OUR BELIEFS
OUR MISSION IS TO HELP EACH OTHER WORSHIP, KNOW, AND PROCLAIM GOD.
WHY WE EXIST
This church exists as a community of Christians dedicated to the glorification of God through five pillars, all of which shall be consistent with the will of God as revealed in the Scriptures.
1. Worship and the administration of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
2. Proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ in all the world
3. Instruction of believers in matters pertaining to the Christian life
4. Ministry to the needs of people
5. Mutual encouragement of members in fulfilling Christian life aspirations
STATEMENT OF VISION
The many ministries and activities in which our church engages could generally be classified in one of the following four ministry categories:
1. Worship
2. Christian Education
3. Outreach and Missions
4. Special Ministries and Hospitality
MINISTRY VALUES
1. Worship is central
2. Worshipers have physical needs that must be considered
3. Prayer is crucial in the worshiper’s life
1. Christians are lifelong learners
2. Children, youth, and family ministries are paramount
3. Quality infant and pre-school ministries and facilities are important
4. Christian education, outreach, and recreation are closely related
5. Education efforts are part of a “ministry whole"
1. Churches support missions and missionary efforts
2. Healthy churches start new churches
3. Missions around the world and close to home need support
4. Outreach to the local community is vital
5. Church buildings are means for ministry and outreach
1. Followers of Jesus love their neighbors
2. Small groups grow disciples
3. Believers work for the benefit of others
4. Churches value hospitality
MINISTRY PHILOSOPHY AND GROWTH STRATEGY
In order to become the people of Christ our Lord intends and to meet the challenges of future ministry, we covenant together...
to pray, to teach and preach the Word, and to trust in the sovereignty of God.
BAPTIST CHARACTERISTICS
The “authority of the Bible” (the Bible tells us what to believe and how to behave)
The “priesthood of the believer” (that we each have individual, personal access to God through Jesus Christ)
The separation of church and state
Regenerate membership (that church membership is comprised of believers only; you’re not a member of the church because you were born into it; you’re a member of the church because you’re born again and you want to be part of a local church)
Commitment to missions and evangelism (believing that sharing the good news of Jesus Christ is the church’s task and he gave a Great Commandment to love God and love others and a Great Commission to make disciples in all the world)
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Mark 13:31; Acts 20:32
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.
Genesis 1:1,2; Genesis 1:26; John 1:1-3; John 5:18; Ephesians 4:4-6
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Luke 10:22; John 3:16,17; 2 Timothy 2:5,6; 1 Peter 1:3
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1-3; John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 9:28; Luke 24:1-7
We believe in the Holy Spirit who comes forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.
John 14:16,17; John 14:26; John 16:7-14; Romans 8:26,27; Romans 8:13-16; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 1:13,14
We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:26; Genesis 5:2; Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3; John 5:24; John 8:12; John 10:25-29; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 20:1-8; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14; Romans 5:19; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 1 John 1:9; John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25
We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellowmen; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
Colossians 3:17; Romans 12:1-3; 1 John 2:3-6; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Colossians 1:9,10; Philippians 4:5-8; Titus 2:11,12
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 3:13-17
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
Timothy 2:5; Romans 14:12; Matthew 22:17-21
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with inter-denominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis.
Acts 15:36,41
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:1-4; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:7b-10; Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 20:11-15