Victor Paul Wierwille

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Victor Paul Wierwille
December 31, 1916 – May 20, 1985
The Founding President of The Way International
Date of birth:	December 31, 1916
Place of birth:	New Knoxville, Ohio,
Date of death:	May 20, 1985 (aged 69)
Movement:	Christian (non-denominational)

Victor Paul Wierwille, December 31, 1916 - May 20, 1985) was the founder of The Way International (TWI) He was raised in and later ordained by the Evangelical and Reformed Church (a predecessor of the United Church of Christ) in 1941, and he officially left that church in 1957. In 1942 he started the precursor to TWI, Vesper Chimes, which was a radio show broadcast from Lima, Ohio. He incorporated TWI in 1955, taking the name from Acts 9:2, which was used by early Christians.

Wierwille wrote several books which were printed by the Way's publishing arm called American Christian Press. One book was Jesus Christ is Not God, in which he addressed his belief that Jesus Christ was the Son of God but not a persona of the Christian God or a pre-existent being. Believing the original New Testament was written in Aramaic, he was a supporter of George Lamsa's translation of the Bible, and used it frequently. Wierwille wrote three other works which focused on Jesus Christ and the concept of the Holy Spirit: Jesus Christ Our Passover, Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed, and Receiving the Holy Spirit Today.

Wierwille developed TWI's teaching series, "Power for Abundant Living" (PFAL). He also initiated the "Way Corps", the leadership training program offered by the Way International, and the (now-defunct) "Word Over the World" (WOW) Ambassadors progam, which was its version of a missionary program. He retired from leadership of TWI in October, 1982; passing TWI presidency to L. Craig Martindale.

Wierwille graduated from Mission House (Lakeland) College, received his Th.M in Advanced Preaching from Princeton Theological Seminary. Wierwille claimed the title "Doctor" after receiving a doctorate in theology from Pikes Peak Bible College and Seminary., a non-accredited institution that was reputed to be a degree mill. He died on May 20, 1985 of liver cancer and cancer of the eye.