GOD

We believe that there is one true God who is the author and creator of the universe.  He is all-powerful, all knowing, all loving and eternal.  He has the ultimate authority in heaven and on earth.  He is revealed to man through both His creation (nature) and His Son Jesus Christ.  God exists in three forms or manifestation: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ results in a full and meaningful life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity.  He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ.  He initiates in the mind of sinners a recognition of their need of a Savior; and, because of their faith he makes them new spiritually.  At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer providing assurance, strength and wisdom.  He also uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the building up of the Body of Christ.  The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture.  His power and control are activated by faith, making it possible for believers to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit that draws glory and attention to God the Father.

HIS DEATH AND RESSURECTION

We believe that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and that He arose boldly in three days from the dead. He ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father and is our High Priest and advocate.

CHRISTIANITY

We believe that becoming a Christian begins with establishing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Jesus offers forgiveness of sin, a purpose-filled and abundant life, and eternal life to all those who sincerely seek Him and embrace His claims as Lord and God. This can be done anywhere, anytime without the need for a pastor.  Any person wishing to become a Christian may do so by submitting his/her life to God and accepting His forgiveness.  Jesus suffered once for all on the cross so that we might be made sinless in the eyes of God.  We further believe that after a person becomes a Christian that there should be evidence of life-change: visible signs that a person has embraced the claims of Christ and is living for Him.

HUMAN DESTINY

We believe in the Bible’s teaching that the souls of men and women will live eternally.  The death of the body is not the final end to life, but just the end to one’s physical presence here on earth as we know it.  The soul will live on in either fellowship with God or in a place absent from God.  We believe that a person’s spiritual status cannot change after physical death.  Those who die without being reconciled to God will have no other opportunity to do so.  In the same way, those having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ are sealed in His love and will live in fellowship with Him forever.

GENDER, MARRIAGE, AND SEXUALITY

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female.  These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen 2:18-25).  We will only conduct a marriage ceremony and recognize the marriage between a biological man and a biological woman.

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4).  We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10)

HIS RETURN

We believe in the personal, bodily, imminent, and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His people.

JESUS CHRIST

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate (in the flesh) who came to mankind to offer the only solution to sin – – a holy sacrifice.  We believe that He is who He said He was, the only remedy for man’s sin, and the one and only Son of God.  His sacrificial death on the cross allows man to be reconciled with God, and opens the door for man to receive eternal life and forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ.

THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible is the inspired and authoritative word of God revealed to man through divine inspiration in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments.  The Bible is God’s book about Himself, given that we might know Him.  It is both historically accurate and significant in the lives of Christians who adhere to its teachings.

THE VIRGIN BIRTH

We believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ, and that He is God and man.

SALVATION

We believe that salvation (the forgiveness of sins) is not linked to membership, works, good deeds, heritage, or genealogy, but rather to Jesus Christ alone. Jesus Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross and sacrifice for the sins of mankind makes possible a relationship with Him.  We are “saved” when we acknowledge our sins and shortcomings, repent, and place our personal trust in Christ who made up the difference through His death and resurrection.  Once this has happened, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ or change our standing before God; we are eternally His.

THE CHURCH

We believe that God has established His Church in the world to reflect who He is and bring glory to Himself.  This happens as the truth about His Son is revealed, and as the church impacts the culture for Christ’s sake.  The church exists in two forms: the universal church and the local church.  The universal church comprises believers from all over the world throughout all ages.  The local church consists of those people who geographically assemble on a regular basis for the purpose of teaching, worshipping, reaching others, ministering, and fellowshipping.  Our unique church is one of many that unites with others around the world to know, love, and serve Jesus Christ.

SIN

The Bible defines sin as missing the mark, or falling short of God’s holiness.  It also says that everyone has sinned.  Sin results in a man’s separation from God.  The only remedy for sin is a renewed life based on faith in Jesus Christ.

REDEMPTION

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11).

COMPASSION

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated.

MINISTRY SERVICE

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of our ministry as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to our members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by us in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by the Scriptures and the doctrines of God.

BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

We believe that baptism is by immersion and that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of His suffering and death on the cross. These are ordinances to be observed, however they are not to be regarded as a means of salvation.