STATEMENT OF FAITH

THE BIBLE 

We believe the Bible is inspired by God and without error.  Though written by human authors they were supernaturally guided by the Holy Spirit.  The Bible is the sole authority for faith, conduct, and doctrine and as the revealed will of God, the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice. (Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 3:16-18; 2 Peter 1:21).

THE TRINITY 

There is One God eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1-2, 26; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10, 11; Philippians 2:6; John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14; John1:1,14,18; John 14:16; 15:26; 1 John 5:7). 

THE FATHER

God is ever present, and unchanging - perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He always has been and forever will be. He is our loving and compassionate heavenly Father, faithful to His people and His promises who hears and answers prayer. (Exodus 3:14 / Numbers 23:19 / Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:2 / Psalm 11:4-6 / Malachi 3:6 / John 3:16 / John 4:24 / John 14:1 / Acts 17:28 / Romans 3:3-4). 

THE SON 

Jesus is eternally existent and God’s only plan to bridge the gap created by sin.   We believe in His divinity (John 1:1), virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31; Luke 1:35), sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22), miracles (Acts 2:22; Acts 10:38), vicarious and substitutionary death on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21), bodily resurrection (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4), and that He is coming again (John 1:1-3; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23; I Peter 2: 22; Romans 4:24-25; 5:8-11; Matthew 4:24; John 21:25; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 28:5-6; Acts 10:38-40; 1 Corinthians 15:17, 20).

THE HOLY SPIRIT 

The Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth and convicts’ people of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He is our Teacher and Comforter and He regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers believers for ministry. It is His work in us as believers that makes us more like Christ. We believe that the fullness of the Holy Spirit is available to all believers and that the Holy Spirit empowers us to be effective witnesses for Jesus, as well as blessing us with spiritual gifts and fruit. (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 51:11; 139:7; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:10; Luke 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26;16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 38-39; Acts 13:2; 19: 1-7; Romans 8:9-1; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:1-11; 14:1-15;  Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:2;  Revelation 22:17)

MANKIND 

Man was created in God’s image; “male and female He created them” as the masterpiece of all creation. We were created to have intimate relationship with God but became separated from Him through sin.  No matter how good we try to be, we cannot regain our relationship with God in our own strength and effort. Regardless of a person’s current spiritual condition, every person has value and is worthy of love and respect. (Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7; Psalms 8:3-6; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25;1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11) 

ETERNITY 

We were created to live forever. Our forever will either be spent eternally separated from God by sin or eternally in relationship with God, dependent on whether we accept or reject Jesus Christ.  To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in relationship with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence. (John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25, 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15) 

SALVATION 

Salvation is God’s gift to us that bridges the sin gap that separates us from God. We receive the gift of salvation when we choose to accept Jesus as our personal Savior and acknowledge the sacrifice that He made on the cross as full payment for our sin. Salvation is a free gift from God by His grace, and it can’t be earned through our own efforts. (Isaiah 1:18, 53:5-6, 55:7; Matthew 1:21, 27:22-66, 28:1-6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:24-28; Revelation 3:20)

WATER BAPTISM 

Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48).  Baptism is an identification with Jesus in His death and resurrection. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39; 9:47-48; Acts 10:47-48; Acts 20:21; Hebrews 10:22; 1 Peter 3:21). 

COMMUNION

We believe in regularly celebrating the Communion/Lord’s Supper and extend an open Communion    to any follower of Christ, regardless of church membership (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

REALTIONSHIP WITH GOD

We believe that every believer should be growing in their relationship with Jesus by obeying God's Word, yielding to the Holy Spirit and being conformed to the image of Christ (Philippians 3:12-13)

ATONEMENT 

We believe that the redemptive work of Christ provides salvation for the whole person spirit, soul and body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 3:8; Acts 10:38).  We believe that Jesus Christ is the same today and that physical healing for the body is wrought by the power of God, through the prayer of faith and is provided for in the atonement (Hebrews 13:8; Mark 16:18; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:19; 1 Peter 2:24; James 5:14-15) 

THE CHURCH 

The Church is a community of diverse people from different races, cultures, and backgrounds all unified through a common faith in Jesus Christ. The Church is committed to the teachings of Jesus, and it exists to share the message of God’s hope to the world so that everyone can know Him in a personal way. We believe the church is a family and that every believer should be identified with a local body of believers for the purpose of encouragement, teaching, fellowship and spiritual growth. (Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:24-25). The primary goals of the Church are to reach the world for Jesus, make disciples and to present the saints complete in Christ. (Matthew 16:18-19; Matthew 18:15-20; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-20: Acts 2:41-47: Acts 5:11-1; Acts13:1-3; Acts 14:23; Acts 16:5; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17,9:13-14: Ephesians 1:22-23: Ephesians 2:19-22; Ephesians 3:10-12; Ephesians 5:22-32: Colossians 1:18, 3:15: 1 Timothy 4:14: 1 Peter 5:1-4:  Revelation 21:2-3)

EVANGELISM

We believe that the supreme task of the church and the Great Commission of the Lord is to preach the Gospel to every creature. The greatest act of love is sharing the gift of eternal life with others. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Romans 10:13-15). 

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters. (Romans 1:11; 12:4-8; I Corinthians 12:1-31; 14:1-40; Ephesians 4:16; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6-7; Hebrews 2:4; I Peter 4:10)

ABUNDANT LIFE 

Jesus came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). God wants His people to be blessed in every area of their lives - Spiritually (John 3:3, 11; Romans 10:9-10; II Corinthians 5:17-21;); Physically (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matt. 8:17; I Peter 2:24) and Financially (Psalm 35:27; 3 John 1:2; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 8:18; 28:1-14).

MARRIAGE

We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one man and one woman, instituted by and publicly entered into before God. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6: Ephesians 5:22-23)

 OUR BLESSED HOPE

We believe Jesus is coming again for His church.  This is the believer’s blessed hope (Titus 2:12).   At the final judgment the eternal status of both the saints and the unbelievers will be determined by their relationship to Jesus Christ. (Mathew 25:41-46; Hebrews 9:27-28: Revelation 19:20; 20:10-151 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 2 Thessalonians 2:1).