Our Story

The Vineyard is rooted in the unique period of the 70's when a seeking generation experienced a sovereign move of God. This generation popularly known as "baby boomers" sought a living faith marked by simplicity, contemporary music, personal experience of God's love and a desire to make a difference in our world. As God worked during that time, hundreds of thousands of people were able to capture what religious tradition had lost.

In 1974 building on the foundation of this fresh move of God, Kenn and Joannie Gullikson began a fellowship in West Los Angeles. This fellowship, inspired by Scripture, took the name "Vineyard" (Isaiah 27:2-3; John 15:5). God worked through many mistakes as well as successes as people began to take risks to radically follow Jesus. As a result, several teams of people began other Vineyards with the same priorities of worship, relationship, healing, training and giving.

In the early 80's, John Wimber became the spiritual father of this emerging movement of associated fellowships. God gave John a vision for thousands of new fellowships and for renewal within the larger church. As God's Spirit continued to bless and shape this vision, John and the Vineyard ministry merged into one of the largest and most long-standing renewal ministries to the global church in recent history.

The Association of Vineyard Churches (AVC) now serves as the support and structure, which unites and strengthens the starting of new churches. There are presently over 850 Vineyard Churches worldwide. Vineyard Ministries International (VMI) serves as a ministry of renewal for the purpose of continually breathing fresh life into the global church.

As the movement continues to emerge, the conviction remains that God's desire is not primarily for us to build the Vineyard but to seek His Kingdom, to love the whole church, to bless what He's blessing and to cooperate with Him as He reveals Himself in the process. The emerging Vineyard Fellowship in Madison is part of this larger movement.

While serving as a pastor at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Santa Monica, California, God spoke to Katherine in various ways, “Go back home, I have a ministry for you there.” Returning to her roots meant returning to Madison, her hometown. A small team of local faith adventurers has joined her in this call to cultivate God’s ministry of wholeness and hope to those who are looking for the real thing.

As a starting point, we’ve begun gathering in a home-like atmosphere. Our desire is to develop and cultivate a core team of servants to provide leadership for the establishment of a Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Madison. We gather weekly for a time of team building and equipping. As an emerging community, we are seeking authentic relationship with God, connection with one another, and ways to love and serve the city of Madison.