WE BELIEVE GOD DESIRES "US"
- We believe that God desires an personal relationship with every person on the face of the earth.
- We beleive God deeply loves you and cares about you and He sent his son Jesus Christ to demonstrate the full extent of His love for you.
- He did this by offering Himself as a sacrifice by dying on the cross to pay in full the penalty that your sins demand.
- Through the acceptance of His free gift of salvation, by your faith and not by your works, you can enter into that relationship and have the assurance of living with God forever in heaven.
- We hold onto these truths through the teaching of God’s Word, the Bible.
- Our desire is that we would see people know the truth of the Gospel, and the historic and authentic claims of Christ.
- We believe we are called to know Him and place our faith in Him and His unfailing love. To do this, we aim to present God in a an uncompromising fashion.
- We desire to see people set free and to walk in the "fullness of their christianity" - without hinderances of past hurts, and without limitations of wrong belief systems that have been developed throughout their lives. It is vitally necessary to renew of our mind by the Word of God daily.
- We desire to see Christ and the "application" of His Word transform us radically each and every day, and make an impact everywhere we go.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
THE SCRIPTURES The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21). THE GODHEAD Our God is One, but manifested in three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being coequal(Deut. 6:4; Phil. 2:6). God the Father is greater than all; the Sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14). The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 14:16; John 15:26). MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. The Bible says “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” and “…There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10; 3:23). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God (Rom. 5:14; 1 John 3:8). ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH Salvation is the gift of God to man through faith in Jesus Christ. This is separate from works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Eph. 2:8–10). The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced, produces eternal life. Man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance (2 Cor. 7:10; John 3:3–5; 1 John 5:12). WATER BAPTISM Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36–39). The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted; to wit: “On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.” BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT The Baptism in the Holy Ghost is a gift and is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the new birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance (Matt. 3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38,39; Acts 19:1–7; Acts 2:1–4). SANCTIFICATION We believe in sanctification, which is living a life of holiness. The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ’s return (Heb. 12:14; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12–14; 1 Cor. 1:30). DIVINE HEALING Healing is the privilege of every member of the Church today provided through Jesus’ death on the Cross. Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today (James 5:14,15; Mark 16:18; Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24). HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The lake of fire is literal. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting,” used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the lake of fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19-20). RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD Jesus will return and “. . . The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air . . .” (1 Thess. 4:16–17). The angels said to Jesus’ disciples, “…This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” His coming is imminent. When He comes, “…The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…” (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16,17). Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Rev. 5:10; 20:6). |
WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE CORE VALUES
AN OUTREACH ORIENTATION We believe the answers for all of life and eternity are found in a restored personal relationship with God by faith in Jesus Christ, through grace. We are committed to spreading His love and message to those who don’t yet know it, empowering people to express their faith confidently and naturally, and cultivating purposeful relationships with unbelievers, We are dedicated to expanding our outreach - both personally and corporately - to our friends, family, community, and world (Matthew 28:18 - 20; I Cor. 9: 19 - 23). UNITY FORGED BY AUTHENTICITY We believe that God longs for His people to be united in spirit and purpose, and that He intends us to live life honestly. Unity is created and preserved when people are not afraid to admit their flaws and fears, and also when people are willing to speak the truth in love to each other (even when it is difficult and correction or discipline is necessary). We are committed to living authentic lives with God and with each other (John 17: 20 -23; Eph. 4:15; Phil. 2:1-2; James 5:16). CULTURAL RELEVANCY We believe God wants to reach people in ways that are meaningful to them. We want to use the clearest most effective means possible to communicate God’s message. We are committed to presenting the truths of Christianity in a creative and relevant manner without compromising the gospel in any way (Acts 17:16-34; I Corinth 9:19-23). SERVANTHOOD AS A WAY OF LIFE We believe that as followers of Christ we are called to be servants; to live out the reality of putting others first. Servanthood is the result of genuine humility, and is a profound mark of the truth of God taking hold in our hearts. We are committed to serving our God, our fellow believers, and our community, not just as an activity but as a mindset and a way of life (Phil 2:3-8; Matt.20:25-28; John 13:1-17). DEPENDENCE DEMONSTRATED BY PRAYER We believe that we are utterly dependent on God for all that we are and all that we have, and that individual and corporate prayer is key to both remembering and acknowledging this vital truth. It is God’s desire that His people come to Him directly and persistently in prayer to pour out their hearts, their hurts, their gratitude, and their requests. We are committed to keeping prayer in the center of our lives, & in all our activities and decisions (Luke 11: 1-13; I Thess. 5:17 -18; Eph. 6:18). EXCELLENCE WITH INTEGRITY We believe that the work of God requires our best; anything less does not honor God, and conveys an inaccurate message to the watching world. Regular self evaluation must be a part of all that we do. We are committed to being good stewards of the resources of time, money, and abilities that God has given us (Ps. 78:72; Colossians 3:17, Prov. 27:17). A KINGDOM MINDSET We believe that God has a significant, strategic role for us as a ministry in the development of His kingdom. We want to maintain relationships of mutual respect, love, and support with other churches in our area. We are committed to having the maximum possible impact for Christ, which will require a constant stretching of our vision. A FOCUS ON GRACE We believe the central, driving force of the universe and in our lives is the unmerited grace and love of God. We believe His grace - not our effort or accomplishment - is responsible for producing eternal life, freedom from sin’s control, and lasting change in an individual’s character. We are committed to focusing on and celebrating that grace, and fostering an environment that reflects it in our lives and relationships (Romans 4:5; 5:20 -21; 8:31-39; Eph. 2:1-10). MARRIAGE AND FAMILY We believe that marriage is God's plan and the foundation for building families in which children are to be raised in the nurture and teaching of the Lord.. Marriage is the union of a man and a woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's gift to reveal the union between Christ and his Church and to provide for the man and the woman the framework for intimate companionship, delight in one another and the means for the procreation of the human race. Healthy families are crucial for the well-being of society and the body if Christ. |