What We Believe

God
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Holy Scriptures
We believe that the Bible, including all of the books of the Old and New Testament, is the infallible and inspired Word of God.  The Bible is the true written message of God to us. God inspired the authors of the Bible and therefore it is completely trustworthy. The Bible is the final authority on all matters to which it speaks. It is the source of all doctrine, instruction, and correction. (Psalm 19:7-11, 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

The Fall of Man and Salvation
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but because of voluntary disobedience, he fell from innocence and purity.  Even though we were all sinners, Christ died for us, signing a pardon for all those who believe on Him.  So that now, there is salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 3:16; Romans 5)

Daily Christian Living
We believe that it is the will of God that we be sanctified daily and grow in our faith constantly.  The Christian life is filled with trials, tests, and warfare against spiritual enemies.  The shortcomings of the individual and of the Church are because being made holy is a process.  For those abiding in Christ until their death or His return, the promises of eternal blessing in the presence of God are assured.  It requires dependence upon the Holy Spirit and a willingness to die to personal desires and passions, to remain faithful through all of life’s circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Romans 8:29; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 6:1)

The Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe in the divine personhood of the Holy Spirit.  His present day ministry includes giving believers spiritual gifts and empowering them to serve the Kingdom of God.  Being filled with the Holy Spirit comes from continued submission to the Holy Spirit’s divine power and control.  We believe that all believers are baptized with the Holy Spirit and that all believers should be filled with the Holy Spirit.  The life of a spirit-filled believer should show evidence of spiritual growth and fruit. (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 1; 1 Corinthians 12:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24)  We believe in the present day operation of all spiritual gifts as listed in, but not limited to, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4:11-12.

The Church
We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, and that its role is to continue the work of Jesus Christ in this world. The Church exists whenever local believers gather together in fellowship and live in holiness. Combined, all of the various church communities, that accept the correct teachings of the Bible, make up the universal church.  (Ephesians 2:19-22; John 17:20-23; 1 Corinthians 12)

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that Baptism, by immersion in water, is an outward expression of an inward commitment to faith in Jesus Christ.  We believe the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper with bread and juice of the vine, is a symbolic form of worship to our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8: 35-38; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25)

The Return of Christ
We believe in the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection of believers, and the final judgment.  The final judgment will determine the eternal status of both believers and unbelievers.  Each person’s individual faith and their personal relationship with Jesus Christ, will determine how they are judged. (Matthew 24:30; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; Revelation 1:7).  We believe in the certainty but unknown time of the return of our Lord (Matthew 24:36, 25:13; Mark 13:32-35).

Marriage
We believe that marriage is instituted and ordained by God as a lifelong relationship between one man as husband and one woman as wife. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:7‐9)

Christian Leadership
We believe in the value of biblical terminology of leadership in the contemporary church: Bishop, Overseer, Pastor, Minister, Elder, and Deacon.  We believe all of these are designations for servant-leaders. (Jeremiah 3:15; Acts 20:28; 2 Corinthians 6:4; 1 Timothy 3)