A Church Built on the Word in Fresno
The Word Community Church meets across two campuses in Fresno, California, with a straightforward focus: the Bible, taken seriously, applied in everyday life. The congregation gathers under a simple motto - "Reach. Win. Train. Send." - and centers its life on seven foundational truths drawn from Ephesians 4:3-6.
Pastored by Bishop Dewayne "JR" Coleman, the church describes itself as a local congregation where some members have walked with Jesus for decades and others are just beginning to ask questions. People come together not because they have everything figured out, but because they share a desire to know Christ, follow Him faithfully, and live out the Gospel in the neighborhoods of Fresno and beyond. As the staff puts it, "Following Jesus isn't a solo journey. Discipleship happens in community."
Two Campuses, Three Sunday Gatherings
The Word Community Church holds three Sunday services across its two locations. The Central Campus at 4710 N Polk Avenue hosts an English-language service at 9:00 AM and a Spanish-language service at 11:00 AM. The Olive Campus at 2611 East Hammond Avenue hosts a second English service at 11:00 AM. Each gathering follows the same basic shape: worship centered on Jesus, preaching straight from Scripture, prayer, and time to reflect, followed by fellowship. Communion is observed as part of the gathered service.
On the front of the campus address, the church frames the work plainly: "A Church Rooted in God's Word. A People Living It Out - Together." Three services each Sunday make room for a diverse mix of Fresno families, students, working adults, and longtime believers. Parking is available on-site at both locations, and a 10- to 15-minute early arrival is recommended for a first visit.
Wednesdays in the Word
Midweek, the Olive Campus fills with a study called "Wednesdays in the Word" at 6:30 PM. The format is built around careful Bible teaching, open questions, and prayer - a space to slow down from the week and engage the text together. Pastors and teachers lead the session, and attendees are invited to ask questions rather than simply listen. The current study is listed on the church's events page.
Childcare is available on Wednesday nights so parents can participate. Students in grades 7 through 12 are encouraged to attend. The same Scripture-focused approach that shapes Sunday morning carries over into the midweek hour, with the stated aim of helping the next generation become grounded in God's Word.
TWCC Kids and Unashamed Youth
The children's ministry, called TWCC Kids, is staffed by a team led by Alicia Varela, Director of Children's Ministries and Community Outreach. The staff describes the work plainly: "We don't believe in 'just childcare.' We believe in children's ministry." The Bible is opened in every classroom, the gospel is taught at each child's level, and children are invited to pray alongside their teachers. The stated focus areas are teaching God's Word in every class, helping children understand the gospel clearly, supporting and partnering with parents, and creating opportunities for children to serve and grow.
A dedicated space called the YES Room supports children with special needs or who are neurodivergent, giving them a calm environment where they are welcomed. Parents are invited to ask for help at check-in on Sunday mornings.
Junior high and high school students are served through Unashamed Youth, directed by Tim Greene. Students worship with their families in Sunday gatherings at either campus and are also invited to the Wednesday night session at the Olive Campus. The stated goal is for young men and women to know Christ, trust His Word, and learn to ask hard questions about their faith - a faith that is real, not borrowed.
Men, Women, and Better Together
The men's ministry gathers around Scripture, accountability, and the kind of honest conversation that Proverbs 27:17 calls "iron sharpening iron." Men are encouraged to lead with humility, strength, and integrity at home, at work, and in the church.
The women's ministry holds Bible studies, prayer gatherings, and fellowship across the year, organized around Titus 2's call for women to walk alongside one another in faith. Through the year there are Bible studies, special events, fellowship, and service - different expressions, same foundation.
Married and engaged couples are invited into a separate track called Better Together, a four-stage journey of fellowship, community, workshops, and an annual conference. Workshops cover communication, conflict, intimacy, finances, faith, friendship, and family. The journey begins with a fellowship evening called "Around the Table," a relaxed gathering in host homes for couples who are married or engaged to be married in the current or following year. Childcare is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Word en Español
The Spanish-language ministry, The Word en Español, is led by Pastor Jimmy Garcia and meets in the Central Campus at 11:00 AM on Sundays. A second Spanish service gathers on Thursdays at 7:00 PM at the same location, and growth groups called Grupos de Crecimiento meet on Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, with the address shared upon contact.
Children's ministry runs during the Sunday Spanish service for the children of Spanish-speaking families. Spanish-speaking students in junior high and high school are invited to join the English youth gathering on Wednesday nights at the Olive Campus, where the teaching and worship are in English. The Spanish ministry shares the same doctrinal foundation, the same mission, and the same gospel as the English congregation - simply in a different language.
Serving the Church, the City, and the Nations
The church organizes service opportunities in three directions. Within the church, members serve on teams that include TWCC Kids, Unashamed Youth, Worship and Production, Media and Communications, Hospitality and Welcome, Setup and Logistics, Security, and Prayer. The team page is clear: "You don't have to be on stage to make an impact. Faithfulness behind the scenes matters just as much."
For the city of Fresno, the Community Impact Team coordinates practical service. Members receive updates through a WhatsApp group and partner with local schools including Teague and Webster, as well as other community organizations. When a need arises, the group is notified and available members step in. The church states plainly that the Gospel is meant to move outward in love, service, and mission - not stay inside the building.
Internationally, The Word supports church planting, education, Bible distribution, medical care, and leadership development in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, India, and Mexico. The missions page frames this work as Matthew 28:19 lived out: making disciples of all nations, beginning in Fresno and extending as far as God opens doors.
What to Expect as a First-Time Visitor
The church keeps its first-time guest instructions simple. Come as you are. Wear whatever is comfortable - some attend in casual clothes, others dress up a little. No one will be asked to stand, come forward, or introduce themselves publicly. Visitors are free to participate at their own pace.
Parking is available on-site at both campuses. Children's ministry is available during Sunday gatherings, including the YES Room for children who need a calmer space. Services are livestreamed on YouTube for those who want to follow along from home, and giving is available online through the church's Church Center portal. A full sermon archive is also kept on YouTube.
For those who want to take a first step, the church offers baptism as a public confession of faith, a one-evening introduction called Discover The Word for newcomers, and ongoing discipleship through midweek study, growth groups, and serving opportunities. Anyone interested in baptism is invited to contact the office at (559) 456-1200.
Beliefs: A Statement of Unity
The Word Community Church summarizes its doctrine through what it calls a Statement of Unity, built around seven truths drawn from Ephesians 4:3-6: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.
The statement affirms the Trinity, the deity and supremacy of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His death and resurrection, and salvation by grace through faith. It also affirms a literal resurrection of the righteous and the wicked on the Day of Judgment. Baptism is described as a public confession and identification with Christ's death and resurrection - not as the means of salvation itself, but as a required step of obedience for those who have come to faith and repentance.
The local church is described as consisting of elders, deacons, and saints, and as a tangible expression of the universal church. The church's vision statement names four movements - reach, win, train, send - and the mission statement reads, "A diverse generation called to transform Fresno and the world." The full doctrinal statement is available as a PDF for those who want to read it in greater depth.
The Word Community Church holds its doctrine with care and its members with warmth. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM and reachable at info@thewordfresno.org. Whether someone is exploring faith for the first time or has been walking with Jesus for years, the church's posture is the same: come, see, and trust God to do the rest.