On a 14-acre parcel in Warrensville Heights and a second location on Kinsman Road in Cleveland, The Word Church has grown into one of the larger non-denominational congregations in northeast Ohio. It is led by Dr. R.A. Vernon and Dr. Victory Vernon, who founded the church and continue to set its tone from the pulpit. From the Warrensville Campus and the Opportunity Corridor Campus to a livestream called Word Nation, The Word Church reaches people in person, in the car, and at home.
Two Campuses, One Online Broadcast
The Warrensville Campus at 18909 S. Miles Rd. serves as the main hub, with two Sunday morning services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. The Opportunity Corridor Campus at 5900 Kinsman Road meets weekly at 11 a.m., launched as a focused outreach to the surrounding Cleveland neighborhood. Word Nation broadcasts the Warrensville experience online, and the church's YouTube channels carry both live services and an on-demand library.
Central offices for both campuses sit at the Warrensville address, and the Warrensville campus also functions as home base for the Marriage Ministry, the Grief Recovery program, and the four-week Word Way course that introduces newcomers to the church.
A Sunday at The Word Church
Sunday services at The Word Church run about 90 minutes and are built around two anchors: live worship and a message from Dr. R.A. Vernon. The church describes its style as "a blend of timeless traditions and fresh, creative elements," so guests can expect contemporary praise music paired with preaching that touches on relationships, finances, and faith with biblical application. Services are intended to be welcoming for first-time visitors while staying substantive for regular attenders.
Children move to their own programming during the service through Kidz in The Word (more below), and parents can pre-register their children online to speed up the check-in process on arrival.
Dr. R.A. Vernon and Dr. Victory Vernon
Dr. R.A. Vernon and Dr. Victory Vernon are the visionary founders and senior pastors of The Word Church. Dr. R.A. Vernon is known for his bold, relatable preaching that addresses relationships, finances, and faith with biblical solutions. Dr. Victory Vernon is a compassionate leader and the author of I Am Victory, an inspirational work on personal transformation. The couple has been married for more than 25 years, are parents of five, and grandparents, and they lead with a stated commitment to faith, family, and service.
The Vernons maintain active Instagram presences - the church links to @drravernon and @ladyvernon for those who want to follow them directly.
Kidz in The Word
Kidz in The Word (KITW) is the children's ministry that runs every Sunday during the adult service at every campus. The program is built around age-appropriate Bible lessons, interactive games, and prizes, with content adjusted so that each child learns the fundamentals of the Christian faith at a level that fits them. Parents check children in at the KITW stations upon arrival. Volunteers working with children are background-checked. Pre-registration is available online for faster check-in on a first visit.
The Word Way: A Four-Week On-Ramp
The Word Way is the church's four-week newcomers' course, described as "our 3-step process that connects you to our church and helps you identify your God-given plan and design." Sessions are offered every Sunday after each service at the Warrensville Campus, in the Word Way Room on the second floor of the main building (18909 S. Miles Rd.). Childcare is available during the sessions, and no advance sign-up is required. The course covers who the church is, what members believe, how to discover spiritual gifts, and how to plug into the Dream Team of volunteers.
TWC Groups: Life Together in Four Hubs
TWC Groups are the small-group engine of the church. Groups typically include 15 to 20 people and meet by semester in homes and venues around Greater Cleveland, with some groups meeting online. Each group falls into one of four hubs: SERVE (outreach and service), SUPPORT (care and encouragement for life's challenges), STUDY (spiritual growth through books, sermon series, and approved curriculum), and SOCIAL (shared interests and activities). Childcare availability varies by group and is noted on the group's listing. Anyone can join a group, and the church encourages sampling more than one before settling in.
Communities by Age and Stage
The Word Church organizes age-and-stage-specific communities that members are automatically assigned to based on life stage: Seasoned Saints for adults 65 and older, Young Followers for adults 18 to 35, and Outsiders for teens 13 to 17. Members can opt in to receive news and events specific to their community.
Marriage Ministry
The Marriage Ministry serves engaged and married couples through four overlapping tracks: Premarital Preparation (a 13-week experience for engaged couples), Marriage Enrichment (courses designed to encourage and strengthen Kingdom marriages), Marriage Restoration (confidential mentoring for couples navigating difficult seasons), and Connection (fellowship events for couples). The premarital experience meets on Thursday evenings on the Warrensville Campus and runs through a full 13-week arc. A registration form is available for those preparing for marriage.
Grief Recovery: A Nine-Week Program
Grief Recovery at The Word Church follows a structured, nine-week, evidence-based curriculum designed to help participants address unresolved grief. The Grief Recovery Method is offered here is not therapy, but an educational program that uses The Grief Recovery Handbook as its required text. Sessions meet once a week for roughly two hours and cover more than 40 types of loss - death, divorce and other relationship changes, life transitions, health changes, job loss, and loss of trust or safety. Participants commit to weekly reading, reflection, and writing assignments between sessions and agree to keep the group environment respectful and confidential.
Those interested can find and join an open group through the church's groups listing.
JA Ministry: Marketplace Leaders in the Kingdom
The J.A. Ministry - named for Joseph of Arimathea - connects business owners, executives, and professionals in the congregation with the church's vision and mission. Members are invited to bring their expertise, networks, and generosity to bear on building projects and outreach as the church grows.
Tunnel Vision and the M25 Village
Tunnel Vision is the multi-phase capital campaign that is reshaping the Warrensville Campus over time:
- Phase One upgrades the worship experience with a new sound system, lighting, carpet, and stage.
- Phase Two creates a dedicated Kidz in The Word children's wing connected to the main building by an underground tunnel that gives families weather-protected access in every season.
- Phase Three, branded Matthew 25 Alive, builds the M25 Village across the campus's 14 acres: transitional housing, workforce development, a food distribution effort, a mentorship and career-training pipeline, and a store called Word Mart.
- Phase Four adds wellness spaces, walking trails, athletic areas, an outdoor prayer fountain, gathering spaces, and plans for a senior living community.
The campaign is a long-term legacy project rather than a single building program - a sustained build-out that the church frames as preparing the house, the family, the community, and the future in turn. Giving toward the campaign flows through the church's PushPay page.
Homegoing Services
For families who have lost a loved one, The Word Church offers homegoing (funeral) services in its Junior Sanctuary (capacity approximately 500). Services are held on Thursday mornings only: the wake begins at 10:00 a.m. and the service follows at 10:30 a.m. Members are given scheduling priority, and the church will host funerals for non-members as availability allows. Each service is livestreamed, the facility is wheelchair and walker accessible, and the family may select up to three speakers for two-minute remarks. There is no fee for the facility; the honorarium for the in-house minister is $250. The church does not host repasts at this time and does not assist with funeral costs.
Giving, Careers, and Getting Connected
Giving is offered online through PushPay (the church's recommended platform as of November 2024) and through Tithe.ly for those who previously gave there. A giving statement request form is available for members who need documentation for tax purposes.
Beyond Sunday services, the church lists active staff openings on its Jobs page, including roles for a Content Creator, a Finance Assistant, a Kids Director, and a Next Gen Director.
Visitors who want to plan a first Sunday can fill out the Plan Your Visit form through the church's online system; those ready to take a next step can fill out the Connect With Us form, sign up for Water Baptism, register for a Group, or join the Grief Recovery program. Prayer requests can be submitted through the Say My Name form.