The Way International

The Way International
FounderVictor Paul Wierwille
FocusBiblical research, teaching, and fellowship
Location
OriginsOctober 3, 1942[1] as Vesper Chimes radio program[2]
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Rev. Vern Edwards, Director
  • Rev. Steve Crommett, Director
  • Rev. Bill Greene, Director
  • Dr. Angela Priester, Director
  • Rev. Mel Privette, Director
WebsiteOfficial website

The Way International is a nondenominational Christian ministry based in New Knoxville, Ohio. The followers congregate primarily in home fellowships[3] located throughout the United States, two US territories, and in over 30 countries.[4] It was founded by Victor Paul Wierwille in 1942 as a radio program, subsequently becoming The Chimes Hour Youth Caravan in 1947,[5] and The Way, Inc., in 1955.

The ministry distributes publications such as The Way Magazine through its company, American Christian Press, and has developed and promotes classes and other programs, some of which are in several languages.[6] It formed The Way Corps, a leadership training program, in 1970.

The Way offers classes in biblical studies to its followers, prominently the Power for Abundant Living Today (also referred to as PFAL Today)[7] class series, considered to be the modern-day successor to its original class series, Power for Abundant Living (also referred to as PFAL). The Way International has given focused attention on first-century Christianity and extensive research into the Church Epistles. It has been described as combining biblical literalism, evangelicalism, Calvinism, dispensationalism, and Pentecostalism.[6] The teaching of The Way is based on 2 Peter 1:20[8] that "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" (KJV translation) and they believe the Bible interprets itself in a variety of ways, which is taught in its studies, classes, and publications. TWI teaches that every follower can have an accurate understanding of God's original intent in his Word.[9]

On October 3, 1982, L. Craig Martindale became the second president of The Way.[10] He was followed by Rosalie F. Rivenbark in April 2000.[11] In March 2017, Jean-Yves DeLisle was installed as the fourth president. On March 10, 2020, Vernon W. Edwards was installed as the fifth president of The Way.[12]

  1. ^ "Encyclopedia of American Religions" (Seventh edition) by J. Gordon Melton. (2003) p608.
  2. ^ "The A to Z of new religious movements" by George D. Chryssides. (2006) p347.
  3. ^ "About The Way International". The Way International. Retrieved 2021-05-16.
  4. ^ "Home Fellowships". The Way International. Retrieved 2021-05-16.
  5. ^ "Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism" by Randall Herbert Balmer. (2004) p622.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Williams1979 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference PFAL Today was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ 2 Peter 1:20
  9. ^ "About The Way International". The Way International. Retrieved 2021-05-16.
  10. ^ Craley, David (1982). "From the Editor". The Way Magazine (November/December): 3.
  11. ^ "Changes on the Board of Trustees Announced". The Way Magazine: 17. July–August 2000.
  12. ^ As of March 10, 2020 Vern Edwards is the new President of The Way International. The Way Magazine, fall 2016.