Preamble

We are a community of Christians united in obedience to Jesus Christ for service among the most vulnerable of the world's poor. We submit to a Kingdom spirituality, which addresses the realities of a broken world. We seek to respond to the needs of the world by embodying and announcing the coming of the Kingdom of the Triune God. We seek to reconcile the church with the poor by prophetically expressing the cry of God for the poor and the cry of the poor for God.

History

Word Made Flesh was founded in 1991, as a non-profit organization existing to serve among the most vulnerable of the world’s poor. In 1994, Word Made Flesh opened its first children's home in Chennai, India focusing primarily on pediatric AIDS care. Word Made Flesh has since established communities in Asia, Latin America, Europe and Africa.

Vision Statement

Word Made Flesh is called and committed to serve Jesus among the most vulnerable of the world’s poor. This calling is realized as a prophetic ministry for, and an incarnational, holistic mission among the poor. We focus our energy to make Jesus known among the poor while reconciling the church with the poor.

Identity Statement

We are called by Jesus to birth communities that practice the presence and proclamation of the Kingdom of God among the most vulnerable of the world’s poor. These Kingdom communities are formed in majority world urban centers. We celebrate the praxis of mutual submission with local Christians and churches. Our means is community. Our message is prophetic. Our method is incarnational. We exist that Jesus, the Living Word, be made flesh.

Lifestyle Celebrations

Word Made Flesh is united in an intentional spirituality that is expressed through nine core values.

Intimacy - We celebrate intimacy with Jesus to be our highest calling and our created purpose.

Obedience - We celebrate obedience as our loving response to the grace of Jesus.

Humility - We celebrate humility before God and humanity.

Community - We celebrate community as a means for discipleship and service.

Service - We celebrate service as an expression of our fellowship.

Simplicity - We celebrate simplicity as a privilege in identification with Jesus and the poor.

Submission - We celebrate submission to Jesus, each other and the poor.

Brokenness - We celebrate brokenness as our responsibility in ministry among the broken.

Suffering - We celebrate suffering as a willing sacrifice in serving Jesus.

Philosophy of Ministry

Word Made Flesh is united in philosophical commitments, which are expressed in seven missional starting points. Jesus and the Kingdom of God Hebrews 12:28, 13:8. We are an ecumenical community of Christians united in obedience to Jesus for service among the poor. Our service flows from intimacy with Jesus and is guided by the values of the Kingdom of God.

The Most Vulnerable of the World’s Poor - Matthew 25:40, James 2:5. We respond to the needs of the world by building community among those who lack sustainable access to resources and availability to opportunity.

Community - Genesis 1:27, Mark 6:7, John 13:35, I Corinthians 12, Acts 4:32, Philippians 2:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Community, a tangible sign of the Kingdom of God, is our starting point for theological, ecclesiological and missiological activity. Solidarity with the most vulnerable of the world’s poor fulfills our community.

Incarnational, Holistic Mission - John 1:14, 20:21, II Corinthians 5:18-20, 8:9, Luke 4:18-19, Matthew 25:35-46, James 2:15-16, I John 3:16-18. We do not minister to the poor; we are in mission among the poor, identifying with them rather than integrating the poor into our reality. Identification is central in the ministry of reconciliation. Our purpose is for the redemption of the whole person toward the redemption of society. We participate in holistic transformation, desiring to facilitate regeneration and restoration.

Simplicity - Matthew 10:7-10, I John 3:16-18. We posture ourselves in simplicity with open hands, dependent on God.

Partnership in Mission - Revelation 5:9-10, Galatians 3:28. In our praxis of mutual submission, mission is dependent on partnership with local Christians and churches. Mission unifies us.

The Urban Context - Isaiah 60, Matthew 9:35-36, 21:10, Luke 13:34-35, Revelation 20-22. Our eschatological hope for the restored city calls us to give ourselves to the redemption of urban settings.