HISTORY
Word of Truth Family Church was founded in January of 2000, after Pastor Larry & Melodie Paulsen answered a call to reach out to the lost,
the un-churched, and those who hunger for more. After 20 years of ministry in the Rapid City area, we have seen miracles and victories as we have labored obediently to the mandate God has envisioned for our body.
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As a local body of believers, here on assignment as ambassadors
for the Lord Jesus Christ we are committed to
accomplishing this by:
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Strengthening, and developing Christian families.
Making disciples by training and equipping believers for their ministry.
Helping each believer find and fulfill Gods' plan for their life.
Releasing ministries to the field, and supporting them.
Reestablishing and restoring integrity to the ministry.
Support and carry out missions in South Dakota, as well as our call to the nations.
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STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
WE BELIEVE
The Bible is the inspired and only infallible Word of God.
In the blessed hope, the imminent return of Christ for overcoming believers. In the fall and sinfulness of man and that the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the redeeming blood of Christ.
Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to personal salvation. Divine healing is available through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.
The Holy Spirit in a person’s life is evidenced by changes in his life, including a renewed love for God, and people, a commitment to the scriptures and holy living.
The Church of Jesus Christ is the universal, spiritual body of believers from every tribe, tongue, kindred and race of peoples, and is indwelt by God through the Holy Spirit and divinely empowered to fulfill ministry and her Great Commission on earth.
In the resurrection and final judgment of both the saved and the lost, the saved to everlasting life and the lost to everlasting damnation.
Marriage is God-ordained. “The creator made them male and female, and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” (Matthew 19:4-5). Marriage is to be an exclusive relationship, a lifelong faithful union between a man and a woman. This relationship between a husband and wife should parallel the relationship between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:23-30).
There is one true God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His personal future return to the earth in power and glory to rule for a thousand years.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it.
The spirit filled believer has the capability of speaking with new tongues whether or not he or she chooses to exercise this gifting.
In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life.
In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life.
In the new heavens and the new earth and the holy Jerusalem, the city of God, descending out of heaven and filled with the glory of God. Christian growth can only be realized by faith in the promises of God.
In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life.
PASTORAL STAFF
Pastor Larry Paulsen
Pastor Larry Paulsen is the founder and Pastor of Word of Truth Family Church located in Rapid City, SD. He was born in Pender, Nebraska and grew up in the Sioux City, Ia area. Following high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving his country honorably until his discharge in 1984.
Pastor Larry has been married to his wife Melodie since 1983 and together they have blessed with four children: Jami, Leah, Larry “Alan” Jr., and Ashley, and an abundance of grandchildren. He served his local Church, Cornerstone World Outreach, while attending Word of Faith Leadership and Bible Training Center, until the call of God took him to Atlanta, Ga., where he served and ministered at Rose of Sharon Ministries. In 1992, Pastor Larry began a tenure as a successful sales manager in the business world, while actively submitted to and serving in the local church, teaching various leadership and new member classes.
In 1999, Pastor Larry was ordained to full-time ministry under the leadership of Pastor Bryan White. Following the direction of the Holy Spirit, he moved his family to Rapid City, South Dakota, pioneering Word of Truth Family Church under the spiritual leadership of Dr. Larry Gordon. He has a tremendous passion for teaching and preaching the uncompromised Word of God, coupled with a love for God's people. His contagious spirit of generosity overflows throughout every facet of ministry, which includes a passion for the people of the nation of Albania, where he travels to frequently to preach, teach and help re-establish the gospel in that part of the world.
Pastor Melodie Paulsen
Melodie, a graduate of Peacemakers School of Theology was born and raised in her early years in the Atlanta, Georgia area. She later moved to Pennsylvania with her family, where she met and married Pastor Larry.
She is a dynamic woman of faith, strength, and vibrant light, and a godly example to women of all ages; instructing and guiding them to finding their true identity in Christ, as mothers, daughters and wives.
In addition to ministering alongside her husband, she oversees the youth and children's' ministry of Word of Truth Family Church, with Prov. 22:6 "Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they shall not depart" as the foundational truth.
Spending time with her family, especially her children and grandchildren is one of her greatest joys in life.