Origins

John-Ross Gwaze was shaped by Southern Africa and called into the work of building churches across cultures and generations. Born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, he has planted and led churches across Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa, learning early that the church is not an institution to be replicated but a people to be formed.

He is the founder of Spirit Life Ministry, a growing network of congregations and community initiatives committed to discipleship, leadership formation, and care for vulnerable families. Now based in the United Kingdom, John-Ross serves with the Acts 11 Project and Missio Africanus, supporting church planting, diaspora leadership, and Christian witness in post-Christian contexts, and is involved in a church plant in Liverpool.

Lisa Gwaze is a pastor, television presenter, and advocate for the empowerment of women and young people. Her work focuses on helping women and teens discover identity, dignity, and freedom in Christ, communicating with clarity and compassion across church and media spaces.

Together, John-Ross and Lisa serve as pastors and parents, shaping a family life rooted in faith, service, and hospitality. They are raising three daughters—Tehillah, Shekinah, and Shiloh—within a shared commitment to discipleship, community care, and the quiet, faithful work of forming lives marked by hope and purpose.

Origins

To teach the undiluted gospel to the nations with special emphasis on God’s unconditional love and living life through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8, John 3:16

Vision

Our

Values

Love for Christ

Intimacy – Do you pray, read your Bible, and fast regularly?

Purity – Are you living a life of holiness, integrity, and character.

Anointing – Do you have grace for the task?

Love for People

Relationship – Are you building, maintaining, and enjoying strong relationships?

Influence – Are you developing a circle of influence?

Teamwork – Do you put cooperation ahead of competition?

Kingdom Leadership

Excellence – Do you demonstrate competence in your area?

Productive – Are you setting goals, taking risks, going the extra mile?

Frugal – Are you efficient with time and money?

Values

Christ at the Center of it all

Statement of Faith

THE BIBLE

The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by people under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is inspired by God, true, without error, and relevant and applicable to our lives today.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 | Psalm 119:11, 89, 105 | Isaiah 40:8 | Matthew 22:29 | John 5:39 ; 16:13-15 ; 17:17 | Romans 15:4 | 2 Timothy 3:15-17 Hebrews 1:1-2 ; 4:12 | 1 Peter 1:25 | 2 Peter 3:16

THE TRINITY

God exists throughout eternity as one entity in the form of three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority.

2 Corinthians 13:14 | Hebrews 1:8-10 | James 2:19

THE FATHER

God is our Heavenly Father. He is great, all-knowing, all-powerful, omni-present, unchanging, faithful, and above all, holy. God is good. We depend on Him for all that we have and all that we are, and we can trust Him to be faithful to the promises He makes to His people.

Romans 3:3-4

THE SON

Jesus Christ is entirely human and entirely God. He was born of a virgin mother as the Son of God, whose purpose was to bring God's people back into a relationship with Him. He lived a perfect, sinless life so that He could take our place in God's request for perfect righteousness. His resurrection defeated death and gives us the opportunity to have new life.

Philippians 2:5-11 | Colossians 1:15 ; 2:9 | 1 Timothy 2:5-6 ; 3:16

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit’s presence guides, convicts, comforts, equips, and assures us of our relationship with God. He leads us into all truth and makes us more like Jesus Christ.

ETERNITY

Mankind was created to exist forever, either eternally separated from God in sin or forever united with God through forgiveness in Heaven. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven.

John 3:16, 36 | Romans 6:23 | 1 John 2:25 ; 5:11-13 | Revelation 20:15

MANKIND

God created mankind in His image and as the masterpiece of His creation. Mankind was intended to have an unbridled relationship with God but became separated from Him through sinful disobedience. As a result, mankind cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort, thus presenting the need for Jesus. Each person is uniquely created, called to a meaningful purpose, and perfectly loved and forgiven by God through Jesus.

Genesis 1:26-30 ; 2:7, 18-22 ; 3 Psalms 8:3-6 ; 32:1-5 ; 51:5 | Isaiah 6:5 | Jeremiah 17:5 | Acts 17:26-31

Romans 1:19-32 ; 3:10-18, 23 ; 5:6 ; 6:6 ; 7:14-25 | 1 Corinthians 1:21-31 ; 15:19, 21-22 | Ephesians 2 | Colossians 1:21-22 ; 3:9-11

SALVATION

The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. Salvation is a gift from God, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts.

Isaiah 1:18 ; 53:5-6 ; 55:7 | Matthew 1:21 ; 27:22-66, 28:1-6 | Luke 1:68-69 ; 2:28-32 | John 1:12 ; 3:16, 36 ; 5:24

THE CHURCH

The Church is a local community of believers unified through faith in Jesus. It is committed to teaching the commands of Jesus, equipping individuals with the necessary tools to obey God, and empowering them to share the Gospel with the world.

Matthew 16:18-19 ; 18:15-20 | Acts 2:41-47 ; 5:11-14 ; 13:1-3 ; 14:23 ; 16:5 ; 20:28 | 1 Corinthians 7:17 ; 9:13-14 ; 12

Ephesians 1:22-23 ; 2:19-22 ; 3:10-12 ; 5:22-32 | Colossians 1:18 ; 3:15 | 1 Timothy 4:14 | 1 Peter 5:1-4 | Revelation 21:2-3