Mission Statement
The Foursquare Church exists to
glorify God and advance His kingdom. Jesus Christ's command is to preach the
gospel and make disciples of all nations (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19).
Therefore, we are "Dedicated unto the cause of inter-denominational and
worldwide evangelism."* These words express our spirit and our focus.
Our call is to preach Jesus Christ,
God's Son, as the Savior, Healer, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit and coming
King. Our assignment is to develop healthy, growing churches. Our commitment
is to plant national churches around the world led by loving servants of
Jesus Christ. Churches developed in this manner will reproduce again and
again. This makes possible the spread of the gospel to those who have not
heard or accepted the message of God's Son.
Our Name
"Foursquare"
is a Biblical term used of the tabernacle in the Book of Exodus, of the
Temple of the Lord in Ezekiel 40:47, and of Heaven, as described in the book
of the Revelation. The term "Foursquare Gospel" was given in the inspiration
of revival to the denomination's founder, Aimee Semple McPherson, during an
evangelistic campaign in Oakland, Calif., in 1922. It represents that which
is equally balanced on all sides, established and enduring. Such confidence
in the power of the Gospel is also expressed by the verse, Hebrews 13:8,
displayed in Foursquare churches proclaiming, "Jesus Christ the Same,
Yesterday and Today and Forever."
The name represents the four-fold
ministries of Jesus:
The
Savior
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities; the chastisment for our peace was upon Him..." -Isaiah 53:5
(Titus 2:14, Is. 55:7, Heb. 7:25, Is. 1:18)
The
Baptizer with the Holy Spirit
"For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy
Spirit... you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth." -Acts 1:5,8 (Jn. 14:16-17, Acts 2:4, Acts
8:17, Acts 10:44-46, 1 Cor. 3:16)
The
Healer
"He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses..." -Matthew 8:17
(Mk. 16:17-18, Mt. 9:5-6, Acts 4:29-30)
The
Soon-Coming King
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout... the dead in
Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we
shall always be with the Lord." -1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (Titus 2:12-13, Mt.
24:36-44, Heb. 9:28, Lk. 19:13, Lk. 12:35-37.)
Vision
The vision of The Foursquare Church is
to present Jesus Christ, God's Son, to every person in every culture and
nation as The Savior, The Baptizer with the Holy Spirit,
The Healer and The Soon-Coming King. Since the founding of The
Foursquare Church in 1923, that vision has been realized through
evangelizing the lost and establishing local congregations in the United
States and abroad, through the nurturing and training of believers into
leadership on all levels of church life, and in cooperation with other
members of the body of Christ at large in the fellowship of the Gospel and
the fulfillment of the biblical mandate to be "light" and "salt" on the
earth.
Strategy
The strategy of The Foursquare Church
is to follow the pattern of church development found in the New Testament.
The Holy Spirit led the Early Church in this development. The pattern has
four stages. It helps us understand where we are in the growth process and
where we need to go. Each stage is different but connects closely with the
others.
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Stage 1: Pioneer
The church starts when workers bring the lost to Christ and plant local
congregations. The goal is responsible disciples who evangelize and
reproduce themselves. The church at Thessalonica in Greece started this
way (Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10).
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Stage 2: Establish
The church grows stronger when workers give practical Christian teaching
and train leaders. The goal is responsible, reproducing leaders who serve
their families and the local church. The church on the island of Crete
matured this way (Titus 1-3).
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Stage 3: Empower
The national church organizes to govern and support itself and to do its
own evangelism in a way that is sensitive to local cultures. The goal is
responsible local congregations that plant other churches. Together they
become a national church movement to reach the entire country. The church
at Ephesus in Turkey developed and multiplied this way (Acts 19-20).
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Stage 4: Send
The national church reaches out to people of other cultures and languages.
The goal is responsible national churches that send and support workers
who serve other cultures and countries. In obedience to the Holy Spirit,
the church at Antioch in Syria became such a church when they sent Paul
and Barnabas (Acts 13:1-4).
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