Discover How Living Word Ministries Has Become a Church Family That Helps People Grow in Faith, Friendship, & Obedience to Jesus Christ
Living Word Ministries is a small church family shaped by God’s Word, the work of the Holy Spirit, and years of walking through real life together. What began as a simple desire to worship, study the Bible, and care for neighbors has grown into a community where people of all ages can belong, heal, and be discipled. On any given week, you’ll see kids and teens learning Scripture, adults gathering in groups and prayer times, and families quietly serving those who are struggling. LWM holds to the authority of the Bible, the lordship of Jesus, and the call to make disciples. LWM also emphasizes friendship, integrity, and everyday obedience, not just “church activity.” As you explore this page, you’ll see more of LWM’s story, what the church believes, and why so many people describe it as a place that genuinely feels like home.
EXPLORE HOW GOD HAS GENTLY GUIDED LWM THROUGH YEARS OF CHANGE, DEEP CHALLENGE, & STEADY GROWTH TO FORM A CHURCH FAMILY THAT TREASURES HIS WORD
From its earliest days, the story of Living Word Ministries has been a story of God’s steady hand more than human strategy. What began in 1984 as a small, family-based fellowship in El Rito was simply a group of believers hungry to know God’s Word and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit together. Over time, people were drawn in by genuine love, clear Bible teaching, and a growing sense that God was doing something deeper than just building a Sunday service. As the church journeyed through different seasons, locations, and transitions, God repeatedly provided what was needed for each next step. Sometimes it came as a timely word, other times through a faithful leader or a reminder of His presence in quiet, unexpected ways.
In the last couple of decades, under the pastoral leadership of Peter and Gayle Martinez, that same steady guidance has continued to shape LWM into a true church family. The focus has not been on becoming the biggest church, but on becoming a healthy one where people can heal, grow, and learn to hear God’s voice in their everyday lives. Sunday services, Bible studies, prayer gatherings, and ministries for kids, youth, and adults all flow out of that long history of trusting God to lead. Today, as you look back over the path LWM has walked, you notice a quiet thread of God’s faithfulness running through each chapter. That steady work has shaped a church family that deeply values His Word, His presence, and His nearness in every season.
Pastors Peter & Gayle Martinez
WHAT LWM BELIEVES ABOUT GOD’S WORD SHAPING OUR LIVES, THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADING OUR STEPS, & REAL LOVE BEING SHOWN THROUGH ACTION IN EVERYDAY LIFE TOGETHER
At Living Word Ministries, what we believe is inseparable from how we love. LWM has grown with emphasis on love, relationships, and biblical truth, helping people understand their purpose in Christ and step into the abundant life He intends for all. LWM teaches that Scripture is the foundation for understanding who God is, who we are, and how we’re called to live. LWM shows how the Holy Spirit is active today, guiding believers into obedience, courage, and fruitful service in the details of home, work, and relationships. The Spirit draws them into the mission of serving the church, the valley, and the Wheeler Peak region together. United by these convictions, LWM is growing into a community where Christ’s love fuels every sermon, conversation, and act of service.
Those beliefs show up in very practical ways. LWM places a high priority on building and strengthening families because the church believes the family is the primary place where faith is formed, values are strengthened, and disciples are created. Sermons, groups, and ministries are based on helping people apply God’s Word to their marriages, parenting, finances, and personal struggles in the rhythm of ordinary weeks, not only special Sundays. As love is lived out in concrete, everyday actions such as encouraging a neighbor, serving at church, and showing up in times of crisis, people begin to see that doctrine isn’t just something to agree with. It’s a way of life that transforms homes, friendships, and communities over time.
HOW LWM’S DEVOTION FOR DEEPER DISCIPLESHIP, STRONGER FAMILIES, & FAITHFUL LOCAL OUTREACH GUIDES EVERYTHING FROM WORSHIP SERVICES TO ONGOING MINISTRY FOCUS
Living Word Ministries is committed to caring for the people God has entrusted. Rather than staying inside the church, LWM seeks to be engaged with the community, noticing where families and neighbors are under strain. Being “engaged in the community” means listening, praying, and offering practical help in situations, not just talking about outreach. Whether it’s supporting events, standing with someone in crisis, or showing up over time, the aim is to reflect Christ’s compassion in ways people can feel. As LWM continues to walk alongside the community, trust grows, and doors open for deeper spiritual conversations. Over time, the goal is for communities to know there is a church family that sees them, values them, and is committed to walking with them through every season.
Flowing out of that heart, LWM answers a call to be an apostolic hub helping believers recognize, grow, and use the gifts God has given them. The church offers teaching, discipleship, and support that encourage people to move from attending to participating in God’s plan. As people discover their gifts, whether in teaching, serving, encouragement, or leadership, they are invited to share them inside and outside the church. Some step into visible roles. Others carry Christ’s presence into their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods, knowing they are supported. Over time, this focus on bringing out gifts creates a culture where believers see themselves as partners in God’s mission, strengthening the church family and extending Christ’s influence across Northern New Mexico.
WHY LWM IS MORE THAN JUST A SUNDAY SERVICE WITH STRONG FAMILIES, DISCIPLED HEARTS, & RELEASED LEADERS THAT SHAPE EVERYTHING WE DO TOGETHER
Living Word Ministries is unique in that it combines two significant callings: being a true church family and serving as an apostolic hub that equips everyday believers and gently sends them into their callings. On one hand, LWM is a place where people can belong, heal, and grow in a steady environment grounded in love and God’s Word. The emphasis on relationships means that people are not seen as “attenders” but as brothers and sisters walking a shared journey of faith. That family feel is intentional because LWM wants you to know you are welcomed, valued, and invited to grow at a pace that honors where you are right now. On the other hand, there is also a clear sense that God has more in mind than comfort alone.
As an apostolic hub, LWM is committed to equipping disciples and sending them out with clarity and courage. Through teaching, discipleship pathways, and leadership development, believers learn how to hear God, respond to His leading, and carry His presence into their daily world. The church doesn’t stop at “come and see”; it also says, “go and serve,” encouraging people to live out their faith in families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and the Northern New Mexico region. That outward focus keeps the church from becoming inward and self-protective, while the family emphasis keeps it warm and grounded. For many, that combination of deep belonging plus real equipping for mission is what makes Living Word Ministries stand out as something quietly, beautifully different.
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