About WIN Norway
WHO WE ARE
WORD International Ministries ( WIN ) Norway is a community of diverse group of people brought together by the desire to know our purpose in life through the words of our Creator. We try to reach out to those who needs encouragement and grow together towards transformed life, family, community, nation and the world.
WIN Norway is part of WORD International Ministries, a global community with over 140 churches around the world. You can find out more about the WIN international community here.
BRIEF HISTORY
Around the summer of 2011, a handful of people started meeting at Obiacoro’s house in Hundvåg every weekend. A few au pairs would come on weekends for lunch or snacks, followed by a time of sharing and praying for each other. It didn’t take long before the group grew bigger and bigger as they started to bring their friends along. After some time, a few families also became part of the community. The time came when we could not fit into one living room anymore and had to move around every Sunday from one town hall ( bydelshus ) to another. The WIN family grew bigger even with the au pairs leaving Norway, more families came and children were born into the family. Under the guidance of the WIN International Pastoral council, the church was registered as WORD International Ministries Norway on 10 October 2014, with organisation nr. 913 301 609, as a non-stock, non-profit religious organisation, to carry out the mandate of the Scriptures, to promote the gospel and be a positive influence to the community and country.
What we do
WORSHIP
We gather to celebrate and worship God together, during Sundays and in small groups.
“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.” – John 4:23
OUTREACH
We reach out to serve individuals, families and the communities in Norway or abroad and tell others about the good news and the love of God.
And then he [Jesus] told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”’ – Mark 16:15
RELATIONSHIP
We believe that every human being is created for healthy relationships. We strive to encourage and care for each other as a family.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:25
DISCIPLESHIP
In order to faithfully follow Jesus in our daily lives, we make it our goal to know Him more through the study of His words and follow His examples.
‘Then he [Jesus] said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”’ Luke 9:23
What we believe in
ABOUT THE SCRIPTURE
We believe The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired and revelation of God to man and the authority of faith and conduct. WIN churches accepts the Bible as the revealed will of God, as the all-sufficient rule of faith and standard for daily living to equip humankind to honor and obey God in every area of life. As such, Scripture, interpreted in context, will be our only source for what we believe, what we do, and how we act towards others. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21)
ABOUT GOD
We believe there is one true God who is eternally self-existent and the creator of all things. God is beyond human understanding and imagination and has revealed himself through his Word. God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present. He is unconditionally loving, relentlessly merciful, and absolutely just. The one true God has revealed Himself as the “I Am,” the Creator and Redeemer of mankind. He has revealed himself in three persons called the Trinity which is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 43:10,11; Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 4:5-6)
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, death on the cross, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of God and interceding for his people. (Revelation 1:8; Hebrews 1:3).
ABOUT HUMANITY
The Fall of Man We believe that humankind is created in the image of God. However, we believe that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, spiritually dead and away from God and needs redemption and forgiveness through repentance. We believe that unconditional love, unlimited forgiveness, and undying hope are found in Jesus Christ – the one and only mediator between God and man (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:6; Romans 3:23-24; 5:12-19)
Salvation of Man Man’s only hope is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation is by faith through grace and demonstrated in repentance and life of obedience to God, leading to a relationship with Jesus Christ. God expects believers to live a life of holiness. (John 3:3; Romans 12:13-15; Ephesians 2:8)
Sanctification is the act of separation from that which is evil and dedicating oneself to God and that which is good, upright, and morally pure. We believe that man can be made holy through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, through the Word and the Holy Spirit. (Romans 12:1, 2; 1 Peter 1:16; Hebrews 12:14)
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Spirit of God indwells every believer. The fruit of the Spirit is the by-product of a spirit-filled life and evidence of spiritual maturity. The gifts of the Spirit should be earnestly sought and used to serve others, edify the church, and glorify God. We believe every Christian, empowered by the Holy Spirit, will be an effective witness for God throughout the world.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit – Given at Pentecost, we believe the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father available to all Christians. It was sent by Jesus after His Ascension to empower the Church to preach the gospel throughout the whole earth. (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4; John 14:15-17).
ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
Water Baptism We believe that following repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new believer is commanded by the Word of God to be baptised in water by full immersion, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (1 Peter 3:21)
Communion We believe in observing the Lord’s Supper, a unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (the body and blood of Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
THE MINISTRY & EVANGELISM
A divinely called and scripturally ordained minister is called by God to lead the church in evangelisation, worship, building the body, and general leadership of the church. (Mark 16:15-20; John 4:23-24; Ephesians 4:11, 16)
The Church and Its Mission The Church is the representative of Jesus on earth and is to carry out the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 19:10)
DIVINE HEALING
The church believes that divine healing Is provided for today, for all, through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. and included in the atonement for our sins. (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16)
THE BLESSED HOPE & SECOND COMING
The resurrection and rapture of all Christians dead and alive to meet Christ is the Blessed Hope. The Second Coming of Christ includes the rapture and a return to earth by Christ with His saints. (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:17, 30)
RESURRECTION & FINAL JUDGMENT
We believe in the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked. There will be a final judgment at which all men will be judged. (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20) All of God’s children will reign forever in a new heaven and a new earth. (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21, 22)
Our Mission and Vision
WINning people to become followers of Jesus Christ.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:18-20
WIN churches growing as an international community of believers who are God-centered and Spirit-filled, positively impacting lives, families, communities and nations for the glory of God.
The WIN Discipleship Process
We are called to make disciples
A disciple is a person who is CONNECTED to God through Jesus Christ. He BELONGS to local church community, BELIEVES and lives out the word of God, SERVES God and LEADS others to know and become followers of Jesus Christ.
