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Introduction. During the first year or two of a church plant, there are some very clear priorities, and you should have a plan to demonstrate how you are going to execute those activities. Why, because once you get into the church planting mode you will not have time plan in detail. Your primary objectives will be (there will of course be others): 1. A programme of gathering people and starting small groups – that is meeting and gathering of new people, and it will involve events, evangelism, and discipleship of new converts. a. Key Phrase to memorise - (Gather gather gather) 2. Communicate the vision – be prepared to keep repeating yourself. People need to hear it at least four or five times before it takes root, then they are on the same page as you. a. Key Phrase to memorise - (vision vision vision) 3. Develop Leaders - No church grows beyond its leaders and their ability to develop, themselves and new leaders. (IRTDMN) a. Key phrase to memorise (Leaders leaders leaders) 4. Find resources – This is primarily about teaching people that churches require resources and teaching them to give and practice generosity of time and money is essential (modelled by the leader) a. Key phrase to memorise - (Give give give) The temptations and pitfalls of that first period. 1. To start Sundays too early, it is often a tempting way to gather Christians, but you will not have the access to them on a Sunday as you do with growing a church through small groups where there is greater opportunity for discipleship and communication. Also they often come with unhelpful expectations and issues. Sundays take a lot of resource which is better used on other things in the early days. Small groups allow you a better vehicle for spotting and developing leaders and communicating vision. 2. Unrealistic expectations of what can be achieved during this early period. Church planting is exciting but there is a temptation to try and build too fast. It is God who builds the church, so take your time and build well. Pace yourself, this I not a sprint, but a marathon. 3. You will have moments of both joy and despair. It can be an emotional roller coaster When you have a plan with milestones you can have an objective perspective as to how you are doing with your plan and milestones as you measure against it, and not live life on your emotions. 4. To do a plan and then ignore or deviate too much, yes you can modify your plan with good reason, but so many church planters don’t bother either to follow or update their plans. 5. Not praying and listening to God, they are both essential, prayer changes everything, it releases the resources of heaven upon the earth. 6. Releasing leaders too fast. Release leaders slowly and train and monitor them as you go along. You must learn to feedback to developing leaders, mainly with with affirmation but also constructive correction. Now to the plan itself - keep it simple The easiest format is to pick your key priorities and simply describe what you might do week by week to achieve these and in the milestone column write down what the milestone of achievement(s) might be for that week if there is some. So, for example tasks for week 1: Gathering - Plan next 8 weeks gathering events. Vision - think of ways to communicate the vision – short memorable phrases Leaders – Pray about the leaders I need in the first year or two. Resources – Investigate banks accounts and bookkeeping, and budget. MILESTONE: This might be: Have a clear plan for next 8 weeks gathering activities. Then you look at week 2 and so on and so forth. It is a time-consuming process. It requires a lot of planning and thought but a problem solved at the planning stage is 5 times more efficient than solving it in reality. I would do at least the first 18 months like this, week by week. Some of your milestones might be something like this. Number of Leaders identified / trained. Number of small groups Number of Alphas Level of Giving

1. Who is the Vineyard (and what do they believe and therefore practice)? a. Started in 1997 in Yorba Linda California by John and Carol Wimber. b. To day there is probably 4500 plus churches in over 90 different nations. c. We are a church planting movement. d. Planting of Churches started in the UK in 1987 and we currently have about 140 churches. e. Our Governance is Episcopal. f. Theologically we are conservative evangelical and our perspective would be the Kingdom of God. g. Our early roots, combined with our calling, define who we are. i. Hunger for God expressed by intimate worship ii. Empowered and led by the Spirit iii. Ruled by the scriptures iv. Inspired by compassion v. A grace community. h. We are not i. Anglicans, Baptists, Pentecostals, Methodists, Seeker Sensitive, Catholics, Faith Church, NFI, Pioneer, Abundant Life, Hill Songs, Free Church, TD Jakes followers, but we love them and respect them, we fully recognise that they are, as we are, a part of the Body of Christ. We have our distinctives and so do they. We will always seek to bless them but have no desire to lose our own uniqueness and calling. 2. We have a genetic code, which defines family likeness and is the basis of our multiplication and growth. a. Your genes design how you develop and what you reproduce. b. Security of leadership is to know who you are, and therefore you don’t become a clone of the latest trend or fashion but are true to your calling. c. Our lives are as loose change in the pocket of God. d. Vineyard genetic code i. Clear accurate biblical teaching, teaching the main and plain things of scripture teach its books and how to apply the scriptures to life. ii. Culture current worship, intimate in nature with room for the manifestation of gifts. iii. Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Priesthood of all believers, everybody gets to play. iv. Small groups are the basis of pastoring; the basis is committed community. v. Emphasis on healing and signs and wonders vi. Church planting at home and abroad vii. Unity in the body of Christ the Church is dispenser of truth rather than the protector of truth. viii. Evangelism ix. Equipping the Saints x. Ministry to the poor

We have Values a. They are invisible yet very powerful. They are deeply held convictions that though unseen control and define our behaviour. They are some of the things that define our distinctives. b. Vineyard Values + Bible References Intimacy with God Heb 4:16 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Spirit Led Rom 8:4 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Discipleship Matt 28: 18-20 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’. Kingdom of God 1 Cor 4:20 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. Servant Leadership Mark 10:42-45 42 Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 And whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Community 1 Cor 13: 4-7 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. Reality James 1:5 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. Culture Current/non-religious 1 Cor 9:9-13 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain’. Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plough man ploughs and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use the right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? Accountability Eph 4:25 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body. Simplicity Phil 4:4 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Unity Acts 4:12 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. The Individual (not individualism) Ps 139:1-16 1 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5 You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there: if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Integrity Matt 5:8 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Mercy of God Col 3:12-13 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Prayer 1 Thes 5:16-18 16 Be joyful always 17 pray continually 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Christlike-ness Eph 5:1-2 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly love children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Seeking after God Ps 63:1-3 1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and you glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. We (Hull Vineyard Church) also have a purpose, priorities, and goals, a. Purpose - “We exist to worship God and communicate His love and power to a lost generation and to nurture and equip them to serve God” – the least the lost and the lonely. b. Priorities- Seven things to focus on i. Leadership development ii. Outreach and evangelism. iii. Families iv. Discipleship v. Worship/ Prayer vi. Church planting and mission vii. Poor c. Goals or objectives for next 5-10 years i. 350 people in two services on a Sunday. ii. To plant 2 new churches in ten years. iii. Expand our outreach to the poor iv. Core income to grow at least 5-10% per annum v. Develop international missions outreach. vi. Be a resource church for others

This is what we would like to achieve: a. The focus of the Home Group relationships will not be the Manchester United Big Brother or the weather; it will be the awesome wonder of knowing Jesus Christ; what He is doing in our hearts by the Holy Spirit: how we are fighting against sin; what He has been saying to us; spurring each other on to seek Him more. b. The Home Group will not be content to meet on a weekly basis; relationships will occur throughout the week. There will be times on the phone together; meetings for equipping; meetings with each other’s unbelieving friends; small groups gathering for prayer. c. The Home Group members will be devoted to each other in love. Along with devotion to their family they are more devoted to each other than to anything else. Their life purpose is to see each other in heaven with as many people as possible. So they talk honestly and openly about their temptations, their sins, their struggles – and they lovingly urge each other not to sin, and to press on to know the Lord. d. Each time the Home Group meets they are hungry to meet God. Through intense and lengthy worship, waiting on the Lord, and fervent prayer the group will not be content until thy know that God is in their midst by the Holy Spirit. e. The main goal of the Home Group meeting is how they each are doing with Lord: what has been building their faith; that God has been doing in their hearts; what God has been saying to them; what has been weakening their faith; what temptations they are fighting; what we have been learning from the Scriptures. If someone is obviously struggling or not doing well with the Lord the Home Group cannot ignore it. Eternity is at stake. So with discernment and sensitivity they will seek to help that brother or sister. f. The Home Group will regularly experience supernatural manifestations of the Spirit. We should expect spiritual gifts and miracles at our gatherings; and also when we are together in our homes or out in the city. g. The Home Group will spend much time praying together for each other, for unbelieving friends, for the glory of God to break in upon Hull Some gatherings will be set apart specifically for the purpose of intercessory prayer. They will set aside some days to fast and pray for specific issues. h. Each member of the Home Group will always be involved in some intentional focused equipping relationship; either being trained in some area of Christian life and ministry; or training someone else. i. Each member of the Home Group will always have at least one unbelieving friend whom they are seeking to love and care for and share the lord with. Much of our time will be spent talking and strategizing together about these friends – encouraging each other to be more loving and more bold – and praying for each other’s friends. What would a Home Group look like who really believed that their friends are a heart-beat away from eternal hell? j. Each Home Group will regularly see unbelievers who repent and believe in Christ through their ministry. These new believers will receive water-baptism, and immediately be linked up with a helper who will lead them through. k. Because each Home Group will be adding people through conversions, each Home Group will always be moving towards birthing a new group. l. Because each Home Group will always have people at all different stages of spiritual interest and maturity, each Home Group will always have problems. This side of heaven there is no such thing as a Home Group, which is functioning without problems. What happens in a group? a. Worship – the pursuit of intimacy. It has three by-products: i. Breaks guilt ii. Fills them up iii. Sends them out. b. Word i. Sharing of a Bible study by way of a challenge – not preaching but interactive c. Ministry i. Pray for each other ii. Teach each other to pray iii. Experiment with the Gifts. d. Sharing i. Model vulnerability ii. Encourage others to share iii. Keep confidences e. Love each other i. Care for one another ii. Be interest in one another iii. Listen to one another f. Eat i. Food is good ii. Fellowship is important Home Groups are: a. A place to belong b. A place to be equipped for service and life. c. A place to feel safe d. A place to be encouraged and challenged to fruitfulness. e. A Place to study the bible together but not a bible study group. f. A place to worship God and encounter his presence. What about Home Group Leaders? a. They are servants who love people and want to seem them grow. b. They love Jesus. c. They don’t have all the answers. d. They have no desire to control peoples lives e. They don’t talk people to death f. The don’t solve everybody’s problems g. They are not theologians or bible scholars h. Not on an ego trip i. They should be prepared to be misunderstood, criticised, and hurt. The keys to growing a group and getting people to come? a. Give them a sense they belong. b. Make them feel wanted loved and accepted. c. Pray for the group. d. Get them to tell their story. e. Lead stands for i. Listen to them - empathically ii. Encourage them – Not flattery iii. Affirm them – Tell them what they do well iv. Deploy them - Get them a job. Leadership personnel requirements. a. The following is really the destination we seek for ourselves as a leader. We should not view these as a legalistic requirement but the challenge we face and seek to achieve. b. i. Sincere love for and pursuit of Jesus Christ demonstrated in regular personal worship, meditation on the Word and prayer. ii. Demonstrated fullness of the Holy Spirit, of faith and of wisdom iii. A perception of leadership not as grasping for position, or title, or power, or authority, or respect, or privilege, but as a commitment to humble service and self sacrifice. iv. Personal exposure, loyalty and commitment to their pastors and to those they are pastoring. v. Trustworthiness, with the ability to resist being bribed or bought. vi. Commitment to the ‘Barnabas style’ of open, loving communication, to solving relational problems, to processing anger constructively, to encouraging and building up and maintaining confidences strictly. vii. Willingness to be a ‘team player’ and to help one’s pastoral associates succeed. viii. A strong loving marriage in which both husband and wife sense the call to minister. ix. Capable and respected, mature in the faith, and with proven ministry ability. x. Willingness to be judged by strict standard sand to accept reproof. xi. Love for people and for Jesus, without desire to benefit personally at the expense of the sheep. xii. Commitment to equipping others for ministry through active recruiting, training, deploying, monitoring and nurturing. xiii. Commitment to doing excellent work, taking responsibility seriously, being pro-active, planning and executing well. xiv. A committed, cheerful giver who tithes regularly to the fellowship.

In his letter, where Peter praises God for our hope in Christ, he invites us to penetrate into the essence of trials: Rejoice about this, having grieved now a little, if necessary, from various temptations, so that your tried faith may turn out to be more precious than gold that is perishing, although tested by fire, to praise and honor and glory in the appearance of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1: 6-7) Although Peter writes this primarily to a group of Christians in persecution, the principle he gives has universal application. In fact, we will all "get thrashed." I have not known a single person who would have gone through life without pain, difficulties and hardships. I have met people who have developed all kinds of ideas and models for a victorious Christian life. I have met people who have adhered to a positive confession that says, "If you just follow this approach, declare these statements, study these teachings, you will truly become a spiritual superman who can deal with problems in one fell swoop." But my experience over the years - I've looked at these approaches, studied the Scriptures, and checked the evidence of what's really going on in the world - has shown that everyone "gets thrashed." Everyone has problems in their personal life, in their families or at work. It doesn't matter how positive they are or how much attention they pay to teachings or statements. In fact, it is my belief that God not only allows such trials to come our way, but from time to time He even sends us difficulties as part of our strengthening and cleansing process. Blessings alone will not bear the fruit He expects. He has to send some trials to achieve His goals in our lives. Often it is precisely those difficulties and trials that cause the most complete surrender to God. Often it is pain that makes us want (even thirsty!) To learn, change, and grow. Thus, on the one hand, we are on a long journey to the promised land, the fullness of life in the kingdom of heaven. But at the same time, when God is concerned with the issue of our coming to heaven, He is also concerned with the fact that heaven should enter into us. Peter teaches that we grow in Christian character through the trials that adverse circumstances bring into our lives. We are cleansed: clean in our thoughts, attitudes and ministry. We are strengthened in faith. All in order to fulfill Christ's purpose of creating new men and women to reflect His character. James 1: 2 says that we should "accept with great joy ... when we fall into various temptations." Why? Because “knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience” (v. 3). Thus, testing is an integral part of the character building process. Jeremiah chapter forty-eight contains an instructive example of what it means for God to take an active part in changing our lives: “Moab has been at rest from youth, like wine left on its dregs, not poured from one jar to another— she has not gone into exile. So she tastes as she did, and her aroma is unchanged. 12 But days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will send men who pour from pitchers, and they will pour her out; they will empty her pitchers and smash her jars. (Jer. 48: 11-12) These images refer to the process of making wine during the ancient world. During fermentation and aging, a kind of sediment collects at the bottom of the wine vessel. This was called "yeast" (sediment in English.). If the wine is allowed to sit on the yeast for too long, it will become bitter and cloudy. Therefore, from time to time, the winemaker pours wine from one vessel to another, leaving more and more sediment in the old vessel. You may have met people who did not allow the Lord to pour them from vessel to vessel, who resisted his attempts to change their circumstances. The taste and aroma of their life becomes bitter. It is the same with me and you. Our circumstances leave a residue, and if we get bogged down in it for too long, we can become bitter. Even if the prospect seems difficult to us, we must learn not to resist when God seeks to promote our growth through trials. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, touching upon the topic of punishment (“For is there any son whom the father would not punish?”), Clearly says that trials are allowed so that we grow: “Any punishment now seems to be not joy, but sorrow; but afterwards it brings forth the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been taught through him ”(12: 7, 11). The obvious implication of this is that we should not be surprised when difficulties come. Difficulties are promised in Scripture. This is exactly what Peter says in his letter: “Beloved! fiery temptation sent to you for testing, do not shy away from adventures that are strange for you, but as you participate in Christ's sufferings, rejoice ... ”(1 Peter 4: 12-13). Rejoice. Consider all of this a joy. Welcome the challenges that come. I think that only a few of us have reached a place where we truly and truly rejoice during our trials. "Oh, nice! Here comes another fight! " But we miss so much when we avoid or flee the challenges and trials that are presented to us to test and strengthen our character. Only after they work on us can we become effective representatives of the kingdom of God. In Exodus we read about how the Israelites approached the waters of Marah. They did not want to drink from these waters, because they tasted bitter and caused a condition similar to dysentery. But the point is, those waters were part of God's provision for the Israelites. After a while, they began to suffer from a loss of strength, which could have been avoided if they had allowed the waters of Mera to do their job. The fact is that you and I need to learn to accept even the bitter-tasting things that come to us from God, and to believe that He does what He does, and that our temporary inconvenience is intended to provide everything we need. and strengthen us for the challenges we will face in the future. The more we want to grow, the more we must expect trials. It's hard for a culture that values ​​carelessness and comfort, prosperity and self-realization so highly. But looking at our example, Jesus Christ, we see that trials pursued Him at every step, and ended on the cross. Is character building in the kingdom of God worth all of these difficulties? Is personal sacrifice and discipline, perseverance during trials, obedience in the matter of loss of reputation and success worth it? The answer is yes! “Blessed is the man who endures temptation, because, having been tested, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).

“So imitate God,” says Paul in Ephesians 5: 1-2, “as beloved children, and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us as an offering and sacrifice to God, for a sweet scent.” Paul was especially concerned that we should imitate Christ's love and that His sacrifice should also be evident in our lives. This passage explains what I have called being “different,” i.e. begin to focus on serving other people, rather than serving yourself. We must learn to give up our attachments, the things we want, security, stability, happiness - everything that is inherently good, but that needs to be left behind in order to grow in Christ. Many times, speaking with Christians about the struggles and difficulties they experienced, I said: “If you want to have success and Jesus, you may have problems in this life. If you want to have both a perfect marriage and Jesus, you can expect difficulties. If you want to have both earthly goods and Jesus, you may find yourself on a rough road. " I am not saying this because there is something wrong with success, perfect marriage, or human happiness. I say this because whenever we make something other than Jesus a part of our lives, we open doors for hopelessness. I can confidently assure you that if you make Jesus a part of your life, you will receive Jesus - and much more beyond that. But everything else should be secondary. Love for others and personal sacrifice is not only the key to the character formation process, but it is also the goal of character formation. I wouldn't have to write this, but all too often I meet Christians who want to receive the benefits of the kingdom - a clear conscience, eternal life, prosperity, a sense of joy - while avoiding the responsibility of the kingdom. They don't want to say no to the world; they try to justify sin by Scripture. But it doesn't work. And this inevitably leads to a fall. Christians who never learn to say no to the flesh will be like babies who dirty their diapers and constantly scream. When a three-month-old child behaves like this, it is quite normal. Parents are not very happy with dirty diapers, but they take care of their children, knowing that there will be better times, times when children will learn to control themselves and take care of others. But when a ten-, twenty-, or thirty-year-old continues to behave in this way, when he or she has not learned to love brothers and sisters and sacrifice personal needs for God's desires - when character has not developed - this is a great tragedy for man, God and God's people. ... Christ is the prime example of Christian maturity, but Scripture says that older brothers and sisters can also be a model of Christian character. For example, 1 Corinthians 4: 15-16 says the following: “For although you have thousands of teachers in Christ, there are not many fathers; I have begotten you in Christ Jesus with the gospel. Therefore, I implore you: imitate me, as I am Christ. " Paul does not teach that he has taken the place of Jesus, that he is equal to the Father. Rather, Paul encourages the Corinthian believers to look to him as an example of how they should live, what they should strive for as brothers and sisters. Paul said this as an encouragement. He says that maturity is available to all believers, that although we will never reach perfection to the fullness of the kingdom in the coming age, we can grow substantially and mature in this life.

Our declaration of faith is based on the belief that the Kingdom of God is the central theological motive that determines everything we believe in. it is a theology focused on the Kingdom of God. This statement is our best current understanding of the Bible in terms of the Kingdom. Our prayer is that God will bless our sincere effort to be humble messengers of His reign and reign, and to be people who practice God's presence and proclaim His gospel so that His will may be done on earth as it is in heaven. For the great glory of God and the well-being of the people! God The King And The Holy Trinity We believe that God is the Eternal King. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power, and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory. God The King: The Creator And Ruler Of All Things We believe that God’s kingdom is everlasting. From His throne, through His Son, His eternal Word, God created, upholds and governs all that exists: the heavenly places, the angelic hosts, the universe, the earth, every living thing, and human beings. God created all things very good. Counterfeit Kingdom: Satan And Demonic Hosts We believe that Satan, originally a great, good angel, rebelled against God, taking a host of angels with him. He was cast out of God’s presence and, as a usurper of God’s rule, established a counter-kingdom of darkness and evil on the earth. The Kingdom In Creation, The Fall, And The Doctrine Of Original Sin We believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness, and God’s judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God’s good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam’s original sin. Human beings are born in sin, subject to God’s judgment of death, and captive to Satan’s kingdom of darkness. God’s Providence, Kingdom Law, And Covenants We believe that God did not abandon His rule over the earth, which He continues to uphold by His providence. In order to bring redemption, God established covenants which revealed His grace to sinful people. In the covenant with Abraham, God bound Himself to His people Israel, promising to deliver them from bondage to sin and Satan and to bless all the nations through them. We believe that as King, God later redeemed His people by His mighty acts from bondage in Egypt and established His covenant through Moses, revealing His perfect will and our obligation to fulfill it. The law’s purpose is to order our fallen race and to make us conscious of our moral responsibility. By the work of God’s Spirit, it convicts us of our sin and God’s righteous judgment against us and brings us to Christ alone for salvation. We believe that when Israel rejected God’s rule over her as King, God established the monarchy in Israel and made an unconditional covenant with David, promising that his heir would restore God’s kingdom and reign over His people as Messiah forever. Christ The Mediator And Eternal King We believe that in the fullness of time, God honored His covenants with Israel and His prophetic promises of salvation by sending His Son, Jesus, into the world. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, as fully God and fully human in one person, He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God’s Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, inaugurating God’s kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead. Gathering His disciples, He reconstituted God’s people as His Church to be the instrument of His kingdom. After dying for the sins of the world, Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day, fulfilling the covenant of blessing given to Abraham. In His sinless, perfect life Jesus met the demands of the law and in His atoning death on the cross He took God’s judgment for sin, which we deserve as law-breakers. By His death on the cross He also disarmed the demonic powers. The covenant with David was fulfilled in Jesus’ birth from David’s house, His Messianic ministry, His glorious resurrection from the dead, His ascent into heaven, and His present rule at the right hand of the Father. As God’s Son and David’s heir, He is the eternal Messiah-King, advancing God’s reign throughout every generation and throughout the whole earth today. The Ministry Of The Holy Spirit We believe that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church at Pentecost in power, baptizing believers into the Body of Christ and releasing the gifs of the Spirit to them. The Spirit brings the permanent indwelling presence of God to us for spiritual worship, personal sanctification, building up the Church, gifting us for ministry, and driving back the kingdom of Satan by the evangelization of the world through proclaiming the word of Jesus and doing the works of Jesus. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is our abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. We believe in the filling or the empowering of the Holy Spirit, often a conscious experience, for ministry today. We believe in the present ministry of the Spirit and in the exercise of all of the biblical gifs of the Spirit. We practice the laying on of hands for the empowering of the Spirit, for healing, and for recognition and empowering of those whom God has ordained to lead and serve the Church. The Sufficiency Of Scripture We believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the human authors of Holy Scripture so that the Bible is without error in the original manuscripts. We receive the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments as our final, absolute authority, the only infallible rule of faith and practice. The Power Of The Gospel Over The Kingdom Of Darkness We believe that the whole world is under the domination of Satan and that all people are sinners by nature and choice. All people therefore are under God’s just judgment. Through the preaching of the Good News of Jesus and the kingdom of God, and the work of the Holy Spirit, God regenerates, justifies, adopts, and sanctifies, through Jesus by the Spirit, all who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. By this they are released from Satan’s domain and enter into God’s kingdom reign. The Church: Instrument Of The Kingdom We believe in the one, holy, universal Church. All who repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and form the living Body of Christ, of which He is the head and of which we are all members. Baptism And The Lord’s Supper We believe that Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church: water baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Both are available to all believers. The Kingdom Of God And The Final Judgment We believe that God’s kingdom has come in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, that it continues to come in the ministry of the Spirit through the Church, and that it will be consummated in the glorious, visible, and triumphant appearing of Christ – His return to the earth as King. After Christ returns to reign, He will bring about the final defeat of Satan and all of his minions and works, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment and the eternal blessing of the righteous, and eternal conscious punishment of the wicked. Finally, God will be all in all and His kingdom, His rule and reign, will be fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth, recreated by His mighty power, in which righteousness dwells and in which He will forever be worshipped. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES FOR OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH God The King And The Holy Trinity Deuteronomy 33:27 • Isaiah 44:6 • Romans 1:20 • Psalm 95:3 • Isaiah 43:15 • Psalm 147:5 • Job 11:7-9 • James 1:17 • John 4:24 • Matthew 5:48 • Isaiah 6:3 • 1 Peter 1:15-16 • Psalm 104:24 • Proverbs 2:6 • Isaiah 28:29 • Exodus 33:19 • Psalm 31:19 • Psalm 33:5 • Psalm 89:14 • Isaiah 30:18 • Exodus 15:6 • Psalm 63:2 • 1 John 4:8 • Isaiah 43:13 • Isaiah 45:5 • 1 Corinthians 8:4 • Psalm 42:2 • Psalm 84:2 • Jeremiah 10:10 • John 1:18 • John 10:30 • John 14:9 • John 14:16-17 • John 14:26 • John 15:26 • 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 • John 1:1 • John 1:14 • 2 Corinthians 3:17 • Matthew 28:19-20 • 2 Corinthians 13:14 • Revelation 1:4 • Revelation 5:13 • Ephesians 3:14-21 God The King: The Creator And Ruler Of All Things Psalm 45:6 • Psalm 145:13 • Daniel 4:3 • Psalm 93:1-2 • John 1:1-3 • 1 Corinthians 8:6 • Colossians 1:15-16 • Hebrews 1:1-2 • Genesis 1:1 • Psalm 95:3-5 • Colossians 1:17 • Hebrews 1:3 • Psalm 103:19 • Psalm 104:24-29 • Psalm 96:4-6 • Psalm 89:11 • Psalm 103:20-21 • Colossians 1:16-17 • Psalm 104:5 • Psalm 103:22 • Psalm 22:28 • Psalm 47:8 • Genesis 1:31 Counterfeit Kingdom: Satan And Demonic Hosts Revelation 12:7-9 • 2 Corinthians 11:14 • Colossians 1:13-14 • Ephesians 6:12 • Mark 3:22-26 • Ephesians 2:1-2 • 1 John 5:19 The Kingdom In Creation, The Fall, And The Doctrine Of Original Sin Genesis 1:26-27 • Genesis 1:26 • Genesis 3:1 • Revelation 12:9 • Genesis 3:8 • Romans 1:21 • Romans 5:16 • Romans 5:12 • John 5:14 • 1 Corinthians 15:22 • John 8:44 • 1 John 5:19 • Romans 8:20-23 • Psalm 51:5 • Galatians 1:3-5 • Galatians 4:8-9 • Colossians 1:13 God’s Providence, Kingdom Law, And Covenants Psalm 24:1 • Psalm 96:10 • Isaiah 40:22 • Hebrews 1:3 • Romans 9:4 • Ephesians 2:12 • Genesis 17:3-8 • Genesis 12:2-3 • Genesis 15:4-6 • Romans 4:3-5 • Romans 4:16 • Romans 4:20-25 • Galatians 3:6-9 • Galatians 3:13-14 • Exodus 15:3-18 • Exodus 19:3-6 • Exodus 24:3-4 • Exodus 24:7 • Romans 8:3-4 • Romans 8:12-14 • Deuteronomy 5:1-3 • Deuteronomy 30:15-18 • Galatians 3:23-25 • Psalm 25:8-10 • Romans 7:7 • John 15:26 • John 16:8-11 • 2 Corinthians 3:14-17 • Romans 7:13 • Galatians 3:19 • Galatians 3:21-22 • Romans 2:1-11 • Galatians 3:24 • Philippians 3:8-9 • 1 Samuel 8:6-8 • 1 Samuel 8:21-22 • 1 Samuel 9:15-16 • 1 Samuel 10:1 • 1 Samuel 10:24 • 2 Samuel 7:11b-16 • Psalm 89:34- 37 • Isaiah 9:6-7 • Isaiah 11:1-5 • Jeremiah 23:5-6 • Ezekiel 34:23 Christ The Mediator And Eternal King Mark 1:15 • Galatians 4:4 • Romans 1:2-4 • John 1:14 • John 1:17-18 • Luke 1:30-35 • John 1:14 • Philippians 2:5-7 • Romans 5:19 • 1 Corinthians 15:22 • 1 Peter 2:22 • 2 Corinthians 5:21 • Romans 8:29 • Luke 3:21-22 • Luke 4:16-21 • Mark 1:14-15 • Luke 11:20 • Luke 17:20-21 • Luke 4:1-13 • Luke 4:43 • Luke 4:40 • Luke 4:41 • Luke 7:14-17 • Mark 1:16-17 • Mark 3:13-15 • Matthew 16:18 • Luke 9:1-2 • Luke 10:1-17 • John 1:29 • John 6:51 • 1 John 4:9-10 • Mark 8:31 • 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 • Galatians 3:13-14 • 23 Acts 3:14-15 • Hebrews 4:15 • Romans 5:18-19 • 1 Peter 2:24 • Galatians 3:13 • 2 Corinthians 5:21 • Romans 1:18 • Romans 1:32 • Romans 2:12 • 2 Thessalonians 1:6- 10 • Colossians 2:13-15 • Matthew 1:1 • Luke 1:68-72 • Luke 2:10-11 • Matthew 9:27 • Acts 2:24-28 • Acts 2:29-36 • Romans 1:1-4 • Hebrews 1:1-3 • 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 • Ephesians 1:19-23 • Revelation 5:5 The Ministry Of The Holy Spirit Acts 1:8 • Acts 2:1-4 • 1 Corinthians 12:13 • 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 • John 14:16-17 • Romans 12:1 • Ephesians 5:18-20 • Romans 8:3-4 • 1 Corinthians 14:12 • 1 Corinthians 14:26 • Romans 12:4-6 • Luke 11:20 • 1 John 3:8b • Ephesians 6:10-20 • John 14:12- 13 • Romans 15:18-19 • 1 Corinthians 4:20 • Romans 8:9-10 • John 16:7 • John 14:26 • John 16:13-15 • Romans 8:14 • Luke 24:49 • Acts 4:31 • Acts 8:18-19 • Acts 19:1-2 • 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 • 2 Corinthians 4:7 • 2 Corinthians 6:4-7 • Joel 2:28-29 • Acts 2:15-17 • 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 • 1 Corinthians 14:1 • 1 Corinthians 14:5 • 1 Thessalonians 5:19- 21 • Acts 8:14-17 • Acts 19:6 • Mark 1:41 • Luke 6:18b-19 • Mark 16:18 • Acts 13:1-3 • 1 Timothy 4:14 • 2 Timothy 1:6 The Suficiency Of Scripture 2 Timothy 3:16-17 • 2 Peter 1:20-21 • 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 • John 14:26 • Psalm 19:7-9 • Psalm 119:30 • Psalm 119:43 • Psalm 119:89 • Matthew 5:17-18 • John 3:34 • John 10:35 • 1 Thessalonians 2:13 • Revelation 22:6 • Luke 24:44 • 2 Peter 3:15-16 • Revelation 22:18-19 • Isaiah 40:8 • Matthew 24:35 • Matthew 7:21 • Matthew 7:24 • Luke 1:38 • James 1:22-25 The Power Of The Gospel Over The Kingdom Of Darkness Luke 4:5-7 • 1 John 5:19 • 1 Corinthians 15:22 • Ephesians 2:1-3 • Romans 1:21-23 • Romans 1:32 • Romans 1:18 • Romans 2:5 • 2 Corinthians 5:10 • Ephesians 5:6 • Mark 1:14-15 • Acts 8:12 • Acts 28:31 • Ephesians 5:5 • John 16:7-11 • John 3:5-8 • 1 Peter 1:23 • Romans 5:1-2 • Romans 5:9 • Romans 8:15 • Galatians 4:6 • Ephesians 5:25 • Hebrews 13:12 • 1 Peter 1:1-2 • Acts 2:38 • Romans 10:9 • 1 John 4:13-15 • Colossians 1:13-14 • Philippians 3:20 The Church: Instrument Of The Kingdom John 17:20-21 • Ephesians 4:3-6 • 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 • Matthew 16:17-18 • 1 Corinthians 1:2 • Ephesians 2:18-19 • 1 Peter 2:9-10 • Titus 3:4-7 • Romans 12:4-5 • Ephesians 1:22 • Ephesians 5:23 • 1 Corinthians 12:27 Baptism And The Lord’s Supper Matthew 28:19-20 • 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 The Kingdom Of God And The Final Judgment Daniel 7:13-14 • Matthew 4:23 • Matthew 12:28 • Matthew 6:10 • Matthew 10:7-8 • Matthew 24:14 • Mark 13:11 • John 15:26-27 • Romans 14:17-18 • Mark 13:26 • Acts 1:9-11 • 2 Thessalonians 2:8 • Revelation 19:11-16 • Matthew 25:31-32 • 1 Corinthians 15:23-25 • Revelation 20:10 • 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 • John 5:28-30 • Revelation 20:11- 15 • Matthew 25:31-46 • 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 • 1 Timothy 6:13-16 • 2 Peter 3:13 • Revelation 21:5 • Revelation 21:27 • 1 Timothy 1:17 • Revelation 7:9-12 https://www.vineyardchurches.org.uk/resources/statement-of-faith/

After conversion, we grow in the character of Christ by looking to God. “But we all,” wrote Paul, “with our open faces, as in a mirror, beholding the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord's Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). The principle of character development "from glory to glory" is partially based on the principle of communication: the more time we spend with someone, the more we become like him. This is especially true for the transitional periods of life. This is clearly seen in the example of the relationship between father and son or mother and daughter, where often, especially with good family relations, a child grows up and becomes like one of his parents, reflecting the same manners, intonation in his voice, temperament. I spent many years forming my personality with my grandfather, and one of the most vivid childhood memories is the desire to grow up and become "like my grandfather." He made his living selling horses and training them, and as you can imagine, he was a very rude and harsh man. I still remember how I was with him when he examined the horse that interested him. I stood behind him with my hands on my hips, spitting and grumbling angrily just like him. At that age, he was ideal for me. Later, the person who led me to Christ also became my role model. He went through some difficult circumstances that were part of the "cleansing fire" in his spiritual development, and which developed an unusually strong character in him. Ganner (his nickname) was a great evangelist, and my first exposure to the Christian ministry came when I followed him everywhere, watching, listening, and learning as he preached the gospel. I knew all of his examples, stories, jokes - and I could tell them almost better than him. I was soon able to start my own ministry and do the same work myself. And all because I imitated this man and his ministry. The same happens when we follow the Lord. We become more and more like him when we spend time with him, imitating him in everything.

Newly converted Christians are called "babies" those who depend on their Father for spiritual growth. The more time they spend with God, the more they become like Him. And the ways we can do this are familiar: - Worship: The highest honor we have in God's kingdom is the worship of the Father. Through praise and worship, we draw closer to God, learning about His holiness and, in turn, growing in holiness. This discipline is perhaps the most important way to develop character, because we sacrifice ourselves as we are in order to worship Him as He is. As we die to our own interests, we open ourselves to His life-changing power. - Prayer: Daily prayer includes both speaking and listening. Prayer is not primarily the fulfillment of asking for what we want, but asking for what God wants. As we learn more about His will for our lives, we grow in His character and holiness. And we learn that we can trust God. I think the biggest lesson my wife and I learned in the months that God called us to intercede more actively was that God hears and answers our prayers, no matter how sluggish, upset, or unspiritual we feel when we pray. - Study of the Scriptures: The Bible is the word of God: It talks about who God is, how he works, what he expects of us. As we grow in knowledge of the Bible, we grow in knowledge of God - and more and more we are transformed into his likeness. Our goal is not just to memorize Scripture or understand it intellectually (although this is also useful), but to change because of it. God's word is alive and well. If we obey it internally, it makes external changes. - Social life (Life in fellowship): To be a Christian means to take part in the gathering of believers, brothers and sisters in the new covenant. When we worship, pray, study Scripture together, and have fellowship with one another, God not only reveals himself more and more to us, but “iron sharpens iron,” and God uses others to mature us. We were not called by God to fly on our own. We have been called to social life. We were called to grow and develop in each other and with each other.

Often Christians living in Western countries assume that if they understand the truth of the Christian life, then it is undoubtedly part of their life. They equate growing in knowledge of God with growing in God's character. But this is an erroneous assumption. One of the biggest tragedies of Western Christendom is the discrepancy between what Christians believe and how they actually live. The power and authority of the testimony of the kingdom is undermined by Christians who do not live by what they profess. While we must learn about who God is and how He works, it will not do much good unless it affects our behavior. In this regard, obedience to what God teaches is a fundamental element in the character formation process. In fact, disobedience greatly limits our ability to understand God's word. This was a distinctive feature of Christ when He rebuked the legalists in Luke 11:46, 52: “Woe to you, legalists, that you lay burdens on people that cannot be borne, but you yourself do not touch them with one finger ... Woe to you lawyers that you took the key of understanding: you yourself did not enter, and you hindered those who entered. " There is a grave danger in the separation of faith and behavior: the danger of losing the revelation God has already given us. When we imitate Christ and choose to live as He is, as much as possible, we grow in His character. The active choice is that we always ask, What would Jesus do? What would Jesus say in this situation? What was Jesus' attitude when faced with this type of person? We remember all the time that Christ is our role model, our ideal, our perfect teacher.

The most basic element in character building is complete conversion, turn away from oneself and turn to God, and have a personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. John Wesley, an eminent English theologian and evangelist, described his conversion as a “heart-warming experience”: “I felt that I really trusted Christ — and only Christ for salvation. I gained the assurance that He bore my sins — even mine — and saved me from the law of sin and death. " Jesus came into the life of John Wesley and through Him the Comforter, the Helper gained access to his heart, mind and soul. John Wesley was never the same again, because a new "life principle" was embedded in him. In Scripture, this is called being born again, being born into the kingdom of God. This is the moment when the seed of the kingdom is sown deeply into our souls. “You were reborn,” wrote Peter, “not from the seed of perishable, but from the word of God, which lives and will live forever” (1 Peter 1:23) (Sovrem. Transl.). All our efforts to build character are in vain if the seed of the kingdom is not first sown in us.

Reflecting on Luke 4: 16-21 has shed some light on this matter for me. This passage conveys the essence of Jesus' ministry on earth. I take it as the messianic manifesto of Jesus. According to Luke's notes, Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth and, as was his habit, went to synagogue on Saturday. Jesus got up to read the scroll from the prophet Isaiah: “… and He, opening the book, found the place where it was written:“ The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me; for He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor and sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, to the blind, to release the tormented to freedom, to preach the Lord's favorable year. " And closing the book and giving it to the minister, he sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them: Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing ”(Luke 4: 17-21). Jesus knew exactly who He was, why He had come, and what He had to do. This passage revolutionized my understanding of Jesus' purpose on earth. Jesus' mission was about more than just the salvation of souls. He clearly identified himself with the anointed servant of God, the promised Messiah, the eminent prophet of all time (Heb. 1: 1-4). What did his "program" for planet Earth consist of? And how does it relate to the mission of the Church? As we read the first few verses in Isaiah 61, we see Jesus declare that he was sent to preach the gospel to the poor — not just financially poor or spiritually poor, but poor in any sense. The good news is for those who are prepared by the Spirit, humble, and able to receive the message of hope. “Has not the poor of the world chosen by God to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him?” (James 2: 5). The church was called to continue Jesus' ministry by bringing the same message of grace and blessing — the good news — to a perishing world. “Good news” means eternal life, but that eternal life begins in this life, so the good news must be translated into “language” that people can understand. For people in poor conditions, the good news can be translated into food, clothing, shelter, and work. For middle-class people, the good news means something different. A friend, a Roman Catholic priest in El Raso, Texas, once said, "You cannot preach the good news while you yourself are bad news." Go to people and say "Jesus loves you!" and doing nothing to change their circumstance is an incomplete message. The gospel is fully sufficient for conversion, but wherever the gospel is preached, God wants to set the whole person free, not just his soul. History shows that in this context, the more individuals submit to the kingdom of God, then over time the conditions of individuals, families, nationalities and even nations improve. The preaching of the good news is all inclusive. It is telling people about Jesus and salvation, but also feeding the poor. This is a prayer for the sick and the expulsion of demons. This is serving people with different economic problems. All this is happening under the banner of the "good news." In a recently written biography of Aimee Semple McPherson, author Daniel Epstein describes the powerful philanthropic ministry of the McPhersons Angelus Temple in Los Angeles during the depression. Many people consider "Sister Amy" a flamboyant evangelist, plagued by scandals. Few know that during the 30s Angelus Temple was the main social, thriving agency in Los Angeles. Hundreds of people received food, clothing, and were led to Christ every week. Several people from the Anaheim Vineyard devoted an enormous amount of their free time to the ministry in northern Mexico City. The ministry provides practical training for pastors, missionaries, students, so that they, in turn, can serve real needs in that place; such as a balanced diet, healthy water, inexpensive solar energy. Volunteers combine traditional methods of ministry — evangelism, equipping, building — with an approach that blesses the Baja California people with their practical needs.