Mission & Beliefs
Mission Statement
We exist to glorify God by participating with Him in building Kingdom Communities of Gospel-centered people.
What We Believe About
The Bible
We believe the Bible is the Word of God, that it was written by men divinely inspired of God, and that it is the infallible and supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct (Isaiah 40:18, II Timothy 3:15-17, II Peter 1:19-21).
The Trinity
We believe the Godhead eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that these three are one God, each having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections. They are thus worthy of the same homage, confidence, and obedience (Matthew 28:18-19, Luke 3:21-22, John 14:16-17, 26).
The Creation and Fall of Man
We believe that God created man in His own image and that man came into the world by the direct creation of God, and not by the process of evolution. We believe that the first couple, Adam and Eve, was created in innocence and original righteousness, but by voluntary transgression fell. As a result of Adam’s fall, sin, and guilt were imputed to all his descendants the man Jesus Christ alone being excepted, resulting in spiritual and physical death and total depravity for the human race. Thus man is under just condemnation without defense or excuse before God (Genesis 1:26-27, 3:11ff; Romans 3:10-19, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3).
The Salvation of Man
We believe salvation is the gift of God given to man by grace alone. Salvation is first willed by the Father. It is received by personal faith and acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ, who shed His precious blood on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins and the gifts of eternal life.
We believe because of universal death through sin, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless born again. No degree of reformation, no attainment in morality, no culture, no baptism, or other ordinance however administered, can help the sinner merit the forgiveness of sins or eternal life. Salvation is initiated by the Holy Spirit, not man (John 3:1-7, 16-18; Ephesians 1:3-14, 2:8-10; Titus 3:1-7). From start to finish salvation is the work of God, not man.
Sanctification
We believe sanctification, which is a setting apart unit God, is threefold:
It is positionally complete for every saved person, because his position toward God is identical with Christ’s position, since he is “in Christ.”
There is a progressive sanctification, wherein the Christian is to “grow in grace.” Though salvation is not merited by works, the new birth brings a changed life, wherein holiness and good works are the natural fruit of salvation. All the saved should live in such a manner as to not bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord.
We believe the child of God will be fully sanctified when he sees his Lord face to face. At that time he shall be “like Him.” We do not believe that speaking in tongues is necessarily an indication of sanctification (Romans 6:1-7, 12:1-2; I Corinthians 14:19, II Corinthians 6:14-7:1, Ephesians 4:24, 5:25-27, I Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 12:14).
Security
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. through His substitutionary sacrifice, all who believe in Him are justified on the basis of His shed blood on the cross. Thus, salvation is by grace through faith, wholly apart from human merit and works. Therefore, all who have been truly born again by the Spirit of God through faith in Christ, are eternally secure, and will persevere in faith and godliness until glorification.
The Church
We believe that the church is to be composed of born again believer, baptized by the Holy Spirit in the mystical body of Christ, of which He is Head.
We believe the local church to be an assembly of born-again believers of like faith and practice, baptized by immersion, united for the evangelism of the world and the edification of the saints, and the worship of God (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, I Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 5:23-27).
Ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the only ordinances of the church and that they are scriptural means of testimony for the church until Christ’s return.
We believe water baptism is the immersion of a saved person in water, setting forth in symbol the essential facts of redemption and separation. Thus, baptism is the believer’s outwards public confession of faith, symbolizing spiritual cleansing and renewal, and dedication to walk in a new life of holiness (Ezra 36:25, Matthew 3:13-17, Romans 6:1-7).
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the Lord’s death until he comes again. The symbols are bread and the fruit of the vine, representing Jesus’ body and blood. It is a time of repentance, spiritual renewal, Christian unity, hope, and joy. It also depicts the believer’s constant dependency upon Christ. Only those who have placed faith in Christ should partake, and only after serious reflection and self-examination (Matthew 26:17-29, I Corinthians 11:17-34).
Last Things
We believe according to the Word of God, at the end of the age Jesus will rapture His church, and the great tribulation will occur. We believe in the Millennial reign of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the New Haven and the New Earth. We believe the wicked will spend eternity with the devil and his angels, in a conscious place of torment known as the Lake of Fire. The justified children of God will spend eternity in Heavenly peace and bliss, where there is no more sin, death, sickness, or sorrow.
Marriage and Sexuality
We believe that marriage was instituted by God when He creates Eve for Adam (Genesis 2:18-25). God defines marriage as the covenantal union between one man and one woman until death separates them (Malachi 2:14, Ephesians 5:31, Romans 7:2-3). Christ affirmed this definition in His teachings on marriage during His public ministry (Matthew 19:3-9, Mark 10:1-12, Luke 20:27-36, John 2:1-11). We believe that sexual intimacy and sexual activity is appropriate only within the marriage relationship, between husband and wife. We believe that fornication, adultery, incest, and polygamy are contrary to God’s design for marriage and are therefore detrimental to the individuals involved (Romas 1:24-28). We also believe divorce is contrary to God’s design for marriage (I Corinthians 7:2-3, 12-16). Also, we believe that a covenantal union between one man and another man or one woman and another woman is contrary to God’s definition of marriage (Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27. We believe that the marriage union between one man and one woman is patterned after the union between Christ and His Bride - the Church. We believe that marriage is to be held in honor by all (Hebrews 13:4).