Mission and Vision Statement
We believe that God commands the blessing of life upon His people gathering in unity. According to Psalm 133, this requires maturity, humility, preference, and above all, love. His church is comprised of diverse members that come together to form His Body (Ep. 4:16). We believe that every joint supplies and that every member fits perfectly in establishing His Kingdom on earth.
According to Matthew 24:14, we believe that the true gospel of the kingdom of God will be preached and demonstrated before His coming. We expect that Jesus’ return for His church will look more like a wedding procession than a rescue mission. He is coming back for a spotless and sanctified bride (Ep. 5:27). This infers His bride will walk and shine in glistering white garments, not hobble along in tattered and torn attire.
We believe that the saints are to be equipped to look, act and be like Jesus through the “five-fold ministry” (Ep. 4:11). These God graced leaders, who function differently by design, work synergistically to perfect the church for the work of the ministry. Some of these leaders form the government of the church, which are known as the elders (overseers) and deacons (helps). Rather than a sole leader (senior pastor), we believe that Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, and He expresses Himself through these leaders coming together as one (1st Pe. 5:1-4, Ac. 20:17, Ac. 20:28).
Core Tenants of Faith
We believe:
God predates all existence, and that He alone made all things (Ge. 1:1; Jn. 1:1-4).
God is One, yet He is revealed in three distinct Persons. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Ep. 4:6; De. 6:4; 2 Co. 13:14).
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, infallible, and the final authority (2 Ti. 3:16; 2 Pe. 1:20-21).
Jesus Christ is Lord and that through His obedient, righteous and perfect death, all power and authority was given to Him in heaven and earth. Therefore, His Name was and is exalted over every other name. (Mt. 28:18; Ep. 1:21; Ph. 2:6-1).
Mankind fell due to sin and is currently a fallen creature in need of redemption. Contrary to the belief that there are “good people” in this world, humanity is sinful to their core (Ro 3:10; Ps. 51:5). All were born in sin and therefore must be born again (Ge. 2:9, 3:7; Jn. 3). This is done through wholeheartedly believing, accepting, trusting and acting upon our faith in the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross (Ac. 2:38; Ro. 10:9-10).
Righteousness is a God-given gift to us through Jesus’ finished works (Ro. 3:22-24, 5:17, 6:23).
Water baptism is an ordinance and commandment of Jesus Christ (Mt 28:19; Mk. 16:16). There is great spiritual significance in water baptism, and according to Jesus, is required for salvation. Salvation’s goal is not about getting to heaven; instead, it is about showing forth heaven through a believer on earth. Therefore, water baptism is essential in showing that heavenly kingdom through a totally surrendered vessel. However, we do not believe in baptismal regeneration in and of itself, or a “completion” to salvation after believing in our hearts and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord. Nevertheless, water baptism saves us by granting us a good conscience towards God, which in turn allows us to live free from the past Jesus himself buried and remembers no longer (1st Peter 3:21, Hebrews 8:12). Noah’s flood and the Israelite’s exodus from Egypt are two powerful illustrations of how water destroyed evil, in order to make way for a new beginning.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate instance in the believer’s walk apart from the initial conversion (Jn. 20:22; Ac. 1:4,8). This baptism enables the believer to walk in holy boldness and mighty power from on high.
The full expression of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not only for today, but imperative to fulfill His Great Commission here on earth. This includes, but is not limited to, speaking in various tongues. (Ac. 2:3-4, 10:46, 19:6; 1 Co. 12, 14).
Divine healing is the right of every believer in Christ through Jesus’ atonement on the cross (Is. 53:4-5; Mt. 8:17; 1 Pe. 2:24). It is without question that God is the Author of Life, and the devil the author of destruction.
To preach the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, (most commonly known as the “Great Commission”), is the heavenly mandate for ALL believers (Mt. 28:18-20).
Heaven and Hell are eternal and are the future destinations of believers (heaven) and unbelievers (hell) (He. 9:27; Re. 20:11-15, 21:1-8).
Code of Doctrine and Discipline
God
We believe:
God is three distinct Persons, as found in Scripture, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:26, Matthew 28:19, 1st Corinthians 12:4-6, 2nd Corinthians 13:14)
Everything that came to be, both the visible, and the invisible, was a direct result of God’s power and existence alone. He is the source of all life. (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-3, Romans 1:20, Hebrews 2:10)
Jesus Christ was given to save us from our sin and is the only way to the Father. (John 3:16, 14:6)
Jesus, (Emmanuel, God with us), was/is the Word made flesh. Jesus was/is God incarnate. (Isaiah 7:14, John 1:14, 1st Timothy 3:16)
Through His exaltation, Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father in His throne. (Philippians 2:9)
Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected from the dead three days later. (Acts 2:2-6)
Jesus showed Himself alive after His crucifixion for forty days with many infallible proofs. (Acts 1:3)
Jesus ascended to heaven by the Holy Ghost ten days before Pentecost. (Acts 1:2, 9-11)
Jesus was born from a virgin, conceived by the Holy Ghost, was sinless, and grew in stature and favor with God and man. (Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:35, Hebrews 4:15, Luke 2:52)
Jesus was fully God, and fully man. Therefore, only He was able to redeem mankind back to God after man had sinned. It was appointed for man once to die, so Jesus died in our place that we may forever live with Him. (Philippians 2:6-8, Hebrews 1:4-5, 8, 2:5-9)
Salvation
It is faith in Christ alone that regenerates a heart, and in turn we are baptized in water and filled with the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill the great commission. As Jesus’ disciples were told to wait for the Promise of the Father before preaching the gospel after His ascension, so do we believe that we are to be empowered to be His witnesses by the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 1:8)
Due to sin, everyone born on earth must be born again in order to inherit the kingdom of God. (John 3:3, 5-8)
It is by grace through faith that we are saved. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Jesus forgave the sins of the world through His death burial and resurrection (1st John 2:2). However, it is incumbent upon the individual to come to faith in Jesus’ finished works personally. Only through the gospel being preached, and being drawn by the Holy Ghost, can a person receive this free gift. There is no religion in and of itself, nor church or institution, nor any man or mediator besides Jesus Himself, that can ensure our salvation. Upon this individual confessing Christ as Lord, and through their full and complete trust in Him alone, this individual will transfer from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. They will transfer from death unto life. This, according to the Bible, constitutes salvation. (Romans 10:9-17)
Evangelism/Discipleship
We are commissioned to preach the gospel of Jesus, the good news to all men, that Jesus Christ has reconciled us back to the Father, and has granted us peace with God. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Ephesians 2:14, Romans 5:1)
We are called to baptize believers in water, in the likeness of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. (Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:19, John 3:22-23)
According to Scripture, believers are to be filled with the Promise of the Father, which is the baptism in the Holy Ghost, which we believe to be separate from salvation. (Acts 1:4-5, 8, 2:4, 17-21, 33)
We are called to disciple all nations and have the vested right by God to freely teach and preach this good news to all the world. This entails implementing Scripture as the basis of all godly living. (Matthew 28:18-20, 2nd Timothy 3:16-17)
A plurality of leaders having hand in thoroughly equipping a believer for the work of the ministry is vital. As a gym has unique machines in which to benefit the body of the user, so does the church of God have unique ministers in which to properly build each body member. We believe the mandate of the church, as set forth by God Himself, is to establish the kingdom of God on the earth. In order to do so, the body of Christ must have the proper diet, and the proper exercise routine. In turn, the body will be healthy, strengthened, and fit for ministry. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Unity amongst the brethren is essential for healthy development and is in harmony with the very heartbeat of God. (Ephesians 2:1-5, Psalms 133)
Elders, deacons, gifts, helps, and various instrumental positions within the church are vital for the individual believer’s success. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon the disciples themselves to adhere to the sound doctrine and wise counsel administered. (Ephesians 4:11-16, 1st Corinthians 12:1-31)
Daily Life
As food and water is naturally required each day, so much more do we as believer’s need God’s Word each day. The Bible is meant to be read by the individual daily. This can never be replaced with teaching alone. Teachers are given by the Lord to encourage believers to read for themselves. (2nd Timothy 2:15, Ephesians 4:11)
Believers are to conduct themselves on earth as befitting to the kingdom of God. We are ambassadors of heaven, and are expected to exemplify the heart, character, nature and will of God to all men. For this cause are we on the earth: to let our light shine and to glorify our Father in heaven. (1st Timothy 6:6, 2nd Corinthians 5:20, Matthew 5:16, 1st Thessalonians 5:18, 22)
Christ's Return
Jesus will return once again to the earth at the hour appointed. (Acts 1:11, Luke 12:40, 18:8, Acts 1:6-7)
For those in Christ, there will be a joyous wedding feast upon His return. For those who rebel, and reject Christ, there will be eternal separation from God. This, the Bible describes as Hell. (Revelation 19:7-9, Matthew 25:41, 46)
