Our Story
In the fall of 1987, Assemblies of God missionary Bonnie Mackish felt the leading of the Lord to start an English-speaking church in Vienna. A year later, Dr. Wayde and Rosalyn Goodall and family became the first pastors of the “Charismatic Praise Service” held at Halbgasse 17.
In September of 1989, Greg and Sandie Mundis were appointed as the new Lead pastors. Incredible growth continued, new ministries and outreaches were launched, and the name “Vienna Christian Center” was chosen.
Omar and Pat Beiler came in June of 1993 to continue leading VCC. In the years they pastored, the small group ministry was established resulting in the growth of the different language services and fellowships. Pastors Gerhard and Jeanette Kisslinger became the Pastors for the German speaking fellowship, known as JesusZentrum. Pastors Larry & Marlene Manuel became the Pastors of the Filipino fellowship and Pastors PeterJohn & Noemi Kalambay became the Pastors of the French- African Fellowship. In June of 1998, VCC moved into our Rennweg 74 campus.
After the Beilers’ departure in April of 2000, Tom and Candi Manning served as interim pastors and were installed as the new Lead Pastors in March, 2001. During their 11 ½ years of leadership, VCC increased to nine congregations with an average weekend attendance of 1600 people, the Gutenstein Retreat Center was acquired and the new facility of Baumgasse campus became a reality.
In December, 2011, God directed Larry and Melinda Henderson and family to serve as the lead pastors to continue to make a major spiritual impact and touch lives for Jesus in Vienna, Austria, Europe, and the world.
Our Beliefs
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is inspired by God and declares His design and plan for mankind. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it is inspired by God, the Bible is truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to our daily lives.
2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21
TRINITY
We believe there is only One True God – revealed in three persons – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22
THE FATHER
God is great: He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, Holy. It is in Him that we live, move and exist. God is good. He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises.
Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4
THE SON
Jesus Christ is completely human but, at the same time, completely God. He is the only plan for bringing people who are far from God back into a right relationship with God. He lived a perfect life, so that He could be a substitution for us in satisfying God’s demands for perfection. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we can have life.
Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit’s presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and makes us more like Christ. We believe in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it. It is a special experience following salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in the New Testament times.
Genesis 1:2; Psalm 51:11; 139:7 ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Lk 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 13:2; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:17
ETERNITY
Man was created to exist forever. He will exist either eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15
MAN
Man is made in the image of God and is the supreme object of His creation. Man was created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, man cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11
SALVATION
Salvation comes only through God’s grace and must be received personally by repentance and faith. Jesus sacrifice on the cross provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. Salvation is a gift from God, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts.
Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-66, 28:1-6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:24-28; Revelation 3:20
ORDINANCES
We believe and practice 2 ordinances: Water Baptism by immersion after repenting of one’s sins and receiving Christ’s gift of salvation and Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s suffering and death for our salvation.
Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 11:26; 2 Peter 1:4
THE CHURCH
The Church is a local community of believers unified through faith in Christ. It is committed to the teachings of Christ and obeying all of His commands, and it seeks to bring the Gospel to the world. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.
Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 21:2-3
OUR FUTURE HOPE
We believe in the blessed hope when Jesus raptures His Church prior to His return to earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52
Our Vision
The vision of Vienna Christian Center is to make a major spiritual impact in Vienna, Austria, Europe and the World.
Our Culture
WE KEEP JESUS AT THE CENTER
We do not do things FOR God. We do things WITH God. Our ministry flows from an intimate relationship with Jesus, an obedience to His voice, and a passion for His presence.
WE HONOR AND CELEBRATE ALL PEOPLE
We embrace all people, regardless of age, gender, race, class, countries, cultures and creed because JESUS died for everyone.
WE ARE ONE HOUSE WITH MANY ROOMS
VCC is a church for all nations with people from different nationalities worshipping in their own language. We represent people of different age and life stages growing and serving together as ONE Church.
WE MAKE IT PUBLIC
We are a Glocal Church. We act locally and impact globally. We invite everyone to see who Jesus is through our words and our actions.
WE ALL DO SOMETHING
The church is a movement of people who are compelled by what God has done for us and recognize we all have a part to play in accomplishing the big picture of His mission for the church.
WE NEVER STOP GROWING
We are a community of people who are continually in the process of growing into all that God has created and called us to be.
WE LIVE LIFE TOGETHER
We belong to each other. Community isn’t easy but is necessary. We build trust in our relationships with one another and challenge each other to grow together.
WE ARE A LEADERSHIP GENERATION
We create a culture that does not control but empowers people to make decisions, grow in their giftings, and to fulfill their God given calling. We see the potential in people and call them to greatness, knowing that our words have the ability to bring life to those around us.
WE DREAM BIG AND DO SMALL THINGS WELL
We are always looking forward and going further than we’ve ever been, knowing the best is yet to come. We are faithful with what God has placed in our hands and pursue excellence in all we do.
WE LIVE OPEN HANDED
We don’t cling tightly to our resources, time and talents. God gave it all to us for the good of us all.