Statement of Faith

The Bible:

We believe that the Bible is God's inspired Word, that it was written by men whom the Holy Spirit led, and that it is the supreme, infallible authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Mark 7:6-13; Acts 5:29)

The Trinity:

We believe that there is only one true God, the triune God of the Bible, eternally existing as three coequal but distinct Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 1:1-2, 14; John 10:30; 14:15-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14)God the Father: We believe that God the Father is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power. We rejoice 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 faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:15-16; Jeremiah 10:12; Ephesians 2:4-5; Isaiah 65:24; Hebrews 7:25)

God the Father:

We believe that God the Father is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power. We rejoice 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 faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:15-16; Jeremiah 10:12; Ephesians 2:4-5; Isaiah 65:24; Hebrews 7:25)

God the Son:

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, of virgin birth, sinless in His life, and making atonement for the sins of the world by His death. We believe in His bodily resurrection, ascension, and visible, pre-millennial return to the world according to His promise. (John 1:1, 14, 18; Matthew 1:18; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 4:10; Acts 2:23-24; Acts 1:9-11)

God the Holy Spirit:

We believe that the Holy Spirit was sent by God the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, of righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ. (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7-8; Titus 3:4-6; 1 Corinthians 6:11)

Salvation:

We believe that all men are by nature and choice sinners, but that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." We believe that God offers redemption, forgiveness, and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe, therefore, that those who accept Christ as Savior and Lord will rejoice forever in God's presence, and those who refuse to accept Christ as Savior and Lord will be forever separated from God. (John 3:16-18, 36; Acts 3:19-21; Romans 5:12; 3:23; 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 1:8-10)

The Believer's Identity:

Believers are sinners loved by God (John 3:16-18; Romans 5:8, 1 Timothy 1:15). Forgiven of their sins, saved, redeemed, justified, sealed, and reconciled to God(John 3:16, Romans 5:19, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 2:16 and 4:30; 1 Timothy 1:15). Adopted children of King/God. (Romans 8:15-16; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:5; John 1:12). Brothers, sisters, friends, and heirs with Christ. (John 15:14-15; Galatians 4:7; Romans 8:17.) Fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. (Ephesians 2:19). Bride of Christ(John 3:28-31). Members of the body of Christ and His church, with a diversity of roles and spiritual gifts.( Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, and 12:1-31; Ephesians 4:11-12 and 5:23; Colossians 1:24). The dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and a Holy Temple in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:21). Promised eternal life in Heaven with God the Father and Jesus Christ (John 3:16 and 3:36; 2 Corinthians 5:8-9; Revelation 21:24-26).

The Church:

We believe that a local church is a community of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized by immersion upon a credible confession of faith and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that to these local churches were committed, for perpetual observance, the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, and that God has laid upon these churches the task of proclaiming to a lost world the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and the enthroning of Him as Lord and Master. We believe that human betterment and social improvements are the inevitable by-products of such a gospel. (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; Galatians 6:10).

Church Discipline

1. The purpose of church discipline is to glorify God by maintaining purity in the church (1 Corinthians 5:6), to edify believers by deterring sin(1st Timothy 5:20), and to promote the spiritual welfare of the offending believer by calling them to return to a biblical standard of doctrine and conduct. (Galatians 6:1)

2. Matthew 18:15-17 outlines how the church seeks the restoration of a believer who has fallen into sin- a four-step process commonly known as church discipline. According to Matthew 18 (and others: 1st Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Tim.5:20; Titus 3:10-11), church discipline is exercised in this way. (1) If any member has been wronged or knows of the behavior of another member that is not in keeping with biblical standards, they are to confront their fellow member in a spirit of Christian grace and love and seek the correction of the circumstance. (2) Should a member fail to respond to the correction of another member, the individuals involved should meet with the Elders and discuss the matter in a spirit of Christian grace and love. The Elders and those involved are to seek to correct the circumstance. 

3. Should this final remedy fail, then the Elders shall inform the church and congregation thereof at a regularly scheduled worship service so that the church may call the erring individual to repentance. If the erring individual demonstrates repentance, then notice to that effect may be given at a regularly scheduled worship service. 

4. Suppose the erring member does not repent in response to the church's collective call to repentance. In that case, they shall be publicly dismissed from fellowship or membership of the church congregation thereof at a regularly scheduled worship service. 

5. Suppose the erring individual heeds the warning, demonstrates repentance, and requests reinstatement to the Elders. In that case, they shall be publicly restored to all the rights, duties, privileges, and responsibilities of fellowship or membership. 

​Autonomy of the Local Church:

We believe that every human being is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith, that each church is independent and autonomous 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 the dictation or patronage of the other. (Romans 14:12; Matthew 22:21; Acts 12:1)

​​Gender, Marriage, and Human Sexuality:

We believe that the God of the Bible is the Creator of the universe. We believe that He created mankind, male and female, in His own image and likeness, and gave them dominion over all the earth. (Genesis 1:26-27). He created men and women equal yet different, so that they might complement and complete each other in the marriage relationship. (Genesis 2:18-2:24)A person's identity is found in a relationship with God and is based on who God says they are, not on who the world says they are, or on their own desires or feelings. While all people are created in the image of God, only those who put their faith in Christ as Savior become a new creation with a new purpose.(2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10 and 4:22-24.) God did not make any mistakes in His creation, which included mankind consisting of 2 genders, as He declared that everything He made was very good (Genesis 1:31). We believe that God fearfully and wonderfully makes each individual person. (Plasm 139:13-16) and He has a perfect will and purpose for each individual (Romans 12:1-2). God does not make mistakes in His assignment of gender to an individual. Therefore, we believe that practices such as transgerdersim, cross-dressing, and efforts to alter one's genetic gender physically represent an individual's rejection of God's will and purpose for their life, as well as a rejection of God's law. (Deuteronomy 22:5)

God instituted monogamous marriage between a man and a woman who love each other as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. (Genesis 2:24)We believe that marriage is exclusively the binding, life-time union of one genetic male and one genetic female, sanctioned by God and evidenced by a marriage ceremony. We also believe that legitimate biblical sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Therefore, sexual activities such as, but not limited to, lust, adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex, incest, polygamy, homosexuality, bisexuality, pedophilia, and bestiality are contrary to God's laws and the teachings of the Bible. Further, lascivious behavior, the creation, viewing, and/or distribution of pornography, is incompatible with a biblical God glorifying witness. While God may allow us to be tempted by such sins, Satan is the source of all temptations. Further, God had promised to provide a means of escape from such temptations. (1 Corinthians 10:13, James 1:12-16). We believe that homosexuality and all other sexual preferences, orientations, or practices, other than heterosexuality within the bond of marriage, are unnatural, sinful, and unacceptable to God, and a violation of His original, intended design for marriage and sexuality. (Leviticus 18:22-23; 19:20, 29; 20:10-21; Matthew 5:27-28). Therefore, this ministry will only perform marriage ceremonies and make its facilities and resources available for weddings between one man and one woman who are entering into a covenant relationship with each other and with God as an expression of their lifelong love and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and one another. 

We believe that every person, regardless of their beliefs on sexual orientation or practice, or gender idenity should be shown compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Ephesians 4:32, and 5:1-2) As with confronting any sinful behavior, we are to speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15), But hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accordance with Scripture nor the doctrines and practices of this church. (Mark 12:28-33; Galatians 6:10)