Serbian Orthodox
Background Information for the Serbian Orthodox Church The Serbian Orthodox Church was established between the 7th-9th centuries A.D. Perhaps the longest process of conversion of all the early denominations, the Serbs were converted to Christianity not long after their arrival in the Balkans which were formerly occupied by various nomadic Germanic tribes like the Goths […]
Romanian Orthodox
Information about the Romanian Orthodox Church – Emerged 1885 As Distinct from the Eastern Orthodox Denomination. Although some claim that the Romanian Orthodox church traces back to Apostolic times i.e. the work of the Apostle Andrew in Scythia Minor (Romania) and other very early missionaries, the history of this branch of the Orthodox faith is […]
Congregational Churches
Congregational Churches Congregational Churches began when many Puritans sought greater reform of the Church of England from within; they sought to “purify” the church as a part of the organisation. Other Puritans were “Independents” and met separately from the Anglican Church. They felt that proper reform of the Anglican Church would not or could not […]
Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church – Founded by Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew – 35-50 A.D. The origin of the Armenian Church dates back to the Apostolic age. According to the ancient tradition, which is well supported by historical evidence, Christianity was preached in Armenia as early as the second half of the first century by the […]
YWAM YFC Parachurch Organizations
Para-chruch ministries work outside of and among the different denominations (interdenominational) but are not denominations themselves. They attempt to perform the functions which the Bible assigns to the elders, Pastors, Bishops, overseers of the local church – e.g. raising up disciples who are equipped to minister the gospel to the lost. A scant few actually […]
Vineyard Churches
Background Information for the Vineyard Church The Vineyard denomination was a Pentecostal group of churches originally founded by Ken Gullickson in 1974 as a group of small churches and bible study groups affiliated with Calvary Chapel. These groups existed in practical anonymity until 1982, when a charismatic seminary professor, Calvary Chapel Pastor, and former professional […]
Calvary Chapel
Background of Calvary Chapel Founded by Chuck Smith in 1965 in the midst of the “Jesus Movement” among the hippie culture of Costa Mesa, California. Chuck Smith and a small group of about 25 broke from the International Foursquare Gospel Denomination and began a ministry to hippies, surfers, and drug addicts. This small movement spread […]
Evangelical Free Church
Evangelical Free Church Background Information The Evangelical Free Church is Swedish/Danish in origin, the modern American EFCA was founded by a merger in 1950 between the Evangelical Free Church of America (Swedish) and the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Free Church Association. The Swedish group had its formal beginnings in Boone, Iowa, at a conference held in October […]
Foursquare Church
Founder of the Foursquare Church denomination Aimee Semple McPherson was the founder of the Foursquare Church Denomination in 1927 and is credited for taking faith healing Pentecostalism into mainstream popularity by use of the latest technology of radio. She is perhaps the earliest “mega church” in Pentecostal History (D.L. Moody was perhaps the earliest mega […]
Church of God
Church of God Denomination Tree There could be a denominational family tree just for the Church of God alone that would nearly rival the size of the entire Christian Denominations tree. There is a Church of God founded in Tennessee, A splinter Church of God (Jerusalem Acres) a splinter from that splinter called the Church […]
Church of Nazarene
Church of Nazarene Background Information Church of Nazarene was birthed from the Holiness Movement as a merger of 7 Holiness and/or Pentecostal denominations in 1907-08: the Central Evangelical Holiness Association (New England), the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America (Middle Atlantic States), New Testament Church of Christ (South), Independent Holiness Church (Southwest), the Church of […]
Christian Missionary Alliance (CMA)
Christian Missionary Alliance Background Information Christian Missionary Alliance information page like many of our pages with information about denominations, focuses a great deal on the founder(s) because that provides a more in-depth glance at what belief system gave rise to that denomination and perhaps how the liturgy and theology came to be. The founder of […]
What is the Salvation Army?
What is the Salvation Army? What is the Salvation Army? – William and Catherine Booth – Founders of the Salvation Army, practitioners of divine healing, products of Phoebe Palmer and the Holiness Movement. William Booth was a Methodist street preacher. Their organization, founded in 1865, would have lasting impact on Aimee Semple McPherson of the […]
Holiness Churches
Background Information for the Holiness Churches It is important to note here that “holiness” is not defined by avoiding all of those “naughty” habits like smoking, drinking or going to movies or theater. Rather, holiness is living in repentance which is living for the glory of God and not for our own glory. Holiness is […]
International Church of Christ (ICC)
Background Information for the International Church of Christ The International Church of Christ (ICC or ICOC) is not to be confused with the mainline denomination “Church of Christ”. Prior to 1993, the ICC went by the name “Boston Church of Christ” disciples movement. This organization came under great scrutiny in the body of Christ for […]