Task Forces & Ministries

Christian-Muslim relations comprise one of the momentous challenges of the 21st century. The relationship between Christians and Muslims is supercharged by terrorism and exacerbated by the fact that western countries are perceived as "Christian" by many Muslims. Negative stereotypes of Muslims, and ignorance has caused the church to shrink back from Jesus' commands to love and to make disciples.

How then can the Vineyard be agents of peace and faithfully bear witness to Christ in such a polarized world? What does a Vineyard approach to blessing Muslims look like?

Vineyard USA is launching a new initiative, the Society of Vineyard Scholars (SVS). We are gathering the thinkers and scholars of our movement to “think theologically” in community—both in order to address the critical questions of the moment and to send down theological and intellectual roots for the long haul.

The mission of the Children's Ministry Task Force is to speak up for kids. Our goal is to support Vineyard Churches as they reach out to kids by creating a body of peers who can provide support, encouragement and problem solving ideas.

1st row left to right: Mary-Margaret LeRoy, Becky Olmstead, Debbie Wichman, Jean Street, Lynda Chism, Linda Heselton, Jody Kingston

In January 2009 Craig Beyer was selected as the National Youth Task Force Director. Craig is one of the founding members of Vineyard North Phoenix and has been a board member, small group leader, Children's and Youth ministry leader. In March 1999, he joined the North Phoenix staff as full-time Youth Pastor. He has served as a youth task force member in the Southwest Region for 6 years.

Craig and his wife Tami have four children: Alecia, Amy, Lindsay, and Adam.

This task force primarily exists to encourage and develop an authentic sense of community and connectedness amongst the worship leaders of American Vineyard churches. This network is vital for the building up of our churches in the area of worship not only in the "top-down" or "broadcast" sense where resources travel from national or regional leadership and/or Vineyard Music USA out to the local worship leader, but also in the "point to point" sense where our local church worship leaders encourage and resource each other.

Mercy Response was born out of the Vineyard Community's incredible response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We continue today by coming alongside the local church in times of crisis and suffering. Together we go out in to the community and do our best to meet people's needs who have been affected by natural disaster and misfortune.