Constitution

Article IV: Doctrine / Statement of Faith

Section 1: Scriptures

We believe the Scriptures are the only infallible, authoritative, inspired Word of God declaring His design and plan for mankind. The Word of God is our plumb line by which we measure the standard of our beliefs and our lives.
2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21, Amos 7:8

Section 2: Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit

We believe there is only one true God revealed in three persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit eternally coexisting in perfect harmony and in function being omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and eternally self-existent.Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10-11, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 

1. God the Father exists in unseen form as Father of Jesus Christ, Father of all believers and Father of all creation. All human fatherhood is derived from the Fatherhood of God, God as Father is the source of all believers’ spiritual life. He is concerned with the believers’ welfare and pours out His love upon them.
   Exodus 4:22, Deuteronomy 32:5-6, Matthew 3:17, 11:27, Romans 8:15, Ephesians 3:9, 14-15
2. God the Son is revealed as both Son of God and Son of Man through whom and for whom all things have been created. He came to earth by virgin birth, he was sinless as He lived among us in human frailty, who demonstrated His Sonship by working many miracles, signs and wonders; He atoned for man’s sin by shedding His blood on a cross, He was resurrected on the third day, and was exalted to the right hand of the Father. He now assumes the threefold ministry of Prophet, Priest, and King in reconciling mankind.
   Matthew 14:33, 2 Peter 1:17, Mark 2:10, Colossians 1:16, Matthew 1:23, Acts 2:22, 1 Corinthians 5:3, Acts 1:9, Romans 5:11
3. God the Holy Spirit superintended all creation having brought order out of chaos from the beginning. He is the source of all true prophecy and is the voice of God in the earth today revealing truth to all mankind. The Holy Spirit is received as a gift at conversion whereupon He indwells, baptizes, and seals the believer. The Holy Spirit also fills, guides, empowers, and teaches believers all things. He continues to convict the world of sin, their need for righteousness and the future judgment.
   Psalm 104:29-30, Genesis 1:2, 2 Peter 1:21, John 14:16-17, 16:7-14, 16; Acts 2:4, 38, 1 Corinthians 12:3-13, Ephesians 1:11-14, 5:18, Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:1-27, 1 John 2:20

Section 3: Salvation

We believe Jesus is the sole means of Salvation from spiritual death through repentance toward God. We are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus alone, not by our works. We believe that Jesus is the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
Romans 10:9-10, John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 5:9

Section 4: Eternal Security

We believe salvation is a daily choice. It is designed and intended to be permanent and eternal. Although God’s mind and will are always unchanging toward us, it is possible for those who have experienced the benefits of the new birth to turn away from God and thereby reject the Son of God. Therefore, there is a clear warning, issued to those who would be entangled again in the world and overcome by it, that their end is worse than their beginning. Therefore we are encouraged to be found abiding in Christ Jesus, continuing to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Hebrews 6:4-6, 7:25, 2 Peter 2:20, John 15:1-11, Colossians 2:6, Revelation 3:5, Luke 8:13

Section 5: Priesthood of All Believers

We believe in the priesthood of all believers- maintaining that all individuals have equal access to God and equal opportunity to represent him to others and equal responsibility before him. We also contend that any believer is authorized by scripture to serve and or receive the ordinance of communion and water baptism.
1 Peter 2:5, Acts 2:46

Section 6: Water Baptism

We believe in water baptism as commanded by Christ and as testimony that we have repented and confessed our sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, signifying we are buried with him and also raised with him.
Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:4, Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 3:21

Section 7: Communion

We believe in communion as a remembrance of Christ suffering and death for our salvation to be practiced routinely with the cup and bread representing his blood and body.
1 Peter 2:9, John 6:55-56, 1 Corinthians 11:26, Mark 14:22-24, Matthew 26:26-28

Section 8: Baptism & Gifts of the Holy Spirit

We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which empowers believers for successful daily living, witnessing and effective ministry. This is an infilling of the believer like the early believers experienced at Pentecost and throughout the Book of Acts. This is accomplished particularly by making available the nine-fold gifts of the Spirit. Through them God manifests His grace, power and love corporately and individually. Through them God confirms the ministry of His Word, meets human needs and equips believers to wage spiritual war-fare effectively against the forces of evil.
Acts 2:4, 19:6, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 14:1-25, Hebrews 2:4, 1 Peter 4:10, Acts 10:44-46, 11:15-17.

Section 9: Five-Fold Leadership – Apostles, Prophets, Pastor, Teachers, and Evangelist

We believe in five-fold leadership that is given by divine call of God to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and to build up the Body of Christ. This eldership of the local and regional Church is subject to the theocratic government of God’s Holy Spirit. We believe that men and women serving as deacons assist.
Acts 20:28, Ephesians 4:11-13, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-13

Section 10: Laying on of Hands

We believe in the laying on of hands for the empowering of the Holy Spirit for healing, impartations of gifts of the Spirit, and for the purpose of ordaining those called to lead and serve the church.
Acts 8:17-18, 1 Timothy 4:14, Hebrews 6:2, 2 Timothy 1:6

Section 11: Prayer

We believe in prayer as essential to maintaining a God centered life. Prayer is central to everything we do. We constantly pray over our members, our visitors, our ministries, our staff, and our leaders and over God’s vision for our Church. Simply put, prayer is communion with God. It is personal and encouraged to be on a daily basis and to be shared as a Church body. We believe prayers are answered. We are to develop a lifestyle of prayer that avoids vain, repetitious, and religious practices. We believe that the Holy Spirit gifts some with the ministry of intercessory prayer.
1Thessalonians 5:17, Luke 5:16, Matthew 6:5-8, 7:7, 1 Corinthians 14:14-15, Philippians 4:4, Colossians 4:2, Romans 8:26-27, Jude 20

Section 12: Fasting

We believe in fasting as a means to strengthen our prayers and our pursuit of God. It should be undertaken in an attitude of joy and anticipation. The duration of fasting varies and may be individual or corporate, spontaneous or planned. But, all fasts should be called and led of the Spirit.
Acts 13:2, 14:23, Ezra 8:23, Jeremiah 29:10-13, Matthew 6:16-18, Psalm 35:13, Daniel 1:14-21, 10:3

Section 13: Stewardship and Tithing

We believe in being good stewards of all our gifts including our finances. We believe that the membership should consider their gifts and tithes beginning with ten percent of their resources for the work of the Church and its ministry. We also believe that all those in charge of the financial resources pray over all programs and expenditures. We believe that we will be held accountable for how we use the gifts and financial resources that God has entrusted us with. The Bible assures us that all believers are given at least one gift from the Lord as He desires. These gifts are given in order to fulfill each individual’s God given calling by exercising their gifts in service to others. By doing so, God’s Church is built stronger by edifying one another and fulfilling our God-given purposes.
1 Corinthians 3:8-9, 12:4-11, John 13:12-15, Matthew 12:33-37

Section 14: Discipleship

Discipleship is experienced by example and Bible study and requires mentoring through teaching and demonstration of biblical truths. True Disciples value maturity and accountability while honoring authority.
Luke 9:57, Matthew 16:24, Matthew 28:18-20

Section 15: Marriage

We believe in marriage as the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant with each other and God and that it is to be a lifetime commitment.
Matthew 19:4-6, Genesis 2:21-24

Section 16: Sexual Purity

We believe in sexual purity as necessary to stay sanctified and holy unto the Lord and that it requires the children of God to abstain from adultery, fornication, incest, homosexuality, and other sexual deviant behaviors strictly forbidden in Scripture.
Hebrews 13:4, Leviticus 18:1-30, 1 Corinthians 6:18, Romans 1:24-27

Section 17: Return of Christ

We believe Jesus is returning! His physical, personal, and glorious return to earth, visible for all to see and triumphant in the power and glory of His righteous everlasting dominion, is the present hope of all believers.
Daniel 7:14, Acts 1:11, Revelation 1:7

Section 18: Sanctity of Human Life

We are created in the image of God and because of that human life has inestimable worth from conception to death. We reject the “quality of life” view. The value of human life does not depend upon the person’s functional abilities or independent viability but is assured because of the image of God which is found in every human life. God does not measure the quality of a human being before he bestows His image. God calls upon us to extend our care and compassion to every life He has created, in every stage of development and in every need.
Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 8:4-6, 139:13-14