What We BelieveI. WE BELIEVE IN THE TRINITY.
Both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible show that there is one God, and that He exists forever and in three Persons--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father is the creator and sustainer of everything. He composed the universe-in all of its beauty and glory-and while He was making this universe, He made man in His own image so that He could have fellowship with him. After man fell, God the Father graciously called man back into fellowship with Him through Christ. Jesus Christ is God and is the Son of God. He is the living Word of God, and through Him all things were created. Born to the Virgin Mary and of the Holy Spirit, Jesus left heaven and came to earth as a man to redeem mankind. He is completely God and completely man. The Holy Spirit is God, and He is the Giver of life. The Spirit was active during the Old Testament, often speaking and working through the Jewish prophets. But it was on the day of Pentecost that He was given to the Church in fullness. The Holy Spirit works in our lives to transform us into the image of Jesus. He also empowers us to serve Jesus, and to be witnesses to His name. He is fully released in our lives by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which happens after salvation. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is shown both inwardly and outwardly by many different ways. II. WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS THE PERFECT WORD OF GOD AND WRITTEN BY GOD THROUGH MAN. The Bible--being both the Old and New Testaments--is the only infallible Word of God that cannot be taken away from nor added to. It is eternal. It is ultimate. It has complete authority and final say in all things, and its authority cannot be overcome or overridden in any way. It's the single source of all doctrine, instruction, correction, and reproof, and is the all-inclusive guidebook on how to practically live a godly life. III. WE BELIEVE CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION MADE SALVATION POSSIBLE. When Jesus died for us on the cross, He paid the penalty for all of man's sins. However, redemption is only possible through the personal acceptance of Christ as Savior and Lord. Christ's sacrifice also made healing and total provision possible--for the spirit, soul, and body. IV. WE BELIEVE SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT. We did nothing and could never do anything to deserve salvation. But when Jesus died on the cross, His goodness allowed us to be saved if we would have faith in Him and make Him Lord. Salvation happens by repenting of sin, believing in Jesus Christ, and personally receiving Him as Lord and Savior. It marks the beginning of a new life in Christ, in which we are the adopted heirs of His Kingdom. Salvation is not a one-time event that saves us from hell--it is a lifestyle of loving, obeying, serving, and becoming more like Christ who saved us. V. WE BELIEVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A LIFE OF KNOWING AND LOVING CHRIST. It is the combination of the new life God gives us at salvation, and the truth He teaches us as we live it. The Holy Spirit guides us through various circumstances in life--always revealing to us truths about Him and ourselves in the process. Faithfulness is simply trusting Him through it all and learning to submit our personal desires to His perfect will. The shortcomings of individual Christians and the Church at large come from living in a fallen world while striving to become more like Christ. The life of the Christian is filled with trials, tests, and warfare with a very real spiritual enemy. But for those who live a life of love, faith, and fellowship with Christ, eternal hope is secure in our relationship with Him. God always provides for His Church, and He will never go back on the promises in His Word. VI. WE BELIEVE THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS TO MAKE DISCIPLES. The Church doesn't just exist to get people into heaven, but also to train and equip them so that they are complete in Christ and able to live for Him here on Earth. The Church is governed according to a biblical model of eldership. The church has honored roles of service including the roles of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, and deacons. VII. WE BELIEVE IN BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER. These two practices were instituted by Jesus when He was on earth and are continued by His church to this day. Water baptism is simply the outward sign of the inner work God has already done in the individual's life. It is a sign of joining in Christ's death to sin and His resurrection into life in righteousness, as well as a statement to all that the person being baptized now belongs to Christ. The Lord's Supper is done in honor and remembrance of Christ's sacrifice until His return, and is a sign of our participation in Him. VIII. WE BELIEVE JESUS IS COMING BACK. And when He comes, all those who serve Him will reign with Him until the final judgment. During the final judgment, God will judge all of mankind--young and old, men and women, believers and unbelievers. And each individual's relationship with Christ will determine where he or she will spend eternity. |
What We DoTheocratic model of church government
Our church government is a balance between a singular head (Senior Pastor) and plural leadership (Elders). Unity results from confirmed and clarified direction within the elder body and is appropriately communicated to the congregation. Healthy, growing, reproductive ministries We strive for a healthy church environment. As a result of health, a church that is growing both spiritually and numerically. Aggressive prayer, evangelism, and outreach We emphasize a praying lifestyle in all ministries, maintain a multi-faceted evangelism strategy, and a Christ-centered, caring outreach through local community and area involvement. Spirit-inspired, relevant preaching and teaching We preach & teach the whole counsel of God in grace and truth. We preach and teach for a response and equipping for everyday life. We believe God's Word is simple, meaning it is both practical and applicable, reaching right where every person lives, addressing the issues of everyday life. Spirit-inspired, active praise and worship We encourage participatory and expressive worship with boundaries, and we promote a lifestyle of praise and worship. Equipping the saints for the work of the ministry We equip and release the church body to do the work of the ministry through small group ministries and outreaches. Compassionate Biblical counseling The Word of God is our guide and standard. The focus is on spiritual, emotional, and mental wholeness through healing and restoration, not coping. Being positive, God-focused, charged with faith, and aggressive in fulfilling His will and representing His Kingdom We believe that faith looks beyond our own resources and abilities, that God assigns us work that is greater than we can accomplish with human effort to ensure dependence upon Him, and that our communication must represent positive confidence and faith in God's work. Giving generously to expand God's Kingdom We understand that God's Kingdom work is beyond the scope of an individual or group. We believe that God increases us as we give our resources and information to heal, educate, and equip the Body of Christ. As we give, He will give us more. Doing all things with excellence Whereas perfectionism can never be satisfied until things are perfect, excellence is a spirit committed to do the best it can, with available resources and to constantly seek to learn and improve. Maintaining a balance of God's Word and Spirit We believe that grace and truth must operate together with the understanding that God's Spirit is deeper than human logic but never violates His own Word. Prioritizing relationships, Christ-like agape love (unconditional love) at every level of church government, ministry, fellowship, and outreach We believe that healthy relationships with God and man are the basis and foundation for ministry and set us apart from the world and exalt Jesus Christ to all who need hope. |