MINISTRY CARE STATEMENT OF FAITH
1. We believe the Bible to be the divinely inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God without error in the original writings (2nd Timothy 3:15-17). The Bible is the final authority on all matters of faith and practice (Hebrews 4:12; 2nd Peter 1:20,21).
2. There is one true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4), Who is perfect in all His attributes. God is one, but exists in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14) - each possessing all the attributes of deity and deserving of our worship and obedience. In the beginning God created the universe and everything in it out of nothing. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence, He is operating throughout history to fulfill his plan of redemption.
3. We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, sinless in His life, making reconciliation possible between God and man by His death on the cross (Matthew 1:23-25; John 10:15; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 2:24). We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His high priestly intercession for His people, and His personal, visible return to the world according to His promise (John 10:3, 1st Timothy 2:5-6, 2nd Corinthians 15:3-4, Titus 2:13).
4. We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from God to convict the world of sin, righteousness and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is a divine person, coequal with the Father and the Son in all the divine attributes (Matthew 28:19; 1st Corinthians 12:4-6; 2nd Corinthians 13:14). He convicts the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need for a Savior and offers them new life in Christ. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer and equips him or her for personal growth and service to the church (John 16:7-9; Acts 2:38; 1st Corinthians 12:13; 2nd Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22).
5. We believe that all men are sinners and fall short of the glory of God, but that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). We believe, therefore, that those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior and live according to His will, will rejoice forever in God’s presence. However, those who refuse to accept Christ as Savior will be forever separated from God. The salvation of humankind, therefore, is completely a work of God’s free grace, not the result of human works or goodness. This salvation is a gift, made available through faith in Jesus Christ and Him only (John 1:12; John 10:18-27; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1st Peter 1:18-19).
6. All Christians are part of one united spiritual body, the church (Ephesians 4:4), the bride of Christ (2nd Corinthians 11:2), of which Christ is the head (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18). We believe a visible church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ who have expressed their faith by obedience to Jesus’ command of Matthew 28:16-20 and walk in newness of life and associated worship, work, and fellowship. We believe those visible congregations are committed for observance “till He comes” the ordinances of baptism (immersion), the Lord’s Supper, and that God has laid upon these congregations the task of persuading a lost world to accept Jesus as Savior and to enthrone Him as Lord and Master. We believe that betterment and social improvement are essential by-products of the Gospel.
Wherever God’s people meet regularly, this is the local expression of the church (Acts 20:17; Galatians 1:2; Hebrews 10:25). Under the protection and oversight of elders (Acts 20:28), its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 3:21).
2. There is one true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4), Who is perfect in all His attributes. God is one, but exists in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14) - each possessing all the attributes of deity and deserving of our worship and obedience. In the beginning God created the universe and everything in it out of nothing. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence, He is operating throughout history to fulfill his plan of redemption.
3. We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, sinless in His life, making reconciliation possible between God and man by His death on the cross (Matthew 1:23-25; John 10:15; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 2:24). We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His high priestly intercession for His people, and His personal, visible return to the world according to His promise (John 10:3, 1st Timothy 2:5-6, 2nd Corinthians 15:3-4, Titus 2:13).
4. We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from God to convict the world of sin, righteousness and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is a divine person, coequal with the Father and the Son in all the divine attributes (Matthew 28:19; 1st Corinthians 12:4-6; 2nd Corinthians 13:14). He convicts the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need for a Savior and offers them new life in Christ. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer and equips him or her for personal growth and service to the church (John 16:7-9; Acts 2:38; 1st Corinthians 12:13; 2nd Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22).
5. We believe that all men are sinners and fall short of the glory of God, but that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). We believe, therefore, that those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior and live according to His will, will rejoice forever in God’s presence. However, those who refuse to accept Christ as Savior will be forever separated from God. The salvation of humankind, therefore, is completely a work of God’s free grace, not the result of human works or goodness. This salvation is a gift, made available through faith in Jesus Christ and Him only (John 1:12; John 10:18-27; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1st Peter 1:18-19).
6. All Christians are part of one united spiritual body, the church (Ephesians 4:4), the bride of Christ (2nd Corinthians 11:2), of which Christ is the head (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18). We believe a visible church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ who have expressed their faith by obedience to Jesus’ command of Matthew 28:16-20 and walk in newness of life and associated worship, work, and fellowship. We believe those visible congregations are committed for observance “till He comes” the ordinances of baptism (immersion), the Lord’s Supper, and that God has laid upon these congregations the task of persuading a lost world to accept Jesus as Savior and to enthrone Him as Lord and Master. We believe that betterment and social improvement are essential by-products of the Gospel.
Wherever God’s people meet regularly, this is the local expression of the church (Acts 20:17; Galatians 1:2; Hebrews 10:25). Under the protection and oversight of elders (Acts 20:28), its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 3:21).