In the 1960s, the Jesus People movement emerged in the U.S. among hippies, many of whom were searching for the spiritual fulfilment of God but not finding it in the alternative cultures of the day. The first Vineyard church was founded in West LA in 1974 and grew rapidly. In 1975, the first Vineyard churches were established and led by Kenn Gullisken for five years. By 1982, there were at least seven Vineyard churches.
John and Carol Wimber joined Calvary Chapel and soon became key figures in the Vineyard movement. In 1982, John was recognised as the leader of the Vineyard churches, which became the "Association of Vineyard Churches." John Wimber was a former pop musician who found faith through a Quaker Bible study. John Wimber greatly influenced Vineyard theology and practices until his death in 1997.
John Wimber’s understanding of church ministry was influenced by theologian George Eldon Ladd's writings on the kingdom of God. John began teaching his church to practice all biblical gifts of the Spirit, combining evangelism with healing and prophecy. Vineyard Anaheim grew as the congregation experienced the Holy Spirit's power, leading to significant growth and renewal. John emphasised a balanced approach, integrating both Evangelical and Pentecostal/Charismatic traditions. He pastored the movement with wisdom, encouraging a balance between the Word and the Spirit. His influence is documented in Bill Jackson's book, "The Quest For The Radical Middle," and is evident in movements like The Alpha Course and New Wine.
Today, the Vineyard movement has over 2400 churches worldwide. Calling themselves "empowered evangelicals," they blend Evangelical traditions with Pentecostal/Charismatic practices, guided by Core Values to plant churches and serve communities. The Vineyard's mission is to create "outposts of the kingdom of God," caring for the poor, healing the sick, worshipping God, and doing the work Jesus did.
The first Australian Vineyard Churches were planted in 1995, in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. After congregations and numbers of people grew, the Association of Vineyard Churches Australia was officially formed in 2003. Peter and Kathy Downes were appointed as National Directors in September 2003, serving until April 2016. In June of the same year, Kirk and Nichole Delaney commenced serving as National Directors.
Our values give meaning to what we do, inspire and inform our actions, and form the central priorities of our culture. Vineyard values position Vineyard churches in the larger body of Christ, helping to define what it means to be "Vineyard".
Our core values and theology flow from the teachings of Jesus. We live to see the Kingdom of God breaking into the present day and our values align to see this fostered in our churches. This helps to focus on what we give our time, energy, and resources to as a family of churches.
Vineyard Churches Australia's Values can be found on the VCA website.