The purpose of this Organization is to unite members of the Body of JESUS CHRIST, which is the Church, in the bonds of brotherly love and fellowship. We seek to minister to the spiritual and material needs of every member, to minister to the spiritual and material needs of non-members, and to provide a base of spiritual and material support for Continuance of the Great Commission, which is to preach the gospel and teach the doctrine of JESUS CHRIST to all nations.
The Name of the Church Organization
The name of member church bodies in this Organization shall be WORLDWIDE APOSTOLIC MINISTRIES CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, INCORPORATED. Any future churches established by this Organization shall be distinguished by adding the name of the city, wherein they were established, to the name of the Church Organization. Multiple churches in the same city shall be distinguished by a number indicating the order in which they were founded. For example, if two churches in Cleveland, besides the parent church, are established, they shall be named "WORLDWIDE APOSTOLIC MINISTRIES CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, INCORPORATED (First Cleveland Church)" and "WORLDWIDE APOSTOLIC MINISTRIES CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, INCORPORATED (Second Cleveland Church)".
The Purpose of the Church Organization
The purpose of this Organization is to unite members of the Body of JESUS CHRIST, which is the Church, in the bonds of brotherly love and fellowship, in order to:
(2.1) Minister to the spiritual and material needs of every member.
(2.2) Minister to the spiritual and material needs of non-members.
(2.3) Provide a base of spiritual and material support for continuance of the Great Commission, which is to preach and teach the gospel and doctrine of JESUS CHRIST to all nations. .
Articles of The Faith
(3.1) There is only One True God, Creator of heaven and earth. God has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but these three are One. (I John 5:7). God's Name is JESUS. (Isaiah 9:6; John 5:43; John 14:9-11; Matthew 1:21; John 14:26; John 10:30). Truly, as Thomas confessed, JESUS is Our Lord and Our God !! (John 20:28).
(3.2) The Bible is the inspired Word of God. (II Timothy 3:16).
(3.3) All humanity is born in sin as a result of our foreparents, Adam and Eve, who sinned. (Romans 5:12).
(3.4) To escape the judgment of sin and the second death, one must repent and be born again of water and of the Spirit. (John 3:3-5; Acts 2:38).
(3.5) Water baptism must be in the Name of JESUS CHRIST. (Luke 24:47; Acts 4:10-12; Acts 2:38; Colossians 3:17).
(3.6) Initial evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost is speaking in other tongues (languages) as God gives the utterance. (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:1-18; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6). Subsequent evidence is the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23).
(3.7) Holy living and perfection are the Christian's God-ordained goals. (I Peter 1:15-16; Matthew 5:48).
(3.8) There is only one gospel and doctrine authorized by JESUS CHRIST and which was taught and preached by His Apostles. (John 17:17-20; John 13:20; Galatians 1:6-9; Ephesians 2:20; 2 John 1:9-11).
(3.9) Ministers (preachers) must not only be called, but chosen (after being qualified) and sent by God to preach and to teach the gospel and doctrine of JESUS CHRIST. (Romans 10:15; Jeremiah 23:21-22).
(3.10) There is no biblical basis for women preachers, nor for women teaching men. JESUS CHRIST is The Head of every man and the head of the woman is the man. (I Corinthians 11:3; I Timothy 2:12-15; and Revelation 2:20-23). Aged women are to teach the young women. (Titus 2:3-5).
(3.11) Saints of God in the New Testament Church are not bound under the law (Mosaic), but free under grace and truth. (John 1:16-17; Galatians 5:4). We are to remain steadfast in the liberty where with Christ hath made us free! (Galatians 5:1).
(3.12) The sacraments of Communion are wine and unleavened bread. This solemn occasion is to remember the suffering and death of JESUS CHRIST. (Luke 22:17-20). Feet washing is also normally included in the communion service as a lesson of demonstrated humility. (John 13:3-17).
The Head of The Church
Forasmuch as the Lord God JESUS CHRIST has purchased The Church with His own blood (Acts 20:28), He is the Head of The Church. (Colossians 1:18-20). Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church; and He is the Saviour of the body. (Ephesians 5:23-24).
The Apostolic Council
To maintain order in the earth, God has ordained higher powers to govern in the affairs of men. (Roman 13:1-4). God has ordained men in The Church to take the oversight of His people and watch for their souls. (Acts 15:2,4,6,22-23; I Peter 5:2; Hebrews 13:17). All these men must be born again of the water and of the Spirit,
called, qualified, and sent forth by the Holy Ghost.
To maintain decent and orderly spiritual and business conduct in the Organization, The Apostolic Council shall be vested with all church governmental powers relating to the overall Organization. Individual churches shall have the freedom of establishing their own administrations (I Corinthians 12:5), within the framework of the Word of God.
All final authority in matters of Organizational business, doctrinal disputes or questions, and judicial appeals from member churches, shall rest with The Apostolic Council. The Apostolic Council shall be headed by the Presiding Elder, who shall be the chief spokesman and executive of The Apostolic Council and of WORLDWIDE APOSTOLIC MINISTRIES CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, INCORPORATED. The Presiding Elder shall, with the counsel of The Apostolic Council, appoint and install a successor to the office of Assistant Presiding Elder.
Apostolic Council membership shall be by appointment. Candidates for membership must be ordained elders of demonstrated abilities and pass doctrinal examination by the Apostolic Council. Final membership selections will be made by the Presiding Elder in consultation with The Apostolic Council. All administrative offices of bishop shall be filled by appointments made by the Presiding Elder in consultation with The Apostolic Council. The Apostolic Council shall also be responsible for the establishment and staffing of Centers of Training in Apostolic Doctrine and Ministry.
In obedience to God’s word to continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42), the following gifts shall be recognized in the ministry of preaching the gospel and teaching the doctrine of Jesus Christ: apostles; prophets; evangelists; pastors; and, teachers. (Ephesians 4: 11). The Apostolic Council is responsible, as led by the Holy Ghost and the Word of God, to examine all men professing to have been sent by God into these offices of ministry. (I Thess. 5:12).
You Must Be Born Again to enter the Kingdom of God
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
(John 3:3-5)
