What We Believe
The Church
The church is the body of baptized believers, who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel. The church is the expression of God's Kingdom on earth. The local church is to follow the teachings of the New Testament in doctrine, worship, and practice. The church observes two ordinances: baptism (by immersion) and the Lord's Supper (the symbolic and memorial of the body and blood of Jesus). The church can be thought of us as the body, the building, and the bride of Christ. The church is subject to the authority of the Word of God and receives illumination from the Holy Spirit. the head of the church is Jesus Christ. The pastor is the under-shepherd and the deacons are ministers (1 Peter 2:9-10). The members are expected to support the church in tithes and offerings, faithful attendance in Bible study and worship, service in ministries, and holiness of living. We expect our members to abstain from gambling, use of alcohol, sexual activity outside the marriage union, pornography, gossiping, disunity, or any other activity that would dishonor the Lord Jesus and His church in this world (1 Peter 1:13-16).
The Word
We believe the Bible is the verbally-inspired Word of God. It is inerrant and infallible. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without error for its matter. It is sufficient as our rule of faith and practice. It is God's complete revelation (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
The Trinity
We believe in the One True and Living God. He is eternal and He is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is the head of the Godhead, the Son is the promised Messiah, and the Holy Spirit is the comforter sent to convict, guide, teach, and strengthen (Matthew 3:13-17).
Jesus
We believe Jesus is the Savior, who was born of the virgin Mary. He is the sinless God-man. He died on the cross to redeem man, rose from the dead in victory to justify the believer, ascended to the right hand of the Father where He intercedes for us, and one day He will return personally and visibly to judge the world. He is the only Savior from sin (Matthew 1:20-21; Luke 1:29-33; John 1:1,14; John 14:1-6; Acts 1:11).
Man
We believe that man was created innocent but willingly chose to sin after being tempted by Satan. Since that time, men have been born in sin and by nature the children of wrath. Sin is rebellion against God and the result of sin is death and hell (Romans 3:10, 23; Ephesians 2:1-3).
God's Love and Grace
The Bible affirms that God is love. It is because of this love He chose to save His children by grace. God's love is not like man's love, which is conditional in nature and earthly in perspective. John 3:1 tells us that His love is not of this world. It is not dependent upon circumstances. The unique feature of this love is that it is directed toward the unlovely and undeserving; and it is issued without any love in return. God's grace is that love which is directed toward the guilty. We receive that which we do not deserve by grace. Grace can be described as God's free saving act. It is unmerited and flows down from heaven to sinful man to lift him to the heavenlies with Jesus Christ. Therefore, man is not saved by any action of his own, his merits, or by his good works. Man is saved by grace. Because man is saved by grace, not works and as a gift from God (Eph 2:8-9), man cannot lose his salvation. He is eternally secure through grace. Furthermore, saved man will persevere in his faith (John 3:16; 5:24;10:27-30; Romans 6:23; Eph 1:13; 2:8-9; 4:30; 1 John 3:16).
Missions and Evangelism
We believe the primary task of the church is to be involved in the work of evangelism - local and abroad. When a church loses her vision for winning the lost and pulls back from missions, that church will soon die. Nothing brings and keeps excitement in the church as seeing people saved, baptized, and growing in the Lord (Matthew 28:18-20; John 20-21; Acts 1:8.)
