We emphasize sound biblical doctrine: We are committed to sound biblical doctrine. We believe that the essential doctrines of historic Christianity are those upon which Christian faith is based, and which have been generally agreed upon — and attested to by the witness of the Holy Spirit — in the experience of the universal church (see statement of faith below). We believe that doctrinal disagreement on peripheral matters, while natural and inevitable (and biblically permissible) in the Christian church, should not be allowed to foster division within the body of Christ.

We emphasize Christian identity in Christ: As Christians, we've been given a new identity in Jesus Christ. As his soldiers, his friends and his brothers and sisters, we have been given what it takes to fight the good fight of faith — we have him! Jesus promised he will never forsake us or leave us, and as he lives in us, we will never leave or forsake him or each other. 

We emphasize the power of the gospel: Paul wrote: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). People enter God's kingdom by responding to the gospel. Today, in the Worldwide Church of God, the kingdom is advancing. People are accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and King. They are repenting of their sins, giving their allegiance and loyalty to him, and doing his work in the world. With Paul, we believe in and are not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

We emphasize bringing glory to the name of Christ: Jesus, who died for us and loves us, calls us to glorify him in every part of our life's experience. Knowing we are secure in his love, we are a people committed to glorify him in all our relationships, in our homes, in our families and neighborhoods, in our skills and abilities, in our jobs, in our free time, in our spending habits, in our church time and in our business transactions. Whatever opportunities, challenges or crises we face, we are forever committed to bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ.

We emphasize submission to the sovereign rule of God in the church: Our church has been chastened and blessed by our loving heavenly Father. He has led us out of doctrinal error and scriptural misinterpretation into the pure joy and power of the gospel. And in his sovereignty, according to his promise, he has not forgotten our labor of love, even in our imperfection. He has made our past church experience, problematic as it was, meaningful to us because it forms part of our personal journey toward complete faith in our Savior. Yet, with Paul, we are now able to say: "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ… Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:8, 13-14).

We emphasize commitment and obedience to the Lord's call: Traditionally, members of the Worldwide Church of God have been a highly committed people, eager to do the work of the Lord. In bringing our fellowship to repentance, reformation and renewal, our gracious heavenly Father has claimed that sense of commitment and obedience for the work of the gospel and for the name of Jesus. We believe in the present and active work of the Holy Spirit in leading and enabling Christians to live a godly and obedient life in the power of Jesus' resurrection.

We emphasize heartfelt worship: Because we are all created to bring glory to God, the Worldwide Church of God believes in dynamic worship and joyful praise of our Lord and Savior that is culturally sensitive and relevant. Because our members vary in their backgrounds, tastes and preferences, we strive to worship God through a variety of meaningful worship styles and occasions, blending traditional and contemporary in a way that brings glory to the name of the Lord.

We emphasize prayer: Our fellowship believes in and practices prayer. Prayer is an essential part of the believer's life in Christ and is an important part of both public and private worship. We believe that prayer leads to God's intervention in our lives.

We emphasize family life: The institution of the family has undergone significant change in the past two decades. Single parents, stepfamilies, children raised by one or both grandparents, and a variety of other life situations have become increasingly common ways in which children are prepared to face life in our modern world. We value families of every kind and emphasize education in biblical principles for healthy family relationships.

We emphasize children's ministry: Eighty-five percent of Christians made the decision to give their lives to Christ before the age of 18. Healthy, growing churches are churches that invest in children through age-appropriate Christian education, a Christ-centered nursery program, children's church, and fun-filled, meaningful Christian activities and social opportunities for children. We value children and place high priority on an active children's ministry in each congregation.

We emphasize youth ministry: When has adolescence been so challenging and even dangerous as it is today? Yet teens everywhere are making decisions for Jesus Christ and committing their lives to him. We believe that strong, Christ-focused youth ministry is essential to the vitality and spiritual future of the church and our communities.

We emphasize women's ministry: In a world that can often be painful, unfair and even hostile for women, God calls them to know the peace, comfort and assurance that is theirs in Jesus Christ. He wants women to know that he loves them, values them and calls them to a fulfilling and active life of Christian fellowship and ministry. Through women's ministry, we seek to support and encourage Christian women in their walk with the Lord and in their leadership and service to the church and community.

We emphasize young adults' ministry: Today's young adults face increasingly complicated life decisions about education, career and family for which they desperately need sound biblical teaching and guidance. We are committed to helping young adults develop a basis for Christ-centered decision-making that will keep them on the road to a life of faithful servant-leadership.

We emphasize men's ministry: A crisis of godly leadership in American men led to the Promise Keepers movement. Recognizing the vital need in our families for godly husbands and fathers who are sensitive to the Holy Spirit and courageous in Christ, we support the goals of Promise Keepers and encourage personal and congregational participation in PK programs.

We emphasize small group worship: Every Christian is called into active fellowship with the Body of Christ. Personal spiritual growth is fostered in the context of small group life. We encourage participation, in a nonthreatening setting at one's own comfort level, in small group worship. Such small group worship settings provide opportunity to get to know other Christians, to worship and praise God, discuss questions, study the Bible, share concerns, pray and receive prayer in a nonjudgmental environment. Small groups form the core of congregational life and are an ideal way for guests and visitors to become familiar with Christian faith and practice in a comfortable, supportive and pressure-free setting.

We emphasize stewardship: God's people are stewards of his gifts, including our resources of time, energy and finances. He calls us to share generously what he gives us to further the gospel and serve others, just as he has been generous in his grace toward us. Members practice tithing and giving of offerings as a form of Christian stewardship and worship.

We emphasize the priesthood of believers: Peter wrote: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). All members — men, women and children — are ministers of the grace of God. In other words, ordained career ministers are not the only ministers — rather, they are called to leadership for the specific purposes of preaching and teaching the Word of God and for the administration of equipping all members for Christian leadership and works of ministry. Every Christian can help in significant ways, according to the gifts provided by the Holy Spirit, to advance the kingdom of God. The Lord calls his people into church fellowships so they are able to work together, with and for each other (Ephesians 4:16). Every Christian is called to make a difference for the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ. 

We emphasize the value of spiritual gifts: The Holy Spirit provides spiritual gifts to every Christian as he sees fit for the effective and unified operation of the church. Paul wrote: "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines" (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

We emphasize racial reconciliation: In his grace, God has blessed our church with many racially and ethnically diverse congregations. We value spiritual unity in our racial, ethnic, cultural and social diversity. Scripture declares that all hatred and prejudice, including racial, is directly contrary to the Christian life. Jesus declared, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). We are committed to furthering racial understanding, forgiveness and healing in all our congregations and communities.

We rest in our Savior: Jesus Christ is our Sabbath rest. Some of us set aside an entire day each week for physical rest and worship. Others devote time on several days. All of us worship Jesus as our Redeemer who gives us the true spiritual rest. Our relationship with him is the ultimate sabbatical. Only Jesus gives rest to our souls.

We emphasize kingdom work based on faith: God has called us to live in his presence and to commit our lives, our hopes, our plans and our passions to him. We are his property, his firstfruits, his own people and, more than that, his own children by the blood of Christ. Therefore, we depend on his faithfulness to give value and meaning to our lives and work. We do not rely on ourselves, on our own expertise or intellect or training, but on the Lord our God.

• In one holy, loving, all-powerful, and gracious Creator God who exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• That the Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God, fully authoritative for all matters of faith and practice.

• That Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary, fully God and fully human, is both Lord and Savior.

• That Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross for human sin, that he was raised bodily on the third day, and that he ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father.

• That Jesus Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead and to reign over all things.

• In the Holy Spirit, who brings sinners to repentance, who gives eternal life to believers, and who lives in them to conform them to the image of Jesus Christ.

• That Christians should gather in regular fellowship and live lives of faith that make evident the good news that humans enter the kingdom of God by putting their trust in Jesus Christ.

• In the spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

• That salvation comes not by works, but only by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

• In the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

We have a unique opportunity: We believe God has prepared and positioned the Worldwide Church of God for a meaningful role in the work of the gospel. In his grace and wisdom, the Lord has taught us some essential, important lessons in our painful spiritual journey. Our experience has been valuable to us, because the Lord leads us to use for his glory the lessons he teaches us. New members and longtime members alike have unique experiences that can, with the Spirit's guidance, help them minister the grace of God to others.

THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD, a Christian ministry established in 1933 in Eugene, Oregon, is active in more than 100 countries and territories and maintains its international headquarters in Glendora, California. Since the death of founder Herbert W. Armstrong in 1986, the church has undergone significant doctrinal reform, bringing it into the mainstream of evangelical Christian theology.

With about 36,000 members, THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD is dedicated to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, the message that God is reconciling the world to himself and offering forgiveness of sin and eternal life through Jesus Christ. More than 1,000 pastors and elders of the church serve members in about 900 congregations around the world. For more information about the church and its activities, contact:

Worldwide Church of God

Church Relations
P.O. Box 5005
Glendora, CA 91740

WORLDWIDE
CHURCH OF GOD

Whether you are looking for answers to your questions about Jesus Christ and how he can make a difference in your life, or looking for a Christian fellowship to make your spiritual home, we would be delighted to meet you and pray with you. Please feel welcome to visit any of our worship services.