THE CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION IN GUYANA is a religious community grounded in the apostolic doctrine and faith. It originated in the early 1900s amongst a small group of Italian evangelicals in and around the city of Chicago, in the United States of America. They began to gather in their homes, seeking the Divine guidance of God on how to follow the Christian biblical teachings within the simplicity of the apostolic faith.

This early group, devoid of any denomination and without any propaganda or a particular form of communication, announced the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ unto others. Many new members were added, feeling moved by the Spirit of God, and in communion with one another. In the same manner, feelings and understanding of the Word of God they were evangelized and groups were established in several other countries, including Guyana, starting what would be called the Christian Congregations.

The Christian Congregations are present in 73 countries worldwide. In Brazil are the majority of the members where, according to the 2010 IBGE Census, the Christian Congregation ranks as the 3rd largest evangelical denomination with 2.2 million members, and is estimated to have approximately 20,000 churches.

The legal constitution of the Christian Congregation in Guyana is based on the Guyanese Legislation. It is a not-for-profit organization, which is financially supported through anonymous and spontaneous contributions given by its members. All duties and ministries are performed without wages or remuneration of any kind. All council and non-council members freely volunteer any and all work they provide to the corporation without expectation of any financial return.

The main objective of the Christian Congregation is to spread the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, as per the Holy Bible. The church adhered to the results of the 1927 Convention, in the city of Niagara Falls in the United States, in which the 12 Articles of Faith were defined and adopted.

Points of doctrine and of the faith which was once given to the saints

I We believe and accept the entire Holy Bible as containing the infallible Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit; it is the only perfect order of our faith and manner of living; to which nothing can be added or taken away, and which is the power of God unto salvation to every believer.

II Peter 1:21; II Timothy 3:16, 17; Romans 1:16

II We believe there is only one living and true God, eternal, with infinite power, Creator of all things; and in unity of Him there are three distinct Persons: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:6; Matthew 28:19; I John 5:7

III We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Word made flesh, who assumed the human nature through the Virgin Mary and, so, is true God and true man, having two natures in one Person, the divine and the human; and therefore is the only Savior, who suffered death for the guilt of all men.

Luke 1:27, 35; John 1:14; I Peter 3:18

IV We believe in the personal existence of the devil and of his angels, evil spirits that together with him will be punished in everlasting fire.

Matthew 25:41

V We believe that the regeneration, or the new birth, is received only through faith in Christ Jesus who was delivered up for our offenses and was raised again for our justification. They who are in Christ Jesus (cleansed through His blood), are new creatures, and have Him for Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Romans 3:24-25; I Corinthians 1:30; II Corinthians 5:17

VI We believe in water baptism performed in the Name of Jesus Christ, with a single immersion and according to Christ’s commission, in the Name of the Father, and of The Son and of The Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:18, 19

VII We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.

Acts 2:4; 10:45-47; Acts 19:6

VIII We believe in commemorating the Lord’s Supper. That The Lord Jesus, the same night He was betrayed took bread. And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, Take, eat: “This is my Body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you”.

Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-25

IX We believe it is necessary to abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled and from fornication, as decreed by the Holy Spirit in the general assembly held in Jerusalem.

Acts 15:28-29; Acts 16:4; Acts 21:25

X We believe that Jesus Christ, took upon Himself our sicknesses. “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

Matthew 8:17; James 5:14-15

XI We believe that the Lord Himself, (before the millennium) “shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord”.

I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:6

XII We believe that there shall be a bodily resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal”.

Acts 24:15; Matthew 25:46