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Other Facts about Desert Chapel
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Beliefs
Desert Chapel is a member of the third wave movement. The third wave teaches that it is involved in the third wave of the Holy Spirit. The Pentacostal movement of the late 1800s was the first, the Charismatic movement that started in 1960 is the
second, and the Vinyard and some other churches were the start of the third wave of the holy spirit. The third wave is based in the Charismatic movement's proclamation that the "gifts of the Spirit" mentioned in the Bible are for our day and
available to all. Currently this is labeled as herectical, but in a few mainline churches is accepted, but disallowed to be practiced within the church building. Richard Leis has gone on record sayin that he hears from God more than most other do.
Desert Chapel believes in all the doctrines that are considered Orthodox by mainline Christian-ity, such as the trinity, hellfire, the infall-ibility of the Bible, the deity of Christ, the per-
sonanality of the Holy Spirit, etc.
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Introduction
Desert Chapel is a small Christian Bible-based church in Tucson, Arizona that is currently affiliated with the Vinyard Churches started by John Wimber. Desert chapel has always been involved in some fashion with the pentacostal/ Charis-matic /third wave movements. Membership has ranged from over 100 to below 100 members
Desert Chapel originally was affiliated with the Foursquare denomination. Because of some alledged attacks at the resident pastor at that time (Alpert)Desert Chapel broke away and became an independent church. It was this way for close to 20 years. In the year 2000 Desert Chapel joined the Vinyard Churches. The Senior Pastor as of 2000 is Richard E. Leis.
Desert Chapel's holy text is the Protestant canon of the Bible. The spoken word of God, as spoken through various indivduals (termed the gifts) is considered sort of a second holy writ as long if it does not contradict current church doctrine and the church's interpretation of the Bible.
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Practices
The only sacrament Desert Chapel adheres to is com-
munion. There are three functions that members attend each week. Church on Sunday, which is comprised of a praise and worship music service, the sermon, an intimacy music service, and finished occasionally with speaking a "word from the Lord."
Sunday school preceeds the main service. During the week Ministry Care Teams are arrainged in different houses that cover various topics |
Structure and Organization
The latest accounts we have state that the church is run by Richard Leis. He is the Senior Pastor, President of the Desert Chapel corporation and the President of the Coalition of Prayer Network International, an organization comprising a group of different churches in the city of Tucson. Legal requiremens are satisfied by the board of Direct-ors, and the spiritual leaders are comprised of pastors. Under the pastors there have been at in-termittent times assistent pastors. There are also "ministery leaders" involved in the church structure. Membership is required to be involved it what Desert Chapel calls "ministry."
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