What We Believe

Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God and the authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15-16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21)

There is One True God who has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of humankind. God exists in three Persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, but He is One God. All Persons exist eternally and are in perfect unity with each other. The Lord Jesus Christ is both the Son of God and the Son of Man and is both fully God and fully man thus making Him able to reconcile the world to God. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10-11, Matthew 28:19, Philippians 2:6-11)

Humans were created in the image of God as male and female and lived in perfect relationship with God until they sinned and were separated from God. (Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 5:12-19) The only way to be restored in relationship with God is through Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for our sins through His death on the cross. Salvation is received by repenting of our sins, believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and submitting ourselves to His will. (1 Timothy 2:3-6, 1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21) Those who profess faith in Jesus are called into the process of Sanctification, whereby we become more and more like Jesus through cooperation with the workings of the Spirit, His Word, and His Church. The process affects all three components of our humanity, body, soul, and spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Galatians 2:20)

Jesus instituted two ordinances in his earthly ministry, water baptism and communion. Water Baptism by immersion is a public profession of faith in Christ and is commanded in the Bible. It is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is a declaration to the world that we have died to sin and have been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:4). Communion consists of two elements: the bread and the cup. Those elements are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ. Communion is a memorial of Christ’s sufferings on the cross and a celebration of our salvation. It is an opportunity for a believer to examine his or her self and experience forgiveness. (1 Corinthians 11:24-25)

All believers should expect and earnestly seek the promise of a Baptism in the Holy Spirit, an ongoing work of grace where Jesus empowers His followers for service to fulfill the Great Commission. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is witnessed through the initial physical evidence of speaking in other languages (tongues) as the Spirit enables. (Acts 1:4, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:4) The Holy Spirit also bestows spiritual gifts for use in building up the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:4-10) We believe in the full expression of the gifts of the Spirit, including words of wisdom, prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, and divine healing.

The Church is the Body of Christ and consists of all believers everywhere. The mission of the Church is to tell the world about Jesus, worship God, build up followers of Jesus to maturity, and meet human needs with ministries of love and compassion. Local church bodies are formed to live out the mission and ministry of the church in their local context. Every follower of Christ is called to live in community with others and use the gifts God has given them. (Acts 1:9, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:11-16)

Jesus Christ will come to earth a second time to judge the world of sin and defeat Satan once and for all. The Blessed Hope of believers is that we will be raptured before his full wrath is poured out on the earth. After Jesus’ millennial reign with His saints on the earth, there will be a Final Judgement where each person will account for what they have done.  Every person who has been found in Christ will enter eternal life, those who are not will be condemned to everlasting death and separation from God. Believers will live forever with God in the New Heavens and New Earth. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 20:1-6, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:1-4)