Bernie L. Wade, born on June 29, 1963, in
Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, on the southern shore of Lake Erie. Established in 1889, it is one of Cleveland's historical streetcar suburbs and part of the Greater Cleveland, Greater Clevelan ...
, is an American minister, entrepreneur, and author. He has served in a variety of roles, including senior pastor and chief operations officer of the Christian Brotherhood (a 28,000 family
parachurch ministry with multiple divisions). He also served as president of CWN (Christian World Network), and vice-president of Spread the Spirit of Love.
He is currently the Presiding
Bishop of the International Circle of Faith (ICOF), a group of
non-denominational
A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination.
Overview
The term has been used in the context of various faiths including Jainism, Baháʼí Fait ...
,
Oneness Pentecostal ministers, churches, and parachurch ministries. They were first organized in
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
and are currently headquartered in
Washington, D.C.
The International Circle of Faith traces its beginning to the
Azusa Street movement or revival (circa 1906) through the
Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ
The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ (PAJC) is an independent association of Oneness Pentecostal churches, primarily located in the United States. Historically they have had members across the U.S. and abroad. They were formally organized in ...
. Other aspects of his ministry include the ICOF Colleges and Seminaries – a network of Christian bible colleges, Christian Leadership Roundtable – a group of Christian leaders, and Children of Azusa Street – a network for persons who trace their church history to the Azusa Street movement.
Family history
Wade has Sir William Wade (Waad), a member of
Queen Elizabeth's I Privy Council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...
, for his paternal ancestor
[Wade Genealogy]
/ref> (See also: Armagil Waad
Armagil Waad (or Armigill Wade) (ca. 1511 – 20 June 1568) was a chief clerk of the Privy Council, servant of government and an English parliamentarian.
Early life
He is said to have been born at Kilnsey, Yorkshire, near Conistone, and his mothe ...
) and Scottish immigrants of the Clan Macpherson
Clan Macpherson (, ) is a Highland Scottish clan and a member of the Chattan Confederation.
History
Origins
The Scottish Gaelic surname for Macpherson is ''Mac a' Phearsain'' which means ''son of the parson''. The Celtic church allowed pries ...
for his maternal ancestors. The Wades are an ancient Yorkshire family.[
The Wade family served in various capacities to both King ]Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...
and Queen Elizabeth I[ The most famous Wade was Armagil Wade who historians call the "English Columbus". The Wades came to America before the American Revolution and settled in Virginia. They were shareholders in the Virginia Colony.][ Bernie Wade is a descendant of the Wade family of Virginia whose family offered such valiant sons of the American Revolution as Captain Edmond Wade who fell with his commander, ]General Montgomery
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, (; 17 November 1887 – 24 March 1976), nicknamed "Monty", was a senior British Army officer who served in the First World War, the Irish War of Independence and ...
, at the siege of Quebec.
Education
Wade's educational accomplishments include PhDs from Evangelical Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas, ICOF Colleges and Universities – Washington, D.C., and Global Evangelical Christian College in Montgomery, Alabama.[Global Evangelical Christian College and Seminary. Commencement Exercises program. Page 4. Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Sunday May 20, 2007. Wetumpka, Alabama.] Wade serves as chancellor of the network of colleges and seminaries known as ICOF Colleges and Seminaries. Wade holds doctorates in theology, divinity, Christian education, non-profit management and pastoral counseling. He also serves as advisor to other Christian education institutions and organizations including serving as International advisor to Global Evangelical Accrediting Association. He serves as adjunct faculty and board member to Global Evangelical Christian College.
Politics
In recent years, Bernie L. Wade has been a guest at the White House (March 2004) under the presidency of George W. Bush. "In late March, at a less publicized gathering, the National Security Council's Near East and North African Affairs director, Elliott Abrams, and other Bush administration officials met for two hours with members of The Apostolic Congress, a politically powerful group of Christian fundamentalists, to reassure them that the administration's support for Israel was unwavering." The Apostolic Congress is made up of the heads of oneness pentecostal (sometimes called Apostolic) organizations and their key leaders. Dr. Bernie L. Wade is considered one of these as the Presiding Bishop of the International Circle of Faith. Although the ICOF Statement of Faith makes no claim to be oneness. Also in the meeting were representatives of Bishop Norman Wagner ( PAW),
Endorsement
Wade's endorsement, or the endorsement of the ICOF, has been sought by other national candidates in the US and abroad, including Hillary Clinton and Mike Huckabee
Michael Dale Huckabee (born August 24, 1955) is an American politician, Baptist minister, and political commentator who served as the 44th governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate for the Republican Party presidential nomina ...
for the 2008 Presidential primaries. The official policy of ICOF, who Wade represents, has been not to take political sides or to offer endorsements.
Also there is a concerted effort to encourage Republican Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin (; Heath; born February 11, 1964) is an American politician, commentator, author, and reality television personality who served as the ninth governor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009. She was the 2008 R ...
to seek the Presidential nomination.
Early ministry
In 1982, Wade began fulfilling his call to the ministry as a youth minister for Apostolic Faith Church of God headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Wade first served at the Columbia Station location, then in St. Paul Minnesota and Cleveland Ohio. Apostolic Faith Church of God was founded in 1932 by Bishop Ray O. Cornell (founding Bishop of the PAJC).
Bishop
International Circle of Faith (ICOF) is a 21st-century movement. This global, multiracial, multi-cultural, nondenominational fellowship has some 40,000 ministers. They also have a network of over 100 bible colleges, universities and seminaries under International Circle of Faith Colleges and Seminaries. Today ICOF has a presence in over 100 countries and key leadership in over 50 countries.
Books
* ''Baptism According to Matthew 28:19''
* ''Is Christmas Christian?''
* ''Does God Have a Name?''
* ''Frankenstein Church''
* ''I was the Ugly Duckling''
Apostle
Wade is part of a growing group of leaders recognized by groups such as the ICA (International Coalition of Apostles) as emergent, Pentecostals and charismatics called Apostles
An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to send off". The purpose of such sending ...
. “An apostle is a Christian leader gifted, taught, and commissioned by God with the authority to establish the foundational government of the church within an assigned sphere of ministry by hearing what the Spirit is saying to the churches and by setting things in order accordingly for the extension of the kingdom of God."
He was formerly the senior pastor of Barberton Rescue Mission's The Chapel on Taylor Road, and senior pastor of Church in the Warehouse ( Cleveland, Ohio ). He also served as secretary and past president of Victory Foundation, vice-president of marketing for CBN ( Christian Brotherhood Newsletter), COO of the Barberton Rescue Mission, CEO of Christian World Network (CWN).
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wade, Bernie L.
1963 births
Living people
American Pentecostals
People from Lakewood, Ohio