What We Believe
We believe the scripture of the Old and New Testament to be the inspired Word of God, presenting to us the complete revelation of God’s will for the redemption of mankind, and constituting the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice. (II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:21)
We believe that God is a Trinity, in unity manifested in three persons: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17)
We believe that man is created in the image of God but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. (Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23)
We believe that salvation is made possible through the meritorious work of Jesus Christ on the cross and that we are saved by faith through God’s grace. (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9)
We believe that the true church is the body of Jesus Christ, Jesus himself being the head. It is made up of all true believers that witness a born again experience. (Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 2:19-22)
We believe that God calls men and women to serve in the five-fold ministry, and specifically endues the one called with the talents and abilities peculiar to that office. Under no circumstance should anyone be set apart to ministry unless the calling is distinct, evident, and confirmed by the Presbyter. (Ephesians 4:8-13)
We believe that water baptism is by immersion and is a direct commandment of the Lord for all believers. The ordinance is symbolic of our identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. (Matthew 29:19, Romans 6:4,Colossians 2:12)
We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God and is available to all believers. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a second work of grace received after salvation, the initial sign of which is speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance. (John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:4)
We believe that sanctification is a definite yet progressive work of grace in the life of a believer, beginning with the new birth and consummating at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (II Corinthians 3:18, II Peter 3:18, I Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 12:14)
We believe in the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. In a real way the presence and power of God is revealed in communion. We neither believe transubstantiation, nor consubstantiation, but believe the Lord is in the communion in a real and personal way being received by the believers. (I Corinthians 11:27)
We believe that healing is part of the atonement and can be appropriated by faith in Jesus redeeming work. (Acts 10:38, I Peter 2:24)
We believe in the resurrection of the just at the return of Christ. We further believe that the righteous dead is in the presence of God until the resurrection. (I Thessalonians 4:16-17, I Corinthians 5:8)
We believe in a visible return of Christ and a literal catching away of the church to meet the Lord in the air. Inasmuch as there is great dispute in the body of Christ concerning the actual placement of this event on the calendar of God, let it be stated that we believe in a pre-tribulation catching away of the elect. Let it further be stated that the doctrine of the rapture is not a point of fellowship in this church or in the body of Christ. (II Thessalonians 2:7, I Thessalonians 4:16-17)
We believe that one who dies without Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost, destined to literal hell with no further opportunity of repentance. (Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 19-20)
We believe in the tithe, recognizing that tithing existed before the law, and during the law, and after the law. Jesus Himself commended the tithe. The writer of Hebrews establishes the tithe as New Testament practice. Tithing is representative of our personal commitment to the Lord and is a reflection of our covenant relationship with Him. (Genesis 14:18-20, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 23:23, Hebrews 7:8)