What We Believe

Unbelief says some other time, but not now; some other place, but not here; some other people, but not us.

We repent of the sin of unbelief and declare by faith that anything God did any other time, He is willing to do now; anything God did any other place, He is willing to do here; anything God ever did for any other people, He is willing to do for us.

Our church accepts the scriptures as the revealed will of God, the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice, and for the purpose of maintaining unity, adopts these statements of Faith and Doctrine.

These Statements of Faith & Doctrine do not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of church doctrine, practice, policy and discipline, Senior Leadership is the Church's final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application.

We believe:

One True God

The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent I AM, the Creator of the universe, and the Redeemer of mankind (Deuteronomy 6:4, Exodus 3:14, Isaiah 43:10-11). God has further revealed Himself as a triune being: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit, being perfectly unified, identical in essence, equal in divinity, each executing distinct, but harmonious offices. (Isaiah 48:16, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22, Ephesians 2:18, John 1:1-3)

The Scriptures Inspired

All scripture, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God, and are an inerrant revelation of God to man. They are the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:21)

The Deity of the LORD Jesus Christ

The LORD Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and, as such, shares in the divinity and deity of God. (Matthew1:23, John 5:22, 2 John 3, Hebrews 1:1-3)

Original Sin and The Fall of Man

Man was created good and upright for God said, "Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness..."(Genesis 1:26-27). The first man, Adam, fell from the grace of God, through disobedience and rebellion. Thus, sin entered into the world and death by sin. Adam's transgression incurred not only physical death for man, but also spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God (Genesis 2:1-18, 3:4-6). Man's propensity to sin, because of his sinful nature, necessitates salvation from the power of sin and a savior to provide that salvation (Romans 7:13-25).

The Salvation of Man

It is through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection that men are saved from sin. It is the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin.  Works and religion cannot save in anyway.  Man's only hope of redemption and salvation from the power of sin is through the shed blood of the LORD Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12, Romans 5:8-13, 10:9, James 1:21, Ephesians 2:8)

The Church and Its Mission

The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of His Great Commission. Each believer born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and the Church of the Firstborn, which was written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22-33, 2:22, Hebrews 12:23). We also believe that the local congregation of Christian believers is divinely called and is the chosen instrument of God for the furtherance of God's work upon the earth. While appreciating the work of Parachurch groups, we believe that the local church is God's chosen vehicle for world evangelism, the nurturing of Christians, and the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry thereby building the Body of Christ. Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save all who are lost, to be worshiped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, it is the responsibility of the Church:
- To evangelize the world. (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-29, Mark 16:15-16)
- To be a body of believers where man may worship God. (1 Corinthians 12:28, 14:12)

Baptism In Water

The ordinance of baptism by full immersion in water is commanded in the scriptures. All who repent of their sins and believe in Christ as Savior and LORD are to be baptized. This is a declaration to the world that they identify with Christ in His death and have been raised with Him in newness of life. (Matthew18:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47-48, Romans 6:4)

The LORD's Supper or Holy Communion

The LORD's Supper, consisting of the elements of bread and the cup of the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our LORD Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4). It is a remembering of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26), a prophecy of His Second Coming (1 Corinthians 11:26) and is enjoyed by all believers until He comes again.

The Baptism of The Holy Spirit

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit places a believer into permanent union with Christ and with other believers in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). The filling of the Holy Spirit is how He empowers and controls believers (Acts 4:31, Ephesians 5:18). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is God, the Holy Spirit, taking up permanent residence in our lives (John 14:17, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, 1 John 4:4). The sealing of the Holy Spirit is God marking us as His permanent possession (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Ever-increasing Faith

Faith of the heart (Romans 10:9-10) is based on hearing (spiritual understanding) God's Word (Romans 10:17). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Christians are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), justified by faith (Romans 3:28, 5:1, Galatians 2:26, 3:11) shall live by faith (Romans 1:16-17, Hebrews 10:38) and overcome the world by faith (1 John 5:4).

Divine Healing

Divine healing was provided for in the Old Testament (Exodus 15:23-26, Psalms 103:1-3, Isaiah 53:4-5) and was completed and solidified in the broken body of Jesus Christ on the Cross. It is an integral part of the Gospel (Matthew 8:16-17, Acts 5:16, James 5:14-16). Every believer is reminded of the provision of healing when he/she observes the ordinance of communion.

Worship

We believe that the whole purpose of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Therefore, we believe in the act of worshiping God with one's total being as set forth in the Holy Scriptures. (Psalms 150, Mark 12:29-31, Ephesians 5:18-21)

Ministries in The Church

We believe in the five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers as given to the Church by the LORD Jesus Christ after His ascension for equipping, building, attaining unity, imparting knowledge, growing, and maturing believers to the stature and fullness of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). We further believe that all Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ and that all believers have been given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:20). We believe every member in the body of Christ is a minister and is given a ministry. The Holy Spirit distributes to the believer Spiritual Gifts as He wills. These gifts differ according to the grace given to us. As members of the Body of Christ we should work together using the manifestation of the Spirit through those different gifts for the common good (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-12).

Biblical Definition of Marriage & Sexuality

We believe that marriage sanctioned by God joins one man & one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in scripture (Genesis 2:21-24, Matthew 19:4-6). We believe that God commands that sexual intimacy is only to occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to change one's sex, or disagreement with one's biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God (Hebrews 13:4, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Laying On of Hands

We believe in the doctrine of laying on of hands for:
- The confirming of a believer to commitment and ministry in the local church.
- The confirmation of one's call of God to special ministry in the local church (Acts 13:13, Ephesians 4:1, 7).
- The imparting of spiritual gifts (1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:16).
- The experiencing of the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17-18).
- The ministering of healing to the sick through the LORD Jesus Christ (Mark 16:8).
- The blessing and dedication of children to the LORD (Mark 10:16).
- We further believe in obedience to the Holy Spirit, we should lay hands on no one suddenly, that the laying on of hands confirms a ministry which is already observable and proven (1 Timothy 5:22).