“A vineyard of wine, sing of it! I the Lord, am its keeper; I water it every moment. Lest anyone damage it, guard it night and day.” Isaiah 27:2-3

“I am, the Vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me, you can do nothing.” John 15:5

In 1974, after leaving Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, the Lord led Ken and Joanie Gulliksen to Los Angeles to begin a ministry that had been on their hearts for several years.Starting as a small Bible study group in the home of Chuck Girard (from the musical group “Love Song”), the fellowship quickly grew, necessitating the beginning of other home studies, and the beginning of a Sunday service in Beverly Hills. God prophetically gave the name “Vineyard” to these gathered people.

Musicians, actors, business people, students, people simply hungry to know and experience God, came together in small groups and large meetings as literally thousands received Jesus Christ. The church met in a gym or on the beach or in homes, especially, for those not “at home” in other churches. One third of the church was made up of Jewish believers, most of whom received the Lord at the Vineyard.

God worked through many mistakes and failures, as well as the successes, as people were willing to take risks to become like Jesus, and to communicate the good news. Several couples went out and started other Vineyards in California, quickly growing churches with priorities of worship, relationship, healing, training, and giving.

In the spring of 1982, John Wimber and several other pastors led their churches into relationship/identification with the Vineyard, as their vision coincided with and complemented that of the original Vineyard. It was obvious God had called John to pastor the pastors, to train and encourage, and plant churches internationally – comfort given from comfort received. As a result, the people called the Vineyard have extensive and fruitful relationship with American denominations, the Church of England, churches in Europe and Africa, World Vision, seminaries like Fuller, and underground churches in Europe, Asia, and China.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Doug Roe moved to Cincinnati in the mid-1980s to help pioneer the Vineyard Community Church with Steve Sjogren. In 1990, Doug and his wife Marcie were called back to plant a Vineyard in Dayton. Applying the talents and principles that God established in his heart for serving the community in a variety of practical and meaningful ways, the Dayton Vineyard has now grown to a church of over 2,300 in weekend attendance.