Mission & Beliefs

In matters of faith that are essential there must be unity, in non-essentials we should allow liberty,
and in all things we should show charity toward others. In this spirit we are united in the following
"essential" affirmation:

The Word of God
We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as inspired of God and inerrant in the
original writings. This means that all facts that Scripture intends to affirm (e.g. theological,
doctrinal, historical, numerical, chronological, and scientific) are exempt from error in whole and in
part. The scriptures are the supreme and final authority in faith and life. By this we mean that the
spirit of God has exerted supernatural influence on all writers and that this guarantees the
trustworthiness of all their canonical writings.

The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are
equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of
creation, providence and redemption.

God the Father
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and
love. We believe that He hears and answers prayer, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the
affairs of mankind, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus
Christ.

Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, the second person of the Godhead, co-equal and co-eternal with God
the Father. Jesus is God's only begotten Son and was conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in
His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary, atoning
death; literal bodily resurrection; ascension into heaven; and perpetual intercession for His own
people.

The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, co-equal and co-eternal with God.
The Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and
judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, baptize, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We
believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ; that He is an abiding helper, teacher,
and guide; and that He gives gifts to every believer in order that they may serve God and redeem
mankind.

Regeneration
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and personal choice and are, therefore, under
condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as their
personal Savior are regenerated - born again - by the Holy Spirit. We believe that those thus saved
are justified, sanctified, sealed, and eternally secure by the grace and power of God.

The Church
We believe in the universal church, a spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated
persons are members by the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit of God. We believe in the local
church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of
faith, associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the local
church the primary task of cultivating caring communicators of Christ's love that they may be fully
equipped to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. We define success in evangelism as
taking the initiative, in response to and in the power of the Holy Spirit, to help a person move one
step closer in the process of coming to Christ. As such the Church takes on characteristics of a
hospital, mercy for the wounded and hurting with the goal of healing them through the renewal of
their mind and heart, and a combat unit, putting on the full armor, intent on saving souls. As such
we view hurting individuals and families as opportunities and not as problems.

Christian Conduct
We believe a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well being of fellow humans; be
blameless before the world in conduct; be a faithful steward of all time, talents and possessions;
and seek to realize, personally and for others, the full stature of maturity in Christ.

The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church, baptism
and the Lord's Supper. We believe that biblical baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in
the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for the
commemoration of His death. We believe these two ordinances should be observed and
administered until the return of Jesus Christ for His church.

Religious Liberty
We believe every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all
matters of faith. We believe that each church is independent and must be free from interference by
any ecclesiastical or political authority.

The Last Things
We believe in "that blessed hope" - the personal and imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ for His church. We believe in the great tribulation and the pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ
to the earth and the establishment of His Messianic kingdom. We believe in the final judgment, the
everlasting felicity of the righteous, and the everlasting, conscious punishment of the lost.