Ministry Statement of Faith
Our ministry statement of faith, though not exhaustive, is based on God’s word alone. We have prayerfully put this statement together with the goal of giving the reader what they need to be satisfied. Enjoy.
We believe the Bible, as originally given, is God’s “word” (communication to us) written by men but directed and inspired by God through the Holy Spirit; and as such is true, without error and authoritative in its content with matters of faith and life. (See 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Matt. 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; John 17:17, Psalm 119:105; James 1:22 and 2 Peter 1:20,21.)
We believe that God is a triune being and that while being one in essence He is three in persons – so thus is a collective “One” and the one and only God. (Deut. 6:4 “one”/echad plurality in unity; Isaiah 46:9; Matt. 3:16-17 and John 14:16)
God, The Father
We believe that God the Father is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power. He is both our God and our heavenly Father. God the Father showed His love for all people by sending His Son (loving us enough to lay His own life down) to die for our sins so that we might have eternal life with God in Heaven. (Luke 18:27; John 3:16-17,34; 4:34; 5:30;6:38; Romans 11:33; Gal. 4:4; 1 Peter 1:16; 1 John 4:7-10,14; Revelation 4:8.)
Jesus, the Son
We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, very God Himself. He became completely man when He, Christ, was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless life and willingly chose to die, in cooperation with the Father’s will and Spirit’s empowerment, as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people. He was bodily resurrected from the dead and appeared to many people.
Jesus now sits at the “right hand of God” (the highest place of honor and power), interceding/mediating for the sins of His people (those who accepted him as Savior and Lord). He will come to receive His own unto Himself as well as coming in glory to rule, reign and righteously judge all people based on their acceptance or rejection of Him and their life lived. Jesus is the only way to bridge the relational gap from sin – between God and people, thus He is the only way to have a relationship with God now, and eternal life with God in heaven. (Matthew 16:16,17 and 25:31-46; Mark 14:61,62; Luke 1:34,35 and 2:7 and 4:14; John 1:1 and 1:14 and 5:22-30 and 10:30 and 14:3,6; Acts 4:12; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Hebrews 4:15; 9:24; 1 Peter 2:22-24; Jn. 6:38; 1Jn 2:1 and 1 Tim. 2:5.)
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God (part of the triune God) convicting of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit of God is received as a seal when someone repents of their life of selfish sin and gives their life to Jesus, trusting Him to make them right with God. God’s holy Spirit (God the Holy Spirit), secondarily, also equips God’s people with power for life and ministry, gives gifts of His choosing and fruit/proof of His character shaping presence in their life. This movement of power the Holy Spirit does with the life of the believer is in proportion with the believers lived out priority to not only yield but partner with the Spirit’s influence in their life.
The Holy Spirit’s power is available and necessary to enable Christians to live a Christ-like life (as God leads them). The Holy Spirit is not only our pledge (“down-payment”) of eternal life but also the One is sent by God (the Father/Jesus) as our helper as He guides us into all truth. (1 Corinthians 12:11;2 Cor. 1:22; 2 Corinthians 3:16-18; John 14:16 and 16:8-11; Acts 2:38 and 5:32 and 19:1-5; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:16-26; 1 John 3:24; 1 Peter 1:2 and Matthew 28:19).
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
We believe that there is an ongoing practical need and a Biblical precedence, directive and context, for the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (as perfection has not yet come and we are commanded not to forbid, but rather embrace them, etc.). In fact there is a crucial relationship between God’s Word, and both the gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit of God (which really is just biblical character in the heart and life of the believer. In short, a Christ-likeness). This (fruit of the Spirit) biblical character and God’s Word helps to prevent the abuse of the gifts in life and ministry.
The fruit of the Spirit is to govern how the gifts of the Spirit are employed and as always following the lead of God in each and all situations seeming to be necessitating them or not. Anything that we say and do must be done for the glory of God and the good of the people receiving and it must be done in the order and manner as prescribed in the Lord’s Word. (1 Cor. 12,13 and 14; Eph. 4:29; Romans 13:10; Col.3:17; 1 Cor. 10:31; 1Jn 4:1; Matt.7:15 and 17:15-20; 1Thess. 5:20 and 2 Peter 2:1).
Water Baptism
We believe that water baptism is an important part of every Christian life as it is exampled and commanded by God in scripture. Water baptism is part of us communicating our testimony both symbolically and literally of our passing from death to life…from selfishness to selflessness…it is both a testimonial and evangelistic expression not only of the truth of the gospel but an illustration of Christian faith, discipleship and life based not only in truth but lived out reality. Also our Master has asked/commanded this of us … what else matters (Lk. 3:21-22; 1 Pet. 3:21; Acts 2:38-41; 10:48; 22:16; 31-33; Col. 2:12; Lk. 3:16; Mk 16:16; 28:19-20 and Lk. 6:46).
The creation, fall and redemption of man
We believe that mankind was created in the image and likeness of God and given rule over all the earth. Man, in selfish deviance, forfeited everything and fell short of the glory of God thus breaking the intimacy of relationship with Him. Man marred everything, damning themselves, when they chose to disobey God in spite of warnings regarding the consequences for doing so.
As a result; sorrow, pain, death and all that is “not good” came into existence. This “result” was not God’s intention nor initial desire (and therefore not His fault). All who’ve lived since have also committed selfish treason and sinned for which the penalty is death. However, God wants none to perish & so made a way through the life, death and resurrection of Christ, for us to be saved. Only through repenting of deviance from God, trusting in Jesus as Savior, by acknowledging His Lordship of your life and living your life for Him can you be with God in Heaven. Unfortunately, those who reject or ignore Jesus Christ will suffer God’s wrath for their sins and will suffer eternally in Hell…though it breaks the heart of God. (Gen. 1:26,27; Matt. 25:31-46; Rom. 3:23 & 6:23; 2 Thess.1:5-10; Rev. 20:11-15; 22:3-5 and Ez. 18:23.)
Life after death We believe there shall be a bodily resurrection of the just unto life and eternal reward ( and so we will ever be with the Lord) and for the unjust a resurrection unto judgment and eternal punishment. (1 Thessalonians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 and John 5:29;12:26).
Salvation
We believe that true Salvation is only possible within the context that God (the Granter of salvation) has set for it, which is His prerogative. The truth of the gospel (the truth about both God and man) must be understood and willingly partnered with/acted on by the one desiring salvation (John 14:6). Meaning person(s) must understand, believe and act on the biblical truth of:
Who and What God is (loving and righteous God, maker of heaven and earth and all in it, that is incompatible with anything deviant from Him). (Psalm 146:6; Col. 1:16; Hab. 1:13 and Psalm 24:3)
Their own humanity (born and living broken, selfish, lost – separated from God and deserving eternal punishment and so in need of saving) (Psalm 51:5; 58:3; Gen. 8:21; Rom. 3:23; Jer. 17:9 and Ezk. 18:4).
Who and What Jesus is (God the Son come in the flesh to give us the truth of the gospel, show us how to live and to take our punishment for our sin) (1 John 4:2; John 1:14; Lk. 4:43; Jn 12:27 and Is. 53:10).
What does this accomplish?
What God has accomplished through Christ through His sinless humanity and his dying in our place to absorb our punishment Himself, being risen from the dead to present us justified (Col 2:14-15; 1 Pet. 2:24 and Eph. 2:6)
Christ as our Saviour is the ONLY way to be reconciled back into God’s family (Acts 4:12 and Jn. 14:6).
What about sin?
How selfishness leads to sin which then leads to death (James 1:15; 4:1; Lk. 6:45; Prov. 23:7; Matt. 15:19 and Prov. 4:23)
If we “repent” (acknowledge our sinfulness of life, choices and turn our whole life away from that kind of selfish life) and turn to Christ – believing/trusting in Christ and His finished work alone to be saved, we must ask Him to make us free and clean and to return us to His family. We surrender to God asking to be forgiven and sealed for Him and Heaven and acknowledge Him verbally (sharing with someone the decision made to live for Christ), as the leader of our life…asking for His power through His Holy Spirit to live for Him, then we will be saved. (1Jn. 1:9; 2 Chron. 7:14; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 2 Cor. 7:10; Mk. 1:15; Prov. 28:13 and Ezk.18:21-24; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:9; Mt. 10:33 and Acts 16:31 ).
Living out our salvation
Salvation, legitimately, isn’t just a one time decision and prayer but is also something that must be lived out daily. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we then partner with God, living the life for which we were created. We do this through pursuing a relationship/friendship with God through which we are changed as we obey His life changing love and are lead (by His Spirit and His Word) in our life. While salvation is a gift from God, He necessitates a partnering with Him by the person as they no longer live for themselves, but for Him Who died and rose again; in this we are fruitful and God glorified and so then affirmed in Christ when we stand before the throne. (Heb. 11:6; Mt. 7:21; Mk. 7:6; Lk. 9:23; Psalm 27:8; Matt. 7:7-12; Isa. 55:6; Matt. 13:44; Jam. 2:14-26; John 15:8 and 2 Cor. 5:15).
The church
We believe the church is the people (individually and collectively from every tongue, tribe and nation) of God…not simply the organization, denomination nor building used. (1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Peter:2:4-5) The Church is a group of individuals who are legitimately born again, empowered and ongoingly changed by the Holy Spirit as they live in obedience to Him and so live increasingly fruitful lives that are a result of what only Christ can accomplish in a person’s life (2 Pt. 1:8; Php. 2:13 and Jn. 15:5). It is, when done God’s way, a living expression of God and His kingdom in society. The church family is to not only be to the glory of God, most importantly, but must also be a mutual resource for each one in it (Prov. 3:6; Matt. 12:28; Gen. 39:2 and 2 Cor. 8:14; Eph. 4:29)…to minister as needed.
We believe that, though not perfect, the church is beloved by Sovereignty and must be a safe place for each member to succeed and fail, grow and be equipped, being sharpened by others even as they sharpen others; where there is protection and healing within the partnering of both grace and truth (Eph. 4:15; Prov. 27:17).
More about the church
We believe there is a relationship between collective Christianity as well as individual Christianity. For example, one’s own daily life in Christ and their own personal journey of growth is part of the overall health of the church at large and in our community. The church is but a bunch of individuals gathered together to do on an occasion what the individual is to be doing always: pursuing Christ in relationship, worship, the Word and conversational prayer (1 Cor. 12:12,26) and ministry.
Though the church involves the people that are themselves blessed, the corporate church is where God’s family gathers to learn from, honor, glorify and “love on” God, making Him the point; and so become an atmosphere where God is pleased to move and inhabit. (Heb.2:12; Psalm22:22; Psalm 133:1 and Psalm 22:3)
How does the church affect society?
As is seen so often, when all of this and more is the DNA of the church, people also receive all that is theirs in Christ, that is to come through the corporate body (Psalm 37:4). The church, individually and collectively, must be effective in their community and areas of employ as well as circles of social influence viewing it all as their own personal mission field/ministry.
God has necessitated that as He is with us we are to be with others, through love and ministry, in relevance, accuracy and impacting. (Matt. 25:14-30; Col. 3:17,23; 2 Pt. 1:8; Lk.11:11 and 1 Cor. 10:31) At the same time we are in our being “other”/separated or singularly existing from a different plane of life DNA in our motives, words, thoughts and deeds as we are ambassadors in this place but living as strangers here… looking for the city whose maker is God…eternal in our very DNA (James 1:27; 1 Peter 4:4; Mk. 8:36; Matt. 5:16; Eph. 5:12; 1 peter 2:12; Heb. 11:10,16 and 1 Pt. 2:11-13).