What We Believe
OUR AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
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 concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal visible return to earth.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit - who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
The Church
We believe in the universal church - a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task for giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
Christian Conduct
We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellowmen, that his conduct should be blameless before the world, that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions, and that he should seek to realize for himself and 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 Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into 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 that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Religious Liberty
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God alone in all matters of faith, that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority, and therefore, that Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions - each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
Church Cooperation
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis.
The Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of his kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
OUR CHURCH COVENANT
Having been led by the Holy Spirit of God to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and to confess Him as Lord, and on confession of this faith having been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully covenant with one another as one body in Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit , to strive to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, with Jesus Christ as our model. We promise, by the Holy Spirit's power, to forsake the ways of sin, to walk together in Christian love in the paths of righteousness, and to avoid every form of evil.
We will strive to give and receive admonition and correction with meekness and affection. We will also strive to be slow to take offense, and always be ready for reconciliation, and being mindful of the scriptures (especially Matthew 18) to seek it without delay. With this in view, we will strive together for peace and purity within the church - supporting its worship, ordinances, doctrines, and discipline.
We will also strive together, as faithful stewards, to contribute our time, talent, and money, in the measure that God prospers each of us, so that the work of the church and the world-wide ministry of spreading the Gospel will be faithfully and effectively accomplished. We will strive to maintain spiritual disciplines in our personal and family life. We will seek to honor Jesus Christ in all that we do and to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26)
Finally, we will strive to encourage one another in the faith that we share and in the blessed hope of our Lord's return.
The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
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 concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal visible return to earth.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit - who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
The Church
We believe in the universal church - a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task for giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
Christian Conduct
We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellowmen, that his conduct should be blameless before the world, that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions, and that he should seek to realize for himself and 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 Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into 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 that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Religious Liberty
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God alone in all matters of faith, that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority, and therefore, that Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions - each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
Church Cooperation
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis.
The Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of his kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
OUR CHURCH COVENANT
Having been led by the Holy Spirit of God to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and to confess Him as Lord, and on confession of this faith having been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully covenant with one another as one body in Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit , to strive to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, with Jesus Christ as our model. We promise, by the Holy Spirit's power, to forsake the ways of sin, to walk together in Christian love in the paths of righteousness, and to avoid every form of evil.
We will strive to give and receive admonition and correction with meekness and affection. We will also strive to be slow to take offense, and always be ready for reconciliation, and being mindful of the scriptures (especially Matthew 18) to seek it without delay. With this in view, we will strive together for peace and purity within the church - supporting its worship, ordinances, doctrines, and discipline.
We will also strive together, as faithful stewards, to contribute our time, talent, and money, in the measure that God prospers each of us, so that the work of the church and the world-wide ministry of spreading the Gospel will be faithfully and effectively accomplished. We will strive to maintain spiritual disciplines in our personal and family life. We will seek to honor Jesus Christ in all that we do and to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26)
Finally, we will strive to encourage one another in the faith that we share and in the blessed hope of our Lord's return.