WHO WE ARE

Living Water Church is a group of devoted followers of our Lord Jesus Christ who share a heart and vision to reach out to all people with the love and grace of God. We have discovered a great joy, peace, and fulfillment in serving the Lord and people just like you. We come from every kind of religious background and experience, from big brand name denominations, campus fellowships, and non-denominational churches to no church background at all. We come from many walks of life; corporate executives, blue collar union workers, students, college professors, professionals, entrepreneurs, local business people, toddlers, retirees, young individuals, newlyweds and young families who are just starting out.

     We are young at heart with a sense of excitement, adventure, and expectation for what the Lord is doing in our lives, in our communities, and in the world. We enjoy being on the cutting edge of God’s innovative mission for us in this generation and in the future. We rejoice in the flow of creative ideas and ways that the Lord inspires us to excel in fulfilling His will and plan for us.

     We worship in the free flowing Spirit of God. We do not practice any religious rituals. We celebrate the goodness of God. We practice water baptism and communion as family gatherings and times of joy & fellowship.

     We are a "Full Gospel Church." We believe and live just what the Bible says and teaches. We experience the same things we read about in the Bible. We pray and God answers our prayers. We see and experience physical and emotional healing. We see people set free from habits and addictions. We see the harassed and hopeless find refuge and an exciting new purpose for life. We see God restoring marriages and healing relationships. We rejoice in the reality that Jesus is alive and that He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)

     We are an "Evangelical church." We believe in the Bible mandate for salvation and everlasting life coming only through faith (Romans 10:9-13) in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the necessity of having a ‘Born Again’ experience in accordance with the Scriptures (John 3:1-21; 1 Peter 1:23)

     We are a "Baptist church." We believe and practice the Biblically mandated sacrament of full immersion water baptism after the conversion of the believer.

     We follow the teaching of Martin Luther that "The righteous will live by faith." (Romans 1:17b)

     We follow the teachings of John Wesley who shook the church on two continents with his message of "The Salvation experience with the witness of the Holy Spirit." (1 John 5:5-11)

     We believe and experience the God given gift of Divine Physical Healing in the tradition of A.B. Simpson.

     We believe in the RESTORATION of Glorious Praise, Redeemed Arts and the five-fold offices of ministry given by Jesus to the church.

     We preach and teach the WORD OF FAITH and experience the blessings of God’s miracle working power in our lives.

     We are a "Catholic church." We believe in ONE Universal church and the brotherhood of ALL believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. We celebrate the remembrance of the Lord Jesus’ return through the holy sacrament of the Lord’s Table (Communion).

HISTORY

     Living Water Church was pioneered as a new ministry in the Hackettstown/Budd Lake region of New Jersey in 1983 by Revs James & Sylvia Miley, who are still the spiritual overseers of this ministry. LWC is an active Team Member of Faith Covenant Ministries (which Jim & Sylvia Miley also pioneered in 1996) - a growing network of over 200 churches and ministries around the USA, Canada, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Uganda (East Africa),  Grand Cayman Islands (Caribbean), Mexico and Ecuador. The Mileys minister at LWC six times every year and provide continuing support and vision for the church.

     LWC has been led by Sr. Pastor Pete Thompson since 1990. Pastors Pete & Barb Thompson have a background of over 35 years of ministry and were personally trained by Rev Miley for three years before being placed in their current pastorate here at LWC. Pastor Pete is a full time minister of the Gospel with a vision and passion for this ministry, the people in the Hackettstown/Budd Lake region, and beyond. Pastors Pete & Barb are also members of the National Team of FCM.