VIVA Church exists with a simple goal - to help people connect with God and find full life. To accomplish this, we want to mobilize every believer to reach people for Christ, serve others and grow together. Our mission is to love God and love people.
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”
-Matthew 22:37
“...You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”
- Matthew 22:39
This year we are mobilizing VIVA Church in 3 main areas - grow (prayer, presence, Word), pursue (community) and advance (outreach).
Mobilize is based on Joel 2:7 which says, "They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; everyone marches in formation, and they do not break ranks."
Mobilization is a military term that means to "put in a state of readiness for active service, to organize or prepare something for such as a group of people for a purpose". Mobilization requires unity.
In August 1992, Pr Frank moved to Oshawa and pioneered what we know today as VIVA. In January 1994, Pr Frank married Chris and together they continued in ministry.
They moved buildings, added staff and, in faith, kept moving forward. Even though there has been much change over the years, the vision remains the same: to reach people for Jesus.
We believe the Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible and inerrant.
1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 3:15, 16
We believe in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as one God existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; distinguishable but indivisible.
Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13-14
We believe the church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus’ Great Commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23
We believe in the creation, test and fall of man as recorded in Genesis; his total spiritual depravity and inability to attain to divine righteousness.
Romans 3:10-18
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of men, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, Mary, very God and very man.
Luke 1:26-35; John 1:18; Isaiah 7:14; 9:16
We believe Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day, after which He personally appeared to His disciples.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25
We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation and personal, literal and bodily coming again, a second time, for the church.
John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of Jesus on the cross of Calvary, by which alone we obtain the remission of sins.
Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:12, 22; Romans 5:11
We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, in order to fulfill the command of Christ.
Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:34-36; 19:1-6
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experience subsequent to salvation.
Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-46; Galatians 3:14-15
We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12-14, and as manifested in the early church.
1 Corinthians 12-14
We believe in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world and perfecting holiness in the fear of God as an expression of Christian faith.
Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1
We believe in the healing of the body by divine power, or divine healing in its varied aspects as practiced in the early church.
Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 12:9; James 5:1
We believe in the table of the Lord, commonly called,‘Communion’ or the ‘Lord’s Supper’, for believers.
1 Corinthians 11:28-32
We believe in eternal life for believers and eternal punishment for unbelievers.
Mark 9:43-58; John 3:16; 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:10-15
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan and the eternal judgment of Satan and his angels.
Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10-15
#1 Jesus is our focus.
We will never apologize for proclaiming Jesus Christ. He is our reason for living, our hope for the future, and the head of the church.
Luke 24:27; Hebrews12:1-2; Colossians 1:18-20; Colossians 3:17
#2 People are our heart.
We believe people matter to God, and therefore, they matter to us.
Luke 15
#3 Passion is our spirit.
We don’t do anything half-heartedly and we are passionate for: the person of the Holy Spirit, the word, for prayer and worship.
Acts 1:8; John 14:26; Jude 1:20
#4 Community is our pursuit.
We actively pursue authentic community, because church and life only work when we do them together.
Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:9-13; Galatians 6:2
#5 Generosity is our privilege.
We are contributors, not consumers. We are generous with our time, talent and treasures
Romans 12:6; Col 3:23-24; Ephesians 4:11-12
#6 Honour is our calling.
We honour Christ by honouring others and finding Him in them. We show respect in words and actions to those we lead, follow and disagree with.
Proverbs 3:9; Ephesians 6:2-3; Romans 12:10; 1 Timothy 5:17
#7 Diversity is our strength.
We believe diversity is essential, not tolerable. We celebrate many cultures, personalities and gifts, and we remember that there is only one body.
Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 14
Our NEXT STEPS course is a great way to find all about our history, beliefs and get connected. Sign up by clicking here.
You can also feel free to contact us by reaching our to our church office.