Okay, here's some background information, long and maybe boring to many. But we want it to be out there, so that we are clear and open about who we are.
Worship With Us Ministries is a Canadian Registered Charity founded by John and Jane Goodwin. The charity was registered January 1, 2003. We spend our efforts creating opportunities for encounters with God.
We are based in Canada, called here by God, and love this land. So we work in the mission field outside our door in teaching and preaching, worship, conferences, seminars and more. It is our great delight to frequently partner with Christian churches and ministries for events. We also minister at lots of different churches and denominations - its one way God connects the body together!
Our goal is to multiply praise. To this end we write and sing original worship songs, and songs that we hope will point people to God.
Here we'll try and cover some of the information that people want or need to know.
What 'denomination' are you?
John and Jane are ordained with the Independent Assemblies of God International, Canada. See website, www.iaogcan.com
Through the years John and Jane have developed a wide range of experience. As a child John and Jane were both Christened in the Church of England/Anglican Church. John attended Sunday School at a Baptist Church, (Carter's Lane). Then went with a friend, to Methodist Sunday School. This was all either imposed, or a matter of following friends, of course. Jane grew up Anglican but stopped attending church before moving to England to marry John. "It wasn't until later that we got our real revelation..."
Says John, "We started out as Methodists, at Long Lane Methodist Church in Halesowen, England. This was our first home church, where we grew with some wonderful Christian people. There we learned about the Holy Spirit, and it was in this place, before I was even a Christian, that I was first so moved by the Spirit of God in worship that I thought, 'This is how church is supposed to be!'"
As Christians John and Jane have attended various Charismatic/Pentecostal churches, United, Brethren In Christ and non-denominational churches. They're comfortable leading worship in all these different branches of the church. "Its like visiting the relatives!" John and Jane have been in leadership in local churches for years, and most recently served as elders at Jubilee Stratford for three years before planting a new church in St. Marys Ontario, where they continue to serve as pastors.
Charity Information
Worship With Us Ministries is the official name of our Canadian registered charity. We have been a registered charity since January 1, 2003. Canadian charities are regulated by the Canada Revenue Agency, and file an annual statement of activities, finances and tax receipting. Some of this information is available on the CRA web site.
Our Business Number (Charitable Registration Number) is 864613625RR0001
What Do You Do?
To see the ministry in action, please explore the site. There are some examples. The following is the more formal description.
This is the official list of "Charitable Activities" which the ministry aims to perform. We do most of these things, and are working on accomplishing all of them! If it looks a bit formal, its because this is the official list of activities listed with Canada Revenue Agency....
Develop spiritual activities - service of and devotion to God. To bring a “spiritual gift” as in Romans 1:11. The intent is to carry this out in Canada, at various locations in Ontario as an itinerant ministry, and internationally on a missionary basis. Missionary activities will be carried out on strategic short term mission trips. Initially to Bulgaria, then extending the reach to other countries as the need and opportunity or invitation arises.
To accomplish this the following activities will be employed:
- Organize groups of musicians, travelling to churches to lead worship services.
- Write, record and publish music suitable for the purpose of Christian worship.
- Provide speakers, preachers and Bible teachers at organized meetings, such as church services, conferences and other special meetings, to encourage and assist through such teaching those who desire to follow the Christian faith,
- Mentor, instruct and train leaders in Christian leadership and ministry. Organize and conduct training seminars, workshops, and conferences.
- Provide opportunity for ministry and works of service for lay members of congregations by conducting groups of people with various ministry abilities to churches and on short term missionary trips.
A secondary role will be to provide practical assistance for those who are poor, in the form of clothing, money, medical supplies and equipment to alleviate poverty. Often in foreign countries it is not practicable to take or send equipment. It is often more effective to provide money for the purchase of specific items, for example food and other supplies.
This will be accomplished by the following activities:
- Fundraising to provide monetary aid or purchase needed items
- Collecting donations of goods, such as clothing, medication medical equipment, school equipment, and other supplies to take or send to people nationally and internationally. Initially in Bulgaria, other Eastern European countries, and eventually in other places, such as African nations.
Statement of Faith
We hold to the tenets of Christian faith as expressed by Christian evangelical denominations around the world.
The statement of faith of Worship With Us Ministries follows:
We believe:
In one God, eternally existing.
In God the Father, who spoke His word to bring his creation into existence, and so loves the world that he sent Jesus.
In Jesus Christ, God the Son. That He is the messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. That he came to earth as a man and performed miracles. That he was crucified, died, and was buried, bearing the penalty due to each person for their sins. That he rose again to life, and lives for ever. That through this propitiation he has gained eternal life for all who believe in him.
In God the Holy Spirit, who convicts people of their fallen nature and indwells Christians, empowering and equipping them for life and Christian work.
We believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit, described in 1 Corinthians 12 and other passages, are still in operation today.
(Acts 2:39)
That the three are one, to be worshiped and known as God.
We believe that mankind was created to be in relationship with God, but through temptation and subsequent rebellion and disobedience was excluded from that relationship, and became deserving of God’s wrath and judgment.
We believe that the bible, consisting of Old and New Testaments, is God’s written word. It is true, unchanging and infallible. The bible is the ultimate authority for faith, life and doctrine.
We believe that after death comes judgement, and that those who are Christians will remain in God’s presence for ever. Those who are not Christians will bear the penalty for their sin themselves, which is eternal suffering and separation from God.
We believe that marriage constitutes a bond of lifetime commitment between one man and one woman and that it is the only legitimate, honourable and holy estate instituted by God. It was ordained of God as the foundation and bond of family life for the mutual help and comfort of husband and wife, and for the welfare of the state.
(Gen. 2:26-25; Prov. 18:22; Feb.13:4; 1 Cor. 8:10; 1 Cor. 6:9,10; Rom. 1:24-32)
