~HOW IT STARTED~

     The vision for Word of Life Ministries was given to me as the LORD released me to look for a home. A new home had been the desire of Marie and I for some time but the LORD had not granted release to purchase a new home. In June of 2003, I preached in the Convocation of the Northern District of The United Holy Church of America. During that sermon, I recounted our desire but acknowledged that the LORD had not given release to purchase another home. I had always thought that when we did move, it would be somewhere in Wilmington, DE as that is where we lived and worshiped. I was at the time the Assistant Pastor of New Pentecostal United Holy Church of America. However, the LORD had other plans.

     In October of 2003 we received the release and the direction. The direction was Middletown, the home was a new construction in The Estates at Dove Run. It was on one of the early trips to Middletown that the LORD spoke to me and said, “Middletown needs ministry.” His meaning was clear and unmistakable.

     When we began to look, we looked at existing homes with the idea that we would purchase an existing home in what we considered our “price range.” However, we were told about new construction that was occurring in Middletown and advised to look at Dove Run. We first looked at homes by the Ryland group and were looking in that direction to explore the possibility of building a home and were leaning toward Ryland to have them build our home.. Again, the LORD had other plans and through a co-worker directed us to Capano builders. She showed me her plans and quite honestly, I was not impressed. W had looked at other plans and the quality of the brochures was exceedingly better than the Xeroxed copies provide by Capano. However, she suggested that we go see a model in another development that Capano was building homes. The LORD had the perfect home (The Duncanshire) for us on the perfect site (Lot 247) and we began to make plans to build. This started a faith journey that has increased our faith tremendously. We were looking at a price range that was far less than the price of the Duncanshire.

     Faith was needed because this was part of God’s plan for ministry in Middletown. Faith was needed in order for us to build a house that we thought was out of our price range in order to build faith for what God was leading us to. I prayed concerning what God had spoken to me concerning Middletown and ministry. I received the assurance that I was to start ministry in Middletown. As we moved further into the process of building a home, we received a date in August as to when our home would be ready. So I decided that when we moved, we would start ministry. I heard God again. This time He said, “start now.”

~ THE MISSION STATEMENT ~

     The church is built by Jesus (Matthew 16:18) and thus belongs to Him. The apostle Paul refers to the church as the body of Christ and proclaims that Christ is the head (Colossians 1:18). Therefore, the church, the body, is subject unto Christ (Ephesians 5:24). All direction of this local assembly of this ekklesia will be subject to the direction of God through the godhead. In Matthew chapter 28, Jesus gave what has been called, “The Great Commission.” Therefore, the primary mission of the assembly will be to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    The mission that God has for this ministry will be carried out through a multi-racial, multi-ethnic congregation whose mission will be:

• UPREACH—The worship and praise of God. Complete devotion to Him, to His WORD and to His way. The recognition of God as sovereign and whose WORD is the only authority. 
• INREACH—The care and ministry to those who are in the body at Word of Life through the true ministry of the word and meeting the spiritual and temporal needs of each other. 
• OUTREACH—The ministry of the WORD to those who are outside of the body of Christ. Ministry to both the spiritual and natural man.
• To carry out the mission, God will provide the finance and land in order to build;
• A Worship center
• A YouthCenter
• A Media/Communication Center
• Convention Center

~ GOVERNANCE ~

Word of Life came from God;

I John 1:1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard,

which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon,

and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

Word of Life Ministries belongs to God and is therefore a Theocracy. God is in charge. He has delegated authority to Elder Larry J. Bryson as pastor and Pastor Bryson is responsible to God for the conduct of the church both spiritually and temporally.

God speaks to His church through His son Hebrews 1:1-2 and has given His word for our doctrine (teaching), for reproof, for correction, and for our instruction in righteousness: II Timothy 3:16. The rule of the church will be according to the Word of God. The word is the only authority in the body of Christ.

~ MINISTRIES~

Ministries will be established necessary. The major ministries will be:

 

•          Deacons —to assist the pastor with the temporal care of the church.

 

•         Trustees —to assist the pastor with the financial affairs of the church and to hold in trust all property of the church.

 

•         Hospitality —to assist the pastor with the mission of INREACH.

           

•         Mothers —to assist the pastor in dealing with the young women of the church. The primary function of this board will be to counsel the young women and to keep the pastor apprised of any issues.

           

•        Youth —to assist the pastor in dealing with issues involving the youth, to help identify and address their concerns and issues in today’s society which are multifaceted and complex. To help develop programs that will meet the spiritual as well as the temporal needs of the youth.

           

•         Education—to assist in the development of educational programs through the church and to develop a program of scholarship for youth in and out of Word of Life.

           

•         Music—an essential part of worship. Musicians and choirs will need to be developed and music programs to be developed for the major seasons of the year.

 

•          Evangelism—Outreach to those who do not know God. Will include street ministry, prison ministry hospital ministry, etc.

           

•         Seniors Ministry

           

•         Couples Ministry, including those who are contemplating marriage.

 

•         Singles Ministry

           

•         Media ministry (audio and video tapes, television and radio).

 

~ FINANCE~

The LORD’s way is tithing. Giving a tenth of

everything that He has made us stewards over.

Malachi 3:10

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

     Tithing is not a requirement to be a member in Word of Life but it is a requirement of leadership in Word of Life. Tithing is the means that God has chosen to provide for the body and to bless His people.

1 Corinthians 4:2

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Acts 20:34-35

Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities,

 and to them that were with me.

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak,

and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said,

 It is more blessed to give than to receive.

~ Membership~

Membership in the body of Christ is based on the individual experiencing

the new birth as described by Jesus to Nicodemus (John 3: 3-8).

~ All Scriptures are quoted from the King James Version of The Holy Bible ~