities in the United States. Independent Assemblies of God International is a member of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America. International offices are located in Laguna Hills, California.
The Members Church of God International, abbreviated as MCGI, is an international Christian religious organization with headquarters in the Philippines. It is popularly known in the Philippines as Ang Dating Daan, after its flagship radio and television program of the same name which is also the longest-running religious program in the Philippines which was hosted by Eli Soriano, MCGI's "Overall Servant" until his death in 2021.
Mars Hill Bible Church is an American non-denominational Christian megachurch located in Grandville, Michigan near Grand Rapids. The teaching pastor was Rob Bell until December, 2011 when Bell transitioned into another ministry and was succeeded by his friend and fellow Mars Hill pastor Shane Hipps. In August 2012, the church announced to its members that Kent Dobson, son of well-known church leader and speaker Ed Dobson, would assume the position of teaching pastor. Dobson was then succeeded in August 2016 by AJ Sherrill, former pastor of Trinity Grace Church: Chelsea in NYC. In 2020, Sherrill departed from the church and in 2021 was succeeded by Ashlee Eiland and Troy Hatfield.
Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF) is an international non-denominational church founded by Peter Tan-Chi, based in the Philippines. Its main worship church is located at the CCF Center in Ortigas East, Pasig.
Stephen Tong is a Chinese Indonesian Reformed pastor, evangelist, teacher, and musician. He heads the Reformed Evangelical Church of Indonesia, which houses the megachurch Messiah Cathedral, and is the largest Christian Church building in Southeast Asia. He has preached in countries around the world, and guest lectured at theological seminaries and schools.
Word of Life Fellowship is an international evangelistic Christian ministry. The headquarters is in Schroon Lake, New York, in the United States.
A Bible college, sometimes referred to as a Bible institute or theological institute or theological seminary, is an evangelical Christian or Restoration Movement Christian institution of higher education which prepares students for Christian ministry with theological education, Biblical studies and practical ministry training.
The Revival Fellowship is a conservative Pentecostal church based in Australia.
The First Baptist Church of Manila, also known as FBCM or FirstBap, is a Fundamental Baptist church in Manila, Philippines. The church had, at first, U.S. missionaries for its pastor, but consequently, with the independence of the Philippines on July 4, 1946, the church had its first Filipino pastor, Pastor Antonio Ormeo. FBCM's current senior pastor, who took Pastor Ormeo's place, is Pastor Ebenezer T. Nacita.
Bread of Life Ministries International is a Filipino Evangelical megachurch founded by Rev. Caesar "Butch" L. Conde. It was founded in Quezon City in 1982.
The Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) is a Christian denomination from Nigeria founded by Reuben Akinwalere George in Iwaya Yaba circa 1955.
Day By Day Jesus Ministries (formerly Day By Day Christian Ministries) (also known as DBD) is a non-denominational evangelical Christian mega-church organization. Its headquarters is located in Makati, Philippines. Its primary worship center is located at the Philippine International Convention Center, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries is regional theological education and ministry training institution of the Church of God World Missions and a religious higher education institution recognized by the Philippine government.
The Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ , also known as PMCC, is a Pentecostal Christian denomination based in the Philippines. It was founded in 1972 by Arsenio T. Ferriol, who would become its executive minister, and registered on August 30, 1973.
Word of Life Bible Church (WLBC) is a Pentecostal Christian megachurch located in Warri, Delta, Nigeria. It is one of the largest congregations in Nigeria, averaging about 30,000 attendees per week. The church now has congregations in over 70 locations worldwide. The senior pastor is Ayo Oritsejafor.
