THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
We believe in the verbal/plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, and that they are inerrant in the original manuscripts and are the supreme and final authority in faith and life. (II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:19-21; Hebrews 4:12)
THE TRIUNE GOD
We believe in one God revealed in three co-equal distinct persons; God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit as affirmed in the Nicene Creed. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; Ephesians 2:18; John 4:24)
THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe in the deity and humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, fully God and fully Man, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory. (Matthew 17:5; Matthew 1:18, I John 3:5; Matthew 11:5; Romans 5:8; Matthew 28:6; Mark 16:19; Revelation 20:6; I Thessalonians 4:14-17).
THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the separate and distinct personality of the Holy Spirit and that His ministry is to reveal Jesus Christ to men, to convict of sin, to regenerate repentant sinners, and to sanctify lives of the redeemed by His presence and power. The Spirit brings the permanent indwelling presence of God to us for spiritual worship, growth, and maturity, for building up the Church, gifting us for ministry, and to evangelize the world through proclaiming the Word of Jesus and doing the works of Jesus. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and the He is our abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. We believe in a further empowering of the Holy Spirit, often a conscious experience, for ministry today.We believe in the full operation and gifts of the Holy Spirit. (John 16:13; John 15:26; John 16:8, 9; Titus 3:5,6; II Thessalonians 2:13; I Cor. 12; John 7:37-39; Matt. 3:11-12; Acts 1:4,5,8; Acts 2:1-21).
THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but by willful transgression became sinful and is justly under the condemnation and wrath of Almighty God. (Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:13; Romans 3:23).
THE WAY OF SALVATION
We believe that the necessary and only terms of salvation are repentance towards God from sin and a personal heartfelt faith in the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ which results in regeneration. This salvation is entirely by grace and not by works. (Romans 5:1; Acts 3:19-20; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8, 9).
THE CHURCH
We believe the Church is Christ’s spiritual body on the earth today. It consists of born-again believers and has both universal and local expressions. (1 Corin. 12:1-3; 1 Tim 3:15; Ephesians 5:27)
THE CHURCH GATHERED & SCATTERED
In obedience to Scripture, and in continuing what the church has done throughout the centuries, we gather together on the first day of the week to publicly worship the risen Lord, hear the preaching of the word, share in the ordinances of the church, as well as gather in smaller groups throughout the week for prayer, community and deeper study of the scriptures (1 Corin. 16:2, Acts 20:7, 1 Tim. 4:13; 1 Corin 11:17-33. Acts 2:42). On a daily basis the church scatters throughout our communities as ambassadors and witnesses of the Good News of Jesus through spoken word and by living a daily life which exalts the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 10: 42; Matthew 5: 16; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 28:19, 20).
THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
We believe that Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the only scriptural ordinances of the Church. We believe that Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; symbolizing the essential facts in redemption - the death, burial, and resurrection to newness of life. (Matthew 3:13-17; Romans 6:3-5). We believe that the Lord's Supper is in memory of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. The elements symbolize the broken body and shed blood of Christ at Calvary. They are to be partaken of after solemn self examination, at regular intervals by all members of the Church. (Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:13-22; I Corinthians 11:23-29).
BIBLICAL MARRIAGE
We believe that God created mankind in His image. He created male and female for the purpose of glorifying His name through the institution of marriage. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as a foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. It is inconsistent with God’s will for a follower of Christ to live in a way that dishonors God’s original intent of one man married to one woman for life. Therefore, we will not conduct or host wedding ceremonies that are inconsistent with scripture. (Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:18; Matthew 19:4-9; Ephesians 5:31-33)
THE RETURN OF CHRIST AND THE AGE TO COME
We believe that Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly, in power and glory, to consummate his final defeat over Satan, his demons, and over all sin and death in this world. Upon Christ’s return, the dead will be raised to final judgement - for those who believe, to everlasting life, and for those who do not, eternal conscious punishment. Finally, in this age to come God will be all in all and His kingdom, His rule and reign, will be fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth, recreated by His mighty power, in which righteousness dwells and in which He will forever be worshipped.
(Mark 14:62; Acts 1:8-11; Matt. 28:20; Mark 13:21-23; 1 John 2:18; 4:1-3; Luke 12:32; Rev. 21:1-5; II Pet. 3:13; Matt. 28:18)
Women in Ministry
For our views of women in ministry, please click here.