Christ Gospel Church is a fundamentalist, Pentecostal non-denominational church organization founded in the 1950s by Berniece Hicks in Louisville, Kentucky, after Hicks had left William Branham's congregation.[1]
Doctrines
Christ Gospel Church affirms its acceptance of the Apostles' Creed as an expression of Christian faith. Its Pentecostal emphasis is seen in teaching the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of glossolalia, or speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4,11,38).¹ However, church teachings do not believe that evidence of glossolalia is a requirement for salvation; rather, it is a gift that Christians can accept as they desire. The church also teaches that water baptism by immersion is a commandment for all Christians (Acts 2:38; 8:12; 9:5,18).¹ The church believes that worship should embrace all kinds of music (e.g., traditional hymns, choruses, country gospel, urban gospel, classical) and musical instruments (e.g., drums, guitars, pianos, saxophones, trumpets, violins). The church welcomes all races and classes of people because it realizes the importance of people being united in Christ rather than being divided among themselves. That said, CGC was and is known for believing that they are members of, variously, "the 144,000", "the Bride", or the "Manifested Sons of God", and that CGC, embodied in the person of Rev. Hicks, alone possesses all truth. Thus, all other churches are viewed as deficient or backslidden, spiritually. The church teaches "old-fashioned Holiness" in matters of conduct and dress, such as refraining from watching television or attending movie theaters, and women wearing dresses or skirts rather than pants. The emphasis of Hicks' teachings was, among other things, that the Bible is the infallible Word of God and that it calls on Christians to grow to spiritual maturity, both in their moral development and in their spiritual love relationship with Jesus Christ, in order to be in the Bride of Christ. The core of her distinctive approach to Scripture was founded on her belief that the Tabernacle used by the Israelites from the Exodus to the Conquest of Canaan was laid out in the form of a cross and serves as a picture or metaphor of Christian believers' spiritual experiences as they grow to maturity in Christ Jesus, as taught in the New Testament (Hebrews 9:8-11; Ephesians 2:19-22).[2]
Hicks taught the doctrine of the Rapture of a select group of Christians, and strongly implied that the Rapture would occur either concurrently with or almost immediately after her death. Hicks passed in 2018; to date, the Rapture has not yet occurred. Hicks also said on numerous occasions that Jesus Christ communicated with her both audibly and in person. These concepts can be found throughout Hicks's numerous publications and in church teachings.
International outreach
Mission outreach is an important part of Christ Gospel Churches' ministry.
Over 1500 churches world-wide are affiliated with Christ Gospel Churches International Inc (CGCII). Each country's Christ Gospel affiliated organization is an independent legal entity run by local church leaders. All follow the ecclesiastical model of faith expressed by Christ Gospel Churches International Inc.
Support for Mexico ministries is a major focus of Christ Gospel Churches International, Inc.
Christ Gospel Church is among the fastest growing evangelical groups in Mexico. Today, there are over 500 churches, an orphans' home, and two Bible schools.
CGCII provides seed funds to many local affiliated churches world-wide for the development of Christian congregations, church buildings, and many charitable works. Depending on local needs, CGCII also supports schools, orphanages, and feeding programs in Haiti, India, and Africa.
Distribution
Christ Gospel Churches International claims some 70 congregations in the United States, over 400 in India, about 500 in Mexico, and affiliates in several countries of Africa and Central America. There are congregations in El Salvador, England, the Faroe Islands, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, and various countries of South America, including Colombia and Ecuador. In all, the movement claims over 1,400 affiliated congregations in 135 countries (2008). Its international offices are located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, where it operates a Bible Institute, publishing ministry, broadcast ministry, and audio ministry.