Our History
In the year 2001, after prayerfully searching and seeking God's will for the ministry, Apostle Vandross accepted God's divine call to establish Word In Life Christian Fellowship Baptist Church. Word in Life is currently located at 119 Slate Stone Drive, in Summerville, SC. The first service was held on February 11, 2001 at our former location; 199-B Farmington Road. There were 150 worshippers who were in attendance. It was a highly anointed and blessed service; one that will forever be a joyous and memorable experience by those who attended. Through the Apostle's obedience, many joined the ministry in support of the vision, and the Lord continues to bless him with overwhelming support.
Due to the great attendance in the first service, the saints of God came together to prepare the sanctuary for the following Sunday's worship service. They mopped the concrete floor, purchased folding chairs, and a partial rug for Apostle's floor-level pulpit, and the list goes on and on. Through the grace of God, and dedication of the saints, the sanctuary was beautifully prepared for the second service. As God says in His word, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13) The ministry took a shift, and experienced a period of transition. Several saints joined other ministries, but God sent others to accomplish His work. Within the first six months of the ministry, the Almighty God blessed Word In Life with a membership of over 200 people, including several ministers, deacons, and deaconesses. The men of the church built a beautiful pulpit, wall-to-wall carpet was installed, chairs were purchased, and the Lord abundantly blessed the church financially.
Numerous auxiliaries were organized in order to fulfill our motto: "Minister to the Total Man." These auxiliaries include: the Trustee Board, Missionary Society, Pastor's and Pulpit Aid Board, and the Usher Board. Three choirs were organized: Word In Life Inspirational, Word In Life Youth, and Word In Life Young Adult. A women's ministry, entitled Women Willing to Stand, was birthed through First Lady Vandross. As the church grew over the years and prospered in the faith, Word In Life continued to add more resources in order to continue ministering to the needs of the people of God. These resources include Children's Church, a tutoring program for our youth, Youth Bible Study, Teen, Marriage, and Men ministries.
Though many trials and tribulations came, God has never left us, nor has He forsaken us. In His word He said, "So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) He also said, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." (Psalm 37:23) Therefore, let it be known that the Word In Life Outreach Ministries Family believes that we must continue to follow God's commandments, so He may get the glory out of our lives...We must love one another as God loves us. (1 John 3:23) It is our desire that God would always allow His presence to be with us at all times. We are not concerned about the number of names on the membership list. However, we are concerned that the presence of God remains with us, and His glory never fades away.
Word in Life Outreach Ministries has been ordained by God. It has been blessed due to the obedience of Apostle Vandross, the support of his wife and children, the faithfulness of the members, and friends who have grasped the vision of this great work. Through the love of Jesus that shines upon our congregation, and the cooperative spirit among the people of God, we are grateful to Him for all the accomplishments He has bestowed upon us.