A Brief Historical Overview:
UIMM is a Moravian Group recognized by the Unitas Fratrum on November 2012. In August 2016 during the Moravian Unity Synod in Jamaica, UAMM was excluded from fellowship with the Moravian Unity mainly due to its stand on homosexual rights. Today UIMM is recognized as an undefiled Moravian heritage Church organization that is exploding in power and influence throughout the world.
Today, UIMM’s leaders feel a sense of urgency to win the lost before Christ comes in the cloud with glory. Churches throughout the world have become worldly, corrupt, and asleep. Moravian and other Christian groups around the world that are standing on the Word of God are being discriminated against. So UIMM welcomes any Christian leaders, especially those who are feeling estranged or persecuted by the Traditional Church, to join us as we move forward as a Spirit-filled Gospel Preaching end-time army of God.
UIMM does not speak negatively or distastefully about the Traditional Moravian Church, because it is still Christ’s anointed Church and has a place in God’s Kingdom. Every effort is there to work with Traditional Churches.
UIMM’s Churches and Fellowships are located in a growing number of communities in Alaska, among them Akiachak, Aleknagik, Anchorage, Bethel, Big Lake, Dillingham, Kenai/Soldotna, Manokotak, Napakiak, and Wasilla, Alaska. A fellowship in Angoon, southeast, Alaska joined in 2019. Four UIMM Churches exist in Honduras.
The first UIMM Church in the continental United State is the City of Glory Church International, which came to life in 2016, headed up by a second Bishop of UIMM consecrated September 21, 2018. A third bishop, The Rt. Rev. George Lee, consecrated by Bishop Nicholson on September 30, 2018 continues service under Allied Mission Church and is doing outreaches to the Philippines and Cambodia. In 2020, the UIMM Board voted with Bishop Nicholson’s approval to consecrate The Rev. Isa Granwell as bishop serving in the nation of Honduras.
UIMM’s General Conference follows an approved Organizational Handbook based upon the Word of God. In 2014, UIMM was incorporated as a Corporation with the State of Alaska. In 2016, UIMM received 501c3 status under the Internal Revenue Service tax code of the United States government.
Although excluded by action of the Worldwide Unity Synod at Jamaica in August 2016, UIMM remains a free Moravian Ministry Group. Soon after Jamaica, other Moravian heritage ministers contacted UIMM. Out of this Bishop Nicholson (and two other UIMM delegates) joined three Moravian bishops near Nairobi, Africa that resulted in creation of the World Fellowship of Moravian Revival Church (WFMRC).
WFMRC came to life February 2018. UIMM President Bishop Nicholson is a Co-Chair of WFMC for the Northern Hemisphere. Bishop Emmaus Mwamakula of Tanzania is serving as WFMRC Co-Chair for the southern hemisphere.
UIMM is logistically and strategically placed in Anchorage, which is “the gateway to the world”. It has been prophesied that Alaska’s “all tribes” shall participate in an end-time sending forth for harvest to the world to bring awakening and revival to America and around the globe.
In order to train UIMM’s pastoral leadership, a non-traditional training institution called New Herrnhut Holiness Training Institute was approved September 2017 and soon after foundation laid for a 16 guest house, conference center, and Church in Seward, Alaska. Already requests are coming in from around the world to attend this institute to train future missionaries to the world. Moravian history and heritage is among the subjects shared.
Pastor & Elder Training Events happen yearly in Anchorage, Alaska. Church planting and tithing have been topics. Gifted instructors, The Rev. Dr. Doug Norwood (Pennsylvania), The Rev. Dr. Larry Salway (South Dakota), and The Rt. Rev. Dr. Lauden Kangele (Washington) were instructors.
UIMM was a major financial contributor for the creation the World Fellowship of Moravian Revival Churches which is in 7 countries, with influence in several others unofficially. UIMM has also contributed significant funds to help building projects in Honduras and Africa.
A new development in January 2021 – Encouragements are there for Moravian Provinces or Ministry groups that desire to remain with their governmental structure, but would like to be in fellowship with a Moravian Revival Church which UIMM is, are free to contact us, anytime, to begin dialogue. This may be very fruitful!
Please remember UIMM is not a denomination, but simply a Moravian Ministry Group. As we continue to grow, this may be one significant way of bringing into reality Zinzendorf’s original vision of building Churches and Fellowships, worldwide, that are not necessarily denominational, but instead building a “Living Family of God” willing to work together!
For those Churches and International Churches that desire to join UIMM, the following are some positive assistance issues UIMM provides:
- Moravian Heritage framework.
- Covering providing accountability with Organizational Handbook or Book of Order
- Provides Training Opportunities for Spiritual Leaders.
- Ordination for proven workers
- “Living Churches” under UIMM are autonomous
- Provision for Financial Assistance for Pastor and Church Buildings
- Representation on UIMM during annual General Church Conference (synod).
UIMM’s Vision:
During Governor Walker’s prayer breakfast March 2016 in Anchorage, Alaska, a UIMM Evangelist sudden experienced a vision of a “sleeping giant” in Alaska waking up and unfurling an undefiled white colored flag for all the world to see. Also seen was a Lion and a Lamb which gave UIMM’s Director’s the inspiration to adopt the Lion Lamb logo.
UIMM’s leadership recognizes that Christ is coming soon, that the world needs to hear of John 14:6, and that a separated remnant Church should remain “holy and undefiled” (Ephesians 5:27). Out of UIMM’s birth pangs and battles rose a spiritual and unified family moving forward, together, instituting a statewide, national, and international movement noticed by the world. Literally this is an end-time Great Commission and Discipling effort that continues to grow and evolve as an organism of God’s love and Fellowship covering.
The core vision for UIMM’s leadership and its Churches and Fellowships is to work at Church planting until Christ’s comes! And to functionally be a “Living Church” in relationship with Christ that follows the entire counsel of God’s word, prays daily, preaches the gospel and allows the presence and power of the Holy Ghost to move in every area of the Church life.
On December 15, 2017 16 new ordained pastors began service. Three were ordained on February 2, 2018. Seven more in 2019. This is catapulting the gospel to the villages of Alaska, and efforts will be made to Canada, every state of America, as well as to the nations.
UIMM Churches and Fellowships rising out of Moravian heritage believes:
- Believes in God as Trinity; is a Christ-centered Church; a Living Church living out the full counsel of God’s Word.
- Believes salvation is a gift from God and that is life is essentially an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ
- Nurtures and encourages spiritual growth; allows for celebration of the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion.
- Believes in the five-fold Holy Spirit inspired ministry; and is a part of a global revival and undefiled movement.
President and CEO of UIMM:
The Rt. Rev. Dr. William H. Nicholson is a 1973 graduate of George Fox College. In 1977 he received a Master of Divinity degree from Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, PA. In 2017 he received his Doctor of Theology from International Miracle Institute, Pensacola, FL., is a 116th Calvary veteran of Iraqi Operation Freedom, and served as a Chaplain for the Alaska & Idaho Army National Guard. In the Alaska Moravian Province, he was consecrated as a Bishop of the Moravian Unity in 2008.
More Information:
For any outreach needs, UIMM Alaska Outreach Director is The Rev. Bob Monette. Call him at (907) 727-5979. The New Herrnhut Bible Holiness Training Institute Director for Development is Mr. Dean Carl at (907) 362-3611. Summer Bible Camp Director, contact is Rev. Russell Lamont at (907) 444-5270. UIMM’s National and International Outreach Director until a new one is hired is Bishop Nicholson. He is always willing to travel to provide encouragement, national and international organizational assistance, etc. Please reach him at (907) 240-8102 or EMAIL him at [email protected].
UIMM has a website address: www.alaskamoravian.com. This web site is our community bulletin board. A Facebook site called “United Ministry Group & Friends” currently has over 1700 members that interact socially.