Vineyard Church Northwest
The History of the Vineyard Movement
Vineyard USA History from Vineyard USA on Vimeo.
In 1974, after leaving Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, the Lord led Kenn and Joanie Gulliksen to Los Angeles to begin a ministry that had been on their hearts for several years. Starting as a small Bible study group in the home of Chuck Girard (from the musical group "Love Song"), the fellowship quickly grew, necessitating the beginning of other home studies and the beginning of a Sunday service in Beverly Hills. God prophetically gave the name "Vineyard" to these gathered people.
The church met in a gym or on the beach or in homes, especially for those not "at home" in other churches. One third of the church was made up of Jewish believers, most of whom received the Lord at the Vineyard.
God worked through many mistakes and failures, as well as successes, as people were willing to take risks to become like Jesus and to communicate the good news. Several couples went out and began other Vineyards in California, quickly growing churches with priorities of worship, relationship, healing and giving.
In the spring of 1982, John Wimber and several other pastors led their churches into relationship/identification with the Vineyard, as their vision coincided with and complemented that of the original Vineyard. It was obvious God had called John to pastor the pastors, to train and encourage, and to plant churches internationally-comfort given from comfort received. As a result, the people called the Vineyard have extensive and fruitful relationships with American denominations, the Church of England, churches in Europe and Africa, World Vision, seminaries like Fuller, and underground churches in Europe, Asia, and China.