sozo church
about us
MISSION
The Mission
Our mission is to lead people to salvation, freedom, healing, and life with Jesus.
(John 17:3)
At Sozo Church, our mission is to lead people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus — where salvation begins, healing takes place, and restoration becomes reality. We believe every person is called to experience the fullness of God’s love and to live as an active ambassador of His Kingdom. Through faith, community, and discipleship, we’re committed to seeing lives transformed, hearts restored, and people empowered to bring the message of reconciliation to the world around them.
OUR STORY
How it all started
Sozo Church initially started out as Word of Faith Center in 1981 by founders Pastor Doug and Linda Graves in a small storefront. Our current property was later purchased and services were held in which is now our Multi-Purpose Room.
For over 27 years, Pastor Doug and Linda Graves saw the power of God touches the lives of thousands of people in the Tri-Cities, nation, and world.
Pastor Doug went to be with the Lord in December of 2007.
VISION
Expanding the vision
After his father’s passing, Ryan assumed the role of Senior Pastor with his wife Natalie. In their years of ministry, they successfully built an Orphanage in Indonesia, led an annual Surge Conference, and continued Pastor Doug’s vision of leading people to Christ.
In 2015, Pastor Ryan and Natalie resigned upon the Lord’s leading. With full support of Pastor Ryan, a natural transition took place for Associate Pastor Marlando Jordan and his wife Megan to step into their calling as Senior Pastors. Pastor Marlando has been involved in full-time ministry for over 20 years at Word of Faith Center, beginning as the Youth Pastor in 1996.
what we value
Core Values
Knowing God (John 17:3)
Instead of mere routine, we desire everyone to have a genuine relationship with the Lord through prayer, worship, bible reading, and daily encounters with the Lord. We encourage our members to cultivate a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18), believing in His power and the gifts He freely gives (1 Thess. 1:5 NLT).
Discipleship (Matt. 28:19-20)
Many people claim to be Christians; however, they do not know God or imitate the life of Christ (1 John 2:6). Here at Sozo Church, we are committed to making disciples, emphasizing mind renewal, a primary key to effective discipleship (Rom. 12:1-2). We desire to see our people serving and ministering to others through the various ministries we offer, equipping them to be leaders in their homes, communities, and marketplaces.
Generosity (Acts 20:35)
Giving is the best way to live, and the happiest people are the most generous. We desire to teach and train the members of our church on how to embrace a lifestyle of generosity. This includes our time, talent, and treasure (Prov. 11:24-25). We have also purposed to be a giving church, as seen through our various local, national, and international outreaches.
Service (Rom. 12:6-8)
Every believer has a uniqueness about them and a spiritual gift that can benefit the Church, and we desire to help them find and develop it (Eph. 4:11-12; 2 Tim. 2:2). We desire to see our people serving and ministering to others through the various ministries we offer, equipping them to be leaders in their homes, communities, and marketplaces.
Diversity (Rom. 10:12-13 )
We are a multicultural and multi-generational church. God has given us a mandate as a church to break down racial, gender, and economic barriers (Gal. 3:26-28). We believe that discrimination has no place in the church, so we are committed to dismantling that spirit and denying it access to our house of worship. We are committed to having a church where whites, blacks, Hispanics, and other racial groups worship together.