Information On Foursquare Churches In Las Vegas

By Mary Ward


The name Foursquare Church is the common name used to refer to International Church of Foursquare Gospel. The longer version of the name is usually shortened to ICFG. ICFG is a protestant evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination that was founded by Aimee Semple McPherson in 1923. As such, the church has a long history in the United States although its membership remains comparatively lower than other denominations of the same age. Foursquare churches in Las Vegas are some of the churches of the denomination with the largest congregations.

The name Foursquare derives from the four-fold ministry that Jesus Christ represented while on earth. The four ministries are Savior, baptizer, healer, and soon-returning King. Followers of the church believe that the main goals of Jesus coming to earth was to save people from their sins and to baptize them with the Holy Ghost. Jesus also came to heal people from their suffering and He will return following his ascension into heaven.

The Declaration of Faith is a compilation that was done by the founder McPherson and it contains all the beliefs held in the church. Members believe in deity of Jesus, the doctrine of Holy Trinity, and the verbal inspiration of biblical scriptures. Human beings took on the likeness of God, but they became sinful in nature after the fall.

Members of ICFG also believe that by the death of Jesus Christ, all the sins of the world were washed away. Thus, human beings received salvation by grace as opposed to the common belief of salvation by good works. Justification comes through faith while repentance leads to an individual being born again. Born again believers therefore accept Jesus to be their Lord and King.

Another major belief in the church is that people have free will to decide their actions. Therefore, people are disposed to backsliding, but they can be redeemed through constant repentance and prayer. The book of beliefs states that sanctification is an on-going process that should not end if spiritual growth is to be attained. One can attain Christian perfection if they surrender and consecrate to God.

The ICFG has the Foursquare Convention as the main body responsible for making decisions. The convention meets biennially. Members of the convention are comprised of international officers and ministers, often licensed. Delegates are sent to the convention from churches in the United States to vote on key issues. Churches that are located outside the United States are also allowed to send delegates to vote in the convention.

Local churches form subordinate divisions of the International church. They are governed by bylaws enforced by the International church. ICFG churches fall into two broad categories, that is charter member and covenant member churches. A charter member church is not legally separate from the International church and its property is owned by the main church.

On the contrary, covenant churches are separate from the international church and they own property independently. This category includes pioneer churches and non-member churches. An upgrade may be done to a pioneer church so that it becomes a charter church.




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