INTRODUCTION TO THE VlNEYARD

A brief historical sketch of the origins of the Vineyard movement worldwide, in the Benelux and of Vineyard Brussels will enable you to gain an understanding of how our calling has emerged and give you an idea of how we came to be where we are today.

The Vineyard movement was founded by John and Carol Wimber in the USA in the late 1970’s. There are two important things to note about the origins of the Vineyard movement:

1. It was always John Wimber’s intention that the Vineyard would be thoroughly evangelical both in its theological orientation & acceptance of the Great Commission (the goal of Evangelical churches). At the same time, however, he pursued the goal of including Pentecostal experience in that framework. The driving force behind this somewhat radical association was his firm conviction that the so-called “Great Commission” is a call to both “Words” and “Works” (Proclamation and Demonstration).  It includes doing the “works of power” that Jesus did as well as “teaching what He taught” – the works confirming the words, by God’s grace.
2. John had always been a risk taker believing that praxis (learning by doing) was and is a primary method of discipleship. Therefore he was not afraid to pursue a given direction before fully understanding it. He was also one who took the attitude of a learner. 

THE HISTORY OF THE VINEYARD MOVEMENT

In one sense, Vineyard Christian Fellowship was born out of repentance. In 1976 Carol Wimber began to develop an insatiable hunger for God. She saw her own religious expertise and opinions in the light of his truth and began to seek him. Carol retreated to her bedroom for weeks on end, weeping, repenting, crying out to God. Soon she left her place of hiding and sought those who she had wronged through harsh and misdirected instruction. Not long afterward, many of these people began to meet together to worship God and pray. This small group seemed innocent enough, but God had given Carol a vision that these people would one day be a mighty church.

As this small fellowship began to grow, their home church became alarmed and the growing group was asked and blessed to leave. Knowing only that they had a new heart for God, they decided to make an organizational effort to begin formal services and on Mother’s Day. 1977, Bob Fulton led the first meeting in Yorba Linda. Soon Carol’s husband, John, resigned his position at Fuller Evangelistic Association to lead the fellowship. By 1978 their first facility was too small, and the group began meeting at a Junior High School.

Early on the church became part of the Calvary Chapel system. It was a young church then, with the median age around 23. Calvary Chapel Yorba Linda, as they were then called, began to develop a reputation as being a church that was a little “out of control.” God had already instilled within them the priority of worship. As worship songs were sung, sometimes for an hour, people wept, raised their hands and knelt on the floor. Not only was worship slightly outside the norm, but soon the church began to experience God’s supernatural power. It became evident that the church was going in a different direction than the Calvary Chapel philosophy. They made an amicable change to the name Vineyard Christian Fellowship, the name used by a small group of churches originally started by Kenn Gulliksen.

The church at this time began to grow in an astounding way. God began gifting them with evangelism. During 1978-79 approximately 1,000 people were baptized and by the time they moved to Anaheim in late ’83 they had already filled their new facility with 2,000 people. As Anaheim became their home, the priority of sending began to take effect.

What began as a small group of 15 people was truly becoming a movement as the few initial Vineyards quickly began to multipy – first on the west coast of the U.S. then across the country, into Canada, England and eventually throughout the world. Since that time the movement has grown and matured. In 1995, Canada was the first nation to be released to their own National Association followed by England in the spring of 1996. This marked the beginning of a new stage of development in the Vineyard: the forming of a consortium of nations joined together by God for the common purpose of extending; the kingdom of God in every nation. By 2002 there were over 1,000 Vineyard churches in more than 50 countries of the world.

The central ingredient in experiencing this favour, in the past & present, is also the key to the future – a hunger for God that was nurtured in Carol’s heart in the privacy of her bedroom. If we keep that focus as our primary concern we can be assured of his continued mercy & blessing. 

THE HISTORY OF THE VINEYARD IN THE BENELUX

The origins of the Vineyard in Benelux can be traced back to 1987, when Jan-Bernard Struik had contact with the Vineyard movement at a conference in Germany. He was so impacted that the following year he went to California to take part in the Vineyard Pastors’ School. In 1989 he helped to set up an organisation (called Kana), which in subsequent years held conferences bringing prominent Vineyard speakers such as John and Carol Wimber to Europe.

In 1994 the church which Jan-Bernard was leading in Wageningen, in the East of the Netherlands, became the first Vineyard church in the Benelux, through the process of adoption. About 4 years later, in 1998, Jan-Bernard handed over the leadership of this church to the leaders they had trained up and he and his wife Tineke set about pioneering a new Vineyard church in Utrecht. Once established the Utrecht Vineyard became the centre for coordinating Vineyard Benelux. Just before the Utrecht Vineyard was planted, a new Vineyard church was set up in Zwolle in 1997, though this was closed in 2001. In 1999 a Vineyard church in Dieren came into being, and in 2002 a new church planting initiative was launched in Rotterdam. This has also now closed. In 2008 a church in Kollumerzwaag, became a vineyard and there were church plants in Amsterdam & Amersfoort.

Meanwhile the Vineyard started in Belgium, first in Gent in 1996, then with the International Christian Fellowship (ICF) church plant “La Vigne” in Brussels in 1997, then in Antwerp in 2000. We joined in Jan 2004 and in Sept 2007 a second Vineyard has been established in Gent.

In October 1998 Jan-Bernard and Tineke were named National Director of the Vineyard in Benelux and National Coordinator for Poland and the Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Vineyard Benelux thus has a particular responsibility for developing the Vineyard in these four countries. It also has contacts in Russia.

 THE HISTORY OF  VINEYARD BRUSSELS (formerly ICF)

International Christian Fellowship (ICF) was born in 1986 when a team of five couples came over from the United States with the vision to plant a French-speaking church in Brussels. They started meeting together for fellowship in one of their homes; other people joined with them; and eventually it became clear that God was bringing into being an international church. ICF grew steadily and moved out of the home, into the British School, then subsequently into the German Church, then St Michel, then Centre Lumen, then in Av Franz Guillaume. Finally, we purchased a building on Boulevard du Souverain in Auderghem and that is where we are today.

In the mid 1990’s ICF had significant contact with the Vineyard movement in the UK. Teams from London visited Belgium and brought great blessing. The elders adopted much of their material and practices, though it was felt that it was not the time to join in more closely with the Vineyard churches. In 1997 one of ICF’s elders, David Floyd and his wife Mary, who had a vision for French-speaking Belgians, were encouraged to start a French-speaking church. David wanted to plant a Vineyard style church and progressed this dream with the support of Jan-Bernard, the co-ordinator of the Vineyard in Benelux. The French-speaking plant was appropriately called “La Vigne” and was run under the overall leadership of the Benelux Vineyards. ICF supported the new plant but did not seek to become part of the Vineyard at this time. It remained aligned with the local Belgian Antioch Network of churches, while maintaining close contact with both the Vineyard movement in the UK and the Benelux.

In 2002 the ICF leadership believed that the church should seriously explore the possibility of becoming a Vineyard. During 2002 we became a friend of the Vineyard and began to build much stronger links with the Benelux Vineyards. We had to re-examine both our beliefs and practices and see if we were truly aligned with the Vineyard in both practice and relationship. We were officially welcomed into the Vineyard movement in January 2004 when we became a full member of the Association of Vineyard Churches (AVC). Vineyard Brussels is committed to supporting Christian mission work both in Belgium and abroad.

 (A more comprehensive history of the Vineyard movement can be found in Alexander Venter’s book “Doing Church”; or Bill Jackson’s book “The Quest for the Radical Middle.”)

SUMMARY

• 1987: International Christian Fellowship (ICF), as the new church was known, soon outgrew its first home and moved to a series of larger locations in Brussels.
• Mid-1990’s: ICF developed contacts with the Vineyard movement in the UK. Teams visited Belgium, relations deepened and many Vineyard values and practices were adopted.
• 2002: The leaders explored the possibility of becoming a Vineyard church and began to build close ties with the Benelux Vineyards. It became clear that ICF’s core values were aligned with those of the Vineyard movement.
• January 2004: The church was officially welcomed as a full member of the Association of Vineyard Churches (AVC), becoming Vineyard Brussels.
• December 2004: Vineyard Brussels moved to a venue in Evere, which it rented 24/7, providing office, meeting and training space.
• April 2013: Vineyard Brussels moved to Auderghem/Oudergem.

People now come to Vineyard Brussels from across the city and throughout Belgium to meet together both on Sundays and during the week.

VINEYARD BELIEFS

Vineyard Brussels is one of a collection of churches called the Association of Vineyard Churches. While technically not a denomination, Vineyard churches are connected by relationship and a common value system.

The Vineyard began about 40 years ago and currently has about 2,500 churches worldwide.

“The Vineyard is God’s idea. He called us as kingdom people, doing the stuff of proclamation and demonstration. To do only half of what we’ve been called into is not a complete Gospel message and we must do all of what God’s placed upon us.”

— John Wimber

VINEYARD CORE VALUES

WE ARE A PEOPLE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD WHO:

• Partner with the Holy Spirit

• Experience and worship God

• Reconcile people with God and all creation

• Engage in compassionate ministry

• Pursue culturally relevant mission in the world

STATEMENT OF FAITH

WE BELIEVE IN:

• God the King and the Holy Trinity

• God the King: The Creator and Ruler of all things

• The Counterfeit Kingdom: Satan and Demonic Hosts

• The Kingdom in Creation, The Fall, and The Doctrine of Original Sin

• God’s Providence, Kingdom Law and Covenants

• Christ the Mediator and Eternal King

• The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

• The Sufficiency of Scripture

• The Power of the Gospel over the Kingdom of Darkness

• The Church: Instrument of the Kingdom

• Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

• The Kingdom of God and the Final Judgment

To explore our beliefs and values further, feel free to view the video below – featuring the Vineyard’s National Director, Phil Strout – or download Vineyard’s official brochure.