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Mission And Vision
Our Mission
To be a dynamic family-oriented reflection and extension of the Book of Acts filled and led by the power of the Holy Spirit; deliberately and passionately fulfilling the purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:7-8) as we eagerly wait and prepare for His imminent return.
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-2)
He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
( Acts 1:7-8)
1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)
Our Vision
- To exalt the Lord through anointed praise and worship (John 4:23-24) and life-
transforming testimonies of the manifest power of the Living God (Revelations 12:11)
23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)
11They overcame him (the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. (Revelations 12:11a)
- To extend the Father’s love though passionate prayer (James 5:13-16) , diligent biblical discipleship (Acts 17:11; Acts 2:42-43; Romans 10: 16b-17), and genuine fellowship. (Hebrews 10:25)
(13) Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. (14) Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. (16) Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. ( James 5:13-16)
(11) Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)
(16b) For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" (17) Conse-quently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of hrist. (Romans 10: 16b-17)
(42)They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (43) Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
(Acts 2:42-43)
To reach out to the world through deliberate and compassionate evangelism (Matthew 28:19-20) and missions. (Romans 10:14; Acts 1:8)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Acts 1:8)
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:14)
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Where We Were Then:
In 2005, the Filipino community at Calvary Temple International Assembly, under the leadership of Rudy Mazo, Jr., hosted a joint Thanksgiving Fellowship. Pastor Ted Abenis was the honored guest speaker. Many Filipino Christians from different churches celebrated the Lord’s favor and goodness in that occasion. That was God’s divine appointment for both Pastor Ted Abenis and Pastor Edgar Olarte to meet and share each other’s experience, burden, and calling.
At that time, Pastor Olarte was leading an independent home Bible study group of three families at Edison, New Jersey, hosted by Mitch and Melo Santos. This home group grew and a church was born! Then, Pastor Olarte had to go home to the Philippines. Pastor Abenis graciously ministered to the pioneering church in his absence. Many of Pastor Abenis’ friends and families supported this pioneering ministry and by God’s grace and favor, it continued to grow. Upon his return, Pastor Olarte requested Pastor Abenis’ partnership in this ministry. In obedience to God’s direction, Pastor Abenis responded to the opportunity to serve. The yearlong commitment extended as the Lord confirmed Ptr. Abenis’ calling to this ministry. The Lord drew new believers to the ministry Sunday after Sunday. As the ministry grew, the Lord led the flock to the basement of Dominique and Binky Saquian and then to the Red Cross Building in Nutley, New Jersey.
Many of the attendees in the fellowship lived in the Southern, New Jersey area. In obedience to the Lord’s direction, Pastor Olarte initiated an Outreach Ministry that evolved into another church in Monroe, New Jersey. Pastor Abenis continued to shepherd the fellowship in Nutley, New Jersey. Later, the church sought affiliation with the New Jersey District of the Assemblies of God through Rev. Danilo Quijano. And, on June 3, 2007, Rev. Richard Leksell, the Home Mission Director of New Jersey Assemblies of God officially welcomed Jesus Christ Ministries of the Assemblies of God (JCM-AG).
The Need
Looking back in 2002, in a multi-church home group hosted by the Filipino community of Calvary Temple International Assembly at the home of Pastor Robert Guimary, the birth of this church was just a vision impressed by the Lord in the heart of Ptr. Ted Abenis.
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There was a recognized need. Many of the older parents and grandparents of our Filipino families did not easily acclimate to the international community, more specifically to the English language spoken in home groups and Sunday services.
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There were many untapped potentials. There was a need to mobilize the many gifted, trained, and experienced Filipino brothers and sisters who used to be “actively” involved in various ministries in the Philippines.
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These needs birthed the burning Godly calling to have a Filipino fellowship in this side of New Jersey to minister to the need of the growing number of older Filipinos and to stir to action and out of the “boat of complacency” our gifted brothers and sisters. By God’s grace, we are moving together in unity as we deliberately fulfill the purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Where We Are Now:
After two years of fellowship at the Nutley Red Cross, New Jersey, God answered our payer for a bigger place of worship. On February 3, 2008, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Clifton, New Jersey opened its door to our ministry. We now have more space to accommodate our growing ministry and most of all to allow us to expand and develop our various ministries. Our Children’s Ministry is now staffed with dedicated teachers who are using curriculum-driven materials to meet the age-specific needs of our children. We have three home Bible study groups that meet on Fridays, a weekly prayer meeting on Thursday, and a monthly overnight prayer and intercessory meeting. Our young people have dedicated their services in the Music Ministry. In June 2008, we envision to launch our Sunday School of the Bible and further expand and develop our Youth Ministry.
Jesus Christ Ministries- Assemblies of God is moving forward to fulfill God’s purpose and moving upward to God’s higher calling. It is a place of worship and a home for fellowship. It is a place where one comes in as a guest and leaves as part of the family.
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