In Christ Jesus Workmanship Ministries

Welcome!

Welcome to In Christ Jesus Workmanship Ministries (iCJWm). We are delighted that the Lord has led you to us. Whether you are a life-long churchgoer or new in the life of worship service, you will find a warm, friendly and caring atmosphere here at iCJWm.

Our church offers a wide variety of activities designed for you to discover the truth, develop your calling and deepen your personal relationship with the Lord. Please join us to engage, expect and experience God.

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Our Mission

To honor and glorify God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in reverent obedience to God’s Great Commandments of loving God above all with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and love for love as exemplified by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself by loving and serving people.

Thus, in God’s Love, in God’s Word, in God’s Spirit, and in God’s Deed that we come together in fellowship as believers to love, serve, and worship Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior, and to do and obey God’s Great Commission to bring the humankind to the knowledge of the true and One and Only God in Christ Jesus by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, so that all people may live in love peace, respect, and unity.

Our Vision

To establish Christ-centered, Spirit-led, and Bible-based Church and Ministries beginning in the Filipino communities and other people groups in Jersey City, the tri-state of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut areas, the other 47 states of the USA, and other parts of the world.

Our Faith

God the Father

We believe in one God, in three divine Persons, eternally existing: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, having the precise and same nature, attributes and perfections.

Jesus Christ

We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man. He was begotten of the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. We believe that He was the Word Incarnate, having the glory of the One and Only God, He died for the sin of the world, and that all who believes in Him are justified by His shed blood, being the Ultimate Sacrifice that takes away the sins of the world. We believe in His crucified body, His resurrection, His ascension into heaven, and His appearance before our Father in heaven as our High Priest, our Advocate, and our Mediator.

Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is God who is actively at work in the transformation of souls for the Kingdom of God and that His ever presence dwells in every believer, helping us to pray, equipping and empowering us to love, serve, and worship God, strengthening and molding and making us to be Christ-like, and sealed and stamped us for the guarantee of eternal life – to be with God forever and ever. Amen. Scriptural References for God, the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit [Matthew 28:19; John 1:1,2; 14;16-17; 16:7-15; Acts 5:2-4; 20:28; Romans 1:3-4; 8:9, 14-16, 26; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 12:13, 28-30; 15:1- 20; Ephesians 2:20-22; 4:1-16, 30; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:6-11; Hebrews 2:1-4; 7:21-25; 9:22; 10:10; 1 Peter 1:3,15-20; 2:24, 3:18; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 3:16]

Bible

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the infallible Word of God, and are verbally inspired of God through the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is the supreme and final authority in faith and life. [John 17:17; Galatians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:19-21]

Man

We believe in Creation and that God is the Creator. He created a male and a female in the image and likeness of God, free from sin. Yet, with the fall of man—the first Adam—people by nature and choice are sinners, and are therefore, spiritually dead. We believe also, that those who repent of their sins, turn to and trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are regenerated by the Holy Spirit to take the new nature. [Genesis 1:1, 26; Psalms 51:5John 3:3-7; Romans 1:18-32; 3:9-23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 John 1:8-10]

Salvation

We believe that salvation of man was accomplished solely by the finished work of Jesus Christ, by the shedding of His blood upon the Cross, and this salvation was provided for everyone in this whole world. We believe that no work on the part of any person can merit this salvation and whoever believes in the finished work of Christ at Calvary receives the new birth and becomes partaker of the divine nature, and thus, becomes a child of God, once and for all. Amen. [John 3:16; 5:11-13; 6:37; 10:27-30; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 23; 2 Peter 1:3-4]

Church

We believe that the universal Church began on the Day of Pentecost with the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the Head of the Church. The Church is called His Body. We believe in the local church as a body of believers in Christ joining together under scriptural leadership for the worship of God, the edification of the Body through the Word of God, prayers, fellowships, preaching of the Gospel, and observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. [Matthew 7:20-23; 28:19-20; John 13:35; Acts 1:4-5, 2:41, 46; 11:15-16; 16:33;14:27; 20:28-32; Romans 8:15-16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Galatians 1:8-9; 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:8-10; 4:1-16; 5:25-27; 4:1-16; Titus 1:5-11; 2:11-14; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; James 2:17, 26; 1 John 2:5-6; 5:11-13]

Baptism

We believe in baptism as the immersion of a believer, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, in the witnessing of His faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Christ, and in the believer’s confession to be dead in sin, and alive in the newness of life in Christ Jesus. [Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:36; Romans 6:1-5]

Lord’s Supper

We believe in the commemoration of the Lord’s death until He comes in the Lord’s Supper in obedience to His will and command: “Do this in memory of Me.” [Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-31]

The Future: End Time/Eternity

We believe in the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring the Church, His Body and Bride into Himself. We believe in the tribulation period that comes upon the people on earth, and the visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ with His saints for His millennial reign on earth. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, of the just and unjust, in the reward and ever conscious blessedness of the just, and in the judgment and everlasting conscious punishment of the lost. [Luke 16:19-26; John 5:28-29; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:1-15; 21:1-8]

Pastor Rene and Sister Thelma Sta. Ana

Church Planting

In the year 1988 the Word of Life was brought to the Filipinos in the Edison/Jersey City area of New Jersey when Rene established house prayer meetings. In 1999 a church was established that expanded from Jersey City with outreach to Mays Landing (south of Jersey City), New York City, New London and Bridgewater, Connecticut. In the year 2006 the Lord led Rene and Thelma into something new and different. God blessed their work and another church was established called In Christ Jesus Workmanship Ministries. Rene and Thelma were appointed with Missions Door in 2007 to plant churches, working with, and being helped by, pastors in the Northeastern United States. They are excited to be serving Jesus Christ in New Jersey.

Faith

“My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days will be added to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:1-4 NKJV These words had a tremendous impact on Rene at a retreat with Thelma in 1984 in the Philippines. The entire Word of God changed them – from the knowledge that God existed to knowing Him in an intimate and personal way, as He reveals Himself in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s Word continued to work in their lives, and their worship and service to Him was never the same again!

Family

Coming to America was Thelma’s life-long dream. Waiting 18 years for that to happen, she was blessed to meet Rene and marry him in June, 1975. Rene and Thelma have one grown daughter, Stephanie.

Our Ministries

Discipleship

Mainly responsible for church evangelism. It trains future leaders by developing and spearheading spiritual growth of the members through training, seminars and retreats. It also oversees the Youth and Children's Ministries.

Fellowship

Leads and oversees the conduct of church activities aimed at introducing Jesus Christ and His teachings through prayer meetings, bible studies, Christian fellowship, regular worship and discovery and application of our spiritual gifts. With the guidance of the Pastor, maintains an efficient flow of church activities and schedule.

Mission

Responsible for the service-oriented activities of the church such as outreaches and other special projects. It sets-up and designs charitable and benevolent programs and activities of the church. It is responsible in the awareness, realization and accomplishment of the mission and vision of iCJWm.

Praise and Worship

Responsible in the conduct of prayer and worship services during church activities especially during Sunday fellowship. It also oversees the choir, band and prayer warriors. It is responsible in the upkeep of musical instruments and other audio-visual equipments.

Service

Serves our members and guests by proving behind-the-scenes support to church activities such as but not limited to facilities, food service, transportation and other special pastor's roles. It is also responsible for recruitment and follows-up on inactive members.

Support

Responsible in the promotion of camaraderie, sisterhood and brotherhood in the church through recreational and wellness programs and activities. It is also responsible for the men's, women's and senior's group dynamic and passionate involvement in many worthwhile projects. It also serves as the welcoming team for the new members and guests of the church.

Our History

MMVI, the Year of the Lord, the 5th of July, in Jersey City, New Jersey, the Lord God Almighty blessed a group of believers to bind each other’s faith to establish ICJWM, short for the In Christ Jesus Workmanship Ministries. What the Lord Jesus Christ has begun sowing and instilling – the seed of faith into our hearts – had its breaking, sprouting, growing and maturing and now its bearing its fruit.

What’s inside cannot be contained. Thus, the work of God’s Spirit through God’s Word and the Spirit’s Gifts have its bearing – to make Christ’s Great Commission real as we identify ourselves with the mission to honor and glorify God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in reverent obedience to God’s Great Commandments of loving God above all with our heart, mind, soul and strength and love for love as exemplified by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself by loving and serving people and the passion to seek and save what was lost.

Now, by the Lord’s grace, ICJWM as a ministry for preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that He may be lifted up that all men may be drawn to Him [John 12:32] – we serve to come Sunday after Sunday to the praises and worship of the living God; seeking and studying God’s Word through regular weekly prayer meetings and Bible studies; building up the faith of the young – children and youth through Friday and Sunday school; preparing future leaders through our Bible school; and practicing faith through reaching out through outreaches and mission programs.

Now, the light of Christ shining in us will be the means to illuminate this darkened world. This challenge to make the world come into God’s marvelous light lies in this:

“This is how we know what love is: Christ gave His life for us! We, too, then ought to give our lives for others.” – 1 John 3:16 [TEV]

May the Lord Almighty God in Christ Jesus be glorified!

In Christ Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Glory to God!