What We Believe

The Bible

We believe that the holy scriptures are the inerrant Word of God. All 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are inspired and God-breathed. God spoke and revealed Himself to writers long ago and through the Holy Spirit, God continues to speak to us through His Word. The Ten Commandments are foundational to moral understanding and identity. The Bible is our source of knowledge about God and truth for Christian theology and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

The Trinity

We believe God mysteriously exists in perfect community as three equal and fully divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each member of the Godhead has diverse roles, yet the same nature, characteristics and being. All three members of the Godhead were pre-existent and involved in the act of Creation and work together in perfect harmony as three in one. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are worthy of adoration, trust, and obedience. (Matthew 28:19-20; John 1:1-4; Genesis 1:1-2)

God the Father

We believe God the Father is the creator of the heavens, earth, and entire universe. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God has the whole world in His hands and yet desires to know each and every one of us as His children. (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3; John 1:12-13)

God the Son

We believe Jesus the Christ is uniquely God’s Son. He is 100% God and 100% human. He was born of the virgin Mary. He experienced the full gamut of the human experience. He was the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His victory over sin and death. He ascended to the right hand of God the Father in glory and will one day return to make all things new. (John 14:6; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 28:5-6; Luke 21:27; Revelation 21:5)

God the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is God with us here and now. He is not a thing or force. He is a person. He is our comforter, guide, advocate, and source of conviction. The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost and gave birth to the Church. He continually fills and empowers believers to be the hands and feet of Jesus. He produces fruit in our lives and grants gifts that equip the body to continue the work of God in the world as people give their lives to Christ and respond faith to the Gospel. We are to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit as we demonstrate His work in the world today. (Acts 2; John 16:7-11; Romans 8; Galatians 5:22; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Hebrews 2:4)

Salvation

We believe that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Our sin separates us from God. In our own power, we can never overcome sin. Jesus’ death on the cross was a sacrifice on our behalf to remove sin. His resurrection validates the payment made on Calvary so that we might be forgiven and reconciled to God. We are not saved by anything we do. It is by the grace of God. Repentance from our sins and belief in Jesus Christ are necessary for our salvation and receiving eternal life. (Romans 3:23; Romans 10:9-13; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; John 3:16)

Lordship

We believe that Jesus is the Lord of all creation. Each of us is to submit to his Lordship and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in all aspects of life. Lordship entails the submission of all believers to Christ as the head. We believe that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Each and every moment of every day is an opportunity to declare that Jesus is Lord. (Romans 14:8-9; Philippians 2:11)

Holiness

We believe we are called to be holy as the Lord our God is holy. We grow in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Each follower of Jesus goes through a process of sanctification. As we mature in faith, our love for God and for one another becomes more complete. We strive to be perfected in love., As we grow in our Christian faith, our desire to please God and live like Jesus grows as well. (Leviticus 19:2; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Heaven and Hell

We believe Heaven and Hell are real places in a different dimension in God’s creation. It is God’s desire that none should perish. God yearns for all humanity to spend eternity with Him. We will be judged and face an eternal destiny. God does not reject us but many persons reject God and choose to not be in a relationship with Him. We believe that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but spiritual forces of evil. We recognize that the devil, the Father of lies, works to steal, kill, and destroy. We believe that one day Christ will return in final victory to establish a new heaven and new earth when God’s kingdom, rule, and reign are fully established. (2 Peter 3:9; John 14:1-4, Ephesians 6:10-17; John 10:10; Revelation 20, 21)

The Church

We believe the Church is not a building. It is the body of Christ. Jesus is the head of the church. The church exists to love and adore God, make disciples in the name of Jesus, and share his love with all the world. It is the responsibility of the Church to share the good news of the gospel and to follow the guiding of the Holy Spirit as we build up the Kingdom of God. The truth of God’s Word is to be proclaimed as we strive to make the world a better place and have an impact on all aspects of society. (Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:18-20; John 13:34)

Grace

We believe that grace is the unmerited favor of God. It is extended as a continuum through our lives and through human history. God’s prevenient grace is extended to us long before we choose to follow Jesus. God woos us and prepares us to receive all He has for us. Justifying grace is the work that God does in us when we trust in Christ’s sacrificial work on Calvary and get restored to a right relationship with God. Sanctifying grace is the work the Holy Spirit continues to do in us as He molds and shapes us into the image of Christ. We are saved by grace and shaped by grace as we serve Christ. (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23; 1 Peter 1:16)

Communion

We believe communion is a re-enacted remembrance of the suffering and death of Christ. It is also a joyful celebration of His resurrection. We celebrate an “open table” — meaning that all who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, repent of their sin, and seek to follow him are welcome to participate in this sacrament in their journey to know Christ and make him known. (Luke 22:14-21)

Baptism

We believe that baptism is symbolic of adoption. God claims us as His children. Baptism is a means by which individuals can publicly acknowledge God’s work in their lives and demonstrate on the outside what God is accomplishing on the inside. Baptism is our response to God’s grace and a reminder that we are His children. We believe baptism may occur at any age. When infants or young children are baptized, parents pledge, with the congregation, to nurture the children with Christian care and teaching until they are old enough to confirm their faith for themselves. Adults make a public declaration for themselves and declare their intent to follow Jesus. Through the sacrament of baptism, we confess our sin, accept membership in the family of Christ, and vow to trust in and serve Jesus Christ.

The Brethren in Christ denomination does not practice infant baptism. They have believer baptism only. During our development as a congregation, we will need to engage in more conversation about baptism and when it will take place. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-39, Acts 16:15,33)

Women in Leadership

We believe that women are to be in ministry leadership at all levels of the church. We believe that women are to be involved in teaching, preaching, and pastoral ministry. There are examples of women taking on leadership roles in both the Old and New Testaments. Women were the first proclaimers of the gospel at the empty tomb at Christ’s resurrection. We celebrate the gifts that God gives to women and men to build God’s kingdom and spread scriptural holiness. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Ephesians 4:11-13, Galatians 3:28)

Congregational Affiliation

We believe that ministry is a shared experience with brothers and sisters in Christ from other faith communities. At this time, our congregation is independent and not aligned with any particular denomination or association. In order to keep his ministry credentials, Pastor John has joined the Global Methodist denomination as an ordained elder. We believe that before we take steps toward any particular denomination or independence, the congregation should go through a period of prayer, study, and discernment before choosing to remain independent, join a denomination, align with an association, or partner with a particular faith group. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Matt. 16:18, 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

Leadership

We believe that everything rises and falls on leadership. In order for the congregation to grow and make an impact for the kingdom of God, it must be led by faithful disciples who are committed to making disciples. Leaders must intentionally take the time to build relationships with those inside and outside the local congregation. Leaders must also be engaged in acts of service to engage in community transformation and discipleship development. (Matthew 20:26-28, Luke 12:48, Acts 20:28, Ephesians 4:11-13)