Vision

To transform our city and the nations with the love and power of God,
through people who have understood their identity and purpose.

Values

Adventurous

We see challenges as opportunities for growth and expansion. Change is part of our cultural DNA.

Family Focused

We are a family of believers, not simply a building or destination. We believe families can change the world.

Joyful

We serve a loving and creative God. In His presence, joy is sure to follow.

Founders

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Apostle Ben Paz is the founder and Senior Pastor of Words of Life Christian Center in the Bronx, New York—which he leads in partnership with his wife, Apostle Teresa Paz. Although born in the Dominican Republic, Ben spent most of his early formative childhood years living in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, along with his maternal grandparents, mother, identical twin brother and younger sister. During his teen years, the family relocated to the Dominican Republic, where Ben became a highly sought-after interpreter for English-speaking missionaries, while he continued to passionately serve as a Youth Leader in his church.

At one particular youth camp he met a biology student named Teresa, who worked as a Researcher at the National Museum of Natural History. After a 5-year courtship, Ben and Teresa married, and settled in New York City in pursuit of God’s plan for them. Along with other neighborhood youth, they formed a weekly Bible study group that outgrew the small living room of its origin, and over the years evolved into Words of Life Christian Center.

Today they dedicate themselves to empower and equip leaders to transform the world. Ben is one of the co-founders of the City of Refuge Ministry Network, and the author of the Spanish language book “A Blessed Life.” Teresa is the Founder and Creative Director of the UNIQUE Women’s Conference series. In 2012 she published her first book: “ Diary of a Hungry Heart: Life Testimonies.” They reside in New York City, along with their daughter and son, Laura and Danny, and their beloved dog, Max.

Beliefs

We believe…

There is one true God— a Creator of all things, who is loving, just and perfect.

God exists in relationship, in the form of three persons: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. He invites us to be in a relationship with both Him and a family of believers.

We are all in need of redemption, only found through a relationship with Jesus. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but when we place our faith in Him, and confess Him as our Lord and Savior, we are saved by grace.

The Bible is the infallible Word of God, which serves as our guide for daily life.

Water baptisms are a symbol of our commitment to God and a new beginning; where our sins are forgiven and erased, and we are renewed by Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit equips believers with gifts for the edification of the body of Christ.

Communion is open to all who believe in Him, performed regularly as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, and His promise to return for us.