What To Know About Foursquare Churches In Las Vegas

By Mary Ward


The name Foursquare Church is a shorter and more common version of the name International Church of Foursquare Gospel. This long version can be abbreviated to ICFG. ICFG is a Pentecostal Christian denomination in the United States and worldwide. It was established in 1923 by a preacher called Aimee McPherson. Looking at the year of establishment indicates that the church has a long history even though it has a smaller membership in comparison to denomination with similar histories. Foursquare churches in Las Vegas have large congregations and are friendly for those who would like to try them out.

The source of the name Foursquare church is the four-fold ministry represented by Jesus during his stay on earth. The four ministries are soon-returning King, Healer, Baptizer, and Savior. ICFG followers believe in salvation, baptismal by Holy Spirit, the healing power, and the second coming of Jesus the Son of God. It is believed that Jesus will come back again in the near future to take the righteous with Him and punish sinners.

The beliefs of the church are well expressed in the Declaration of Faith, which was compiled by the founder of the denomination, McPherson. The main beliefs of the church is in the verbal inspiration of the Bible, deity of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. According to the faith, people were created in the likeness of God, but are naturally sinful following the fall.

Members of ICFG also believe that by the death of Jesus Christ, all the sins of the world were washed away. Thus, human beings received salvation by grace as opposed to the common belief of salvation by good works. Justification comes through faith while repentance leads to an individual being born again. Born again believers therefore accept Jesus to be their Lord and King.

The church also believes that human beings possess the free will to do what they please. That puts them at risk of backsliding from salvation, but through prayer and repentance, they are redeemed. Sanctification is viewed as a continuous process in the book of beliefs and should not be stopped so as to attain spiritual growth. Total surrender and consecration to God lead to attainment of Christian perfection.

Decision making body within ICFG is the Foursquare Convention. The convention meets after every two years. Licensed ministers and international officers make membership of the convention. US-based churches send delegates to the convention to make the decision-making body. Non-US congregations are allowed to send a single delegate from every country.

Local churches are part of the subordinate divisions within the International church. The government in these churches follows bylaws within the constitution of the international church. There are two categories of ICFG churches, that is, covenant and charter churches. A charter member church does not have separate legal existence from the international church. Also, all the assets in its possession are owned by the international church.

On the contrary, covenant churches are separate from the international church and they own property independently. This category includes pioneer churches and non-member churches. An upgrade may be done to a pioneer church so that it becomes a charter church.




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