About Us

HISTORY OF THE VINEYARD MOVEMENT

Kenn Gulliksen was one of many thousands of young people who came to faith in Jesus Christ in California during what Time magazine called “The Jesus Revolution”, or “Jesus People Revival”, in the late 1960’s. In 1974, after working as an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California and planting a church called Jesus Chapel in El Paso, Texas, Kenn and his wife Joannie moved to Los Angeles to begin a ministry that had been on their hearts for several years. Starting as a small Bible study, the fellowship quickly grew into a church. God prophetically gave the name “Vineyard” to those who initially gathered together. In the next few years literally thousands received Jesus Christ through the ministries of the church. Several couples went out and began other Vineyards in California: quickly growing churches with priorities of worship, relationship, healing, training and giving.

John Wimber became a part of the fledgling group of new churches, and by 1981 it soon became obvious that God had called John to pastor the pastors, and to train and encourage men and women to pursue what God had given them. As a result, the people called the Vineyard have reached out to bless and encourage churches all over the world, as well as planting churches. The Vineyard has extensive and fruitful relationships with most Christian denominations and pastors in the USA, many denominations, notably the Church of England in the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, Latin America, and the South Pacific. Many of these relationships developed through the personal ministry of John Wimber, others through various local Vineyard churches and leaders. In 1982, John Wimber visited South Africa for the third time, having received a clear word from the Lord to facilitate the planting of a church in Johannesburg.

The Parkview VCF was planted in October 1982, and since then the movement in South Africa has grown to about 50 churches and church plants in progress, which are connected through a formal body called the Association of Vineyard Churches, which was “released” as an autonomous body in the international movement in April 1997. Vineyard churches are self-governing, but overseen and encouraged on a voluntary basis by experienced pastors. The Association of Vineyard Churches in each nation is led by a National Director. Each area is overseen by an Area Pastoral Coordinator (APC), and a Region is overseen by a Regional Overseer (R.O.). The Board of AVC (SA) is also responsible for the oversight of missions activities in the 22 African nations in which we are currently involved. In 2017 there were an estimated 2400 Vineyard churches world wide in more than 90 countries, of which 12 have been “released” as autonomous movements.

Our international Vineyard family in all these nations is connected through a high priority for relationship, mutual support, and shared values. Our National Directors work together through what is called the Vineyard International Executive (VIE). John and Eleanor Mumford of the UK serve as Coordinators for VIE, and provide support to the shared leadership and decision-making of our growing group of national leaders who lead the “released” nations or groups in the Vineyard family. God however, has shown us not to seek to build the Vineyard, but instead to seek His Kingdom and let Him build His Church, to bless what He is blessing, to love what He loves, and to give ourselves away freely. We want to be like Jesus in both His character and ministry by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our plan is to seek God and to co-operate with Him as He reveals Himself in the process.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is simply loving God, loving people as we journey togather. While training and equipping communities. Extending the works of the Kingdom of God, through teaching and putting into practice what we believe in our hearts.

HISTORY OF VINEYARD CAMEROON

From the beginning, Vineyard pastors and leaders have sought to hold in tension the biblical doctrines of the Christian faith with an ardent pursuit of the present-day work of the Spirit of God. Maintaining that balance is never easy in the midst of rapid growth and renewal. We started in 2006 as a small group of Christians often praying in one accord and preaching the word of God. Later, we obtained all legal documents authorizing us to function and work as missionaries in Cameroon. In October 2007, Vineyard Bible Institute (VBI) was created to help bring up new potential leaders that would be equip and empower through apprenticeship, seminars, and conferences. We often gathered in a hall at Léwat to do church speaking about the vineyard vision, values, priorities etc. The pastoral team consisted of Clever, Charlie Wouche, Daniel and Genevieve. The first vineyard church plant was planted in Kribi in 2008 after a retreat.

Some vineyard friends and pastors like Quinton Howitt sent by Costa Mitchel from South Africa, Larry, Janet and George Esser from Canada lay the foundation in Kribi, teaching us to build the Spirit of love as we grow in the Lord. God’s interest however, is not in building the Vineyard. Rather, it is that the Vineyard seeks His kingdom and builds His church. Due to such developments we were recognized by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and the Ministry of Public Health with whom signed partnership agreement were made along-side others with some foreign partners for the well-being of the nation Cameroon. Years later the pastoral team selected and recommended some potential leaders for a six months training farmer field school in Kitala-Kenya called Youth with a Mission (YWAM) by Dale who approved their travel to come acquire new skills, that would help train and equip others as well.

In 2010, eight church plants were in progress building body with functional leaders fully engaged in the process. The indirect fight for power to overtake the movement, by some tyrants’ leaders acting with prejudices to put in place who they wanted, and no longer the former due to his leadership flaws. Resulted in chaos with a complete melt-down and silence of vineyard Cameroon movement in 2012. The truth of the whole story was buried and no one knew the real cause and effect except Jesus Christ who is the head of the church who knew it all. Lo and behold, the love of many leaders waxed cold based on what was said and reported at that time. (Isaiah 27:2-3 NIV) “In that day – ‘Sing about a fruitful vineyard: I the LORD, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it.” (Isaiah 11:1 NIV) And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

Today, “strong and courageous” planters have emerged finding (en)courage(ment) from God as they break new ground gathering in doing church. These self-starters have endured loneliness and rejection, but remain resilience as gifted catalysis in their calling in the LORD. Despite the storms encountered, they keep breaking through obstacles. Two things are amazing to us as we think about all the twists and turns in the Vineyard’s history. The first is that after all the side trips we have taken, the core of the Vineyard keeps coming back to its genetic moorings. While the question “What is the Vineyard?” is still hotly debated, apparently there is enough theologically defined and formerly applied by the late John Wimber. Irrespective of how we philosophically juggle our programs, we are a kingdom movement. Through it all, we have stayed true to our call to plant churches.

OUR VISION

To be a church that pursues the heart of God as we live out His transformational grace.To become a people characterized by passion for Jesus. Authentic love for each other and compassionate care for our neighbour and community.

Healthy Church Planting

Educate, Train & Equip Leaders

Fight Against Poverty

Water Purification

Agriculture, Health & Nutrition

STATEMENT OF FAITH

VINEYARD DISTINCTIVES

VINEYARD CORE VALUES

Love is our main goal!

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About us

HISTORY OF THE VINEYARD MOVEMENT

OUR MISSION

HISTORY OF VINEYARD CAMEROON

OUR VISION

Healthy Church Planting

Educate, Train & Equip Leaders

Fight Against Poverty

Water Purification

Agriculture, Health & Nutrition

STATEMENT OF FAITH

VINEYARD DISTINCTIVES

VINEYARD CORE VALUES

Love is our main goal!

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