statement 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.
II Peter 1:20-21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31-32; Acts 20:32
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.
Genesis 1:1,26; John 1:1,3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19-20; Ephesians 4:5-6
God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom,
power and love. We believe that God exhaustively knows all things; past, present and
future, and rules over them. 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.
Luke 10:21-22; Matthew 23:9, John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1Timothy 1:1-2; 2:5-6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6
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.
Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; 8:46; II Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30-31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9-10; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16
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 Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
John 14:16-17; 15:26-27; John 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26
Regeneration
We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under
condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as
Savior (have been) regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3; Genesis 2:17; 3:19; Ecclesiastes 2:11; John 3:14; 5:42; 5:30; 7:13; 8:12; 10:26; Romans 9:22; II Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 19:3,20; 20:10; 14:15; 21:18; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14;Romans 3:19; 5:19; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9; John 3:16; John 1:13; II Corinthians 5:15; Romans 8:1
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 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 of glorifying God by carrying out the
great command and the great commission of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost
world.
Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25
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. We believe that each life from conception to
natural death is of great value and that we should strive for the dignity, respect and
protection of each life.
1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-3; Hebrews 12:1-2; John 14;15,23-24; 1 John 2:3-5; II Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 1:9-10
Marriage
We believe that marriage was divinely ordained to be the lifelong and exclusive union of one man and one woman, and these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and likeness of God. (Gen 1:26-28) We affirm that the Scriptures prohibit all sexual intimacy outside of this biblical, marital relationship. We believe that God created both male and female, and that he designed gender distinctions between men and women, including the biblically-defined and distinctive roles of husband and wife. Since biological gender distinctions are rooted in divine order, changing or disguising one’s inherited sex (and correlated gender) reflective of this order, transgresses God’s design.
Genesis 1:27-28, 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-9; Mark 10:5-9; Romans 1:26-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 18-20, 7:1-3,8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:31-33
Men and Women in Ministry
We believe the Scripture teaches that men and women are of equal value before
God. We believe the Scripture teaches that both men and women have important
roles to play in advancing the gospel and glorifying God. We believe that the Scripture
teaches that although we are all part of one body we have various gifts. We believe
that the Bible teaches that God created men and women equal but he also created
them different. We believe that the differences between men and women are a good
and beautiful thing. We believe that the Scripture teaches that many tasks can be
done by either a woman or a man but that certain tasks are only for men and certain
tasks are only for women. We believe that Scripture teaches that men are to be the
spiritual leaders of the home and the church.
Gen. 1:26-28, Gal. 3:28, I Cor. 12, Eph. 5: 21-33, I Timothy 2: 8-15, I Pet. 3:1-7, I Cor. 11:1-16, 14: 26-35
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 commemoration of His death. We believe that
these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-26
Religious Liberties
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God; that each church is
independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political
authority, that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different
functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage (the power to
appoint people to positions) of the other.
I Timothy 2:5; Romans 14:7-9,12
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 like wise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a
voluntary independent basis.
Acts 15:36,41; 16:5; I Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4,10,11
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 (joy, bliss, happiness) of the righteous, and the endless
suffering of the wicked.
Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; I Thessalonians 4:15; II Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 4:5; I Corinthians 15; II Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15