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Below are some of the
convictions we hold about our Christian faith and experience,
convictions about the Church and its ministry, and other topics:
GOD:
God is and forever will be the one
and only true God. God is both our creator and our sustainer. He is
our Father and the Lord of all He has created. His awesome wonder is
revealed to us through His Holy Word; the life of His Son, Jesus Christ;
and the witness and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the
mission of the Church. He is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient.
JESUS CHRIST: Jesus
Christ is God's Son who was with God before creation, born to human life
and crucified, buried, and rose to life again for our sins. Jesus is
both fully human and fully divine. He was sent to earth as an act of
God's grace to those who would believe in him, bringing them a purpose
in this life and a promise of eternal life. Jesus became flesh that we
might become holy. Jesus is our Savior and Lord.
THE HOLY SPIRIT: The
Holy Spirit is a free gift available to all who accept Christ as their
Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit is alive, indwelling all believers.
Through the Holy Spirit we gain both comfort and strength in our
spiritual journey in this life. The Holy Spirit is available to ANYONE
who believes and accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Holy
Spirit reveals to us the nature of God, and teaches us God's Word
through aiding in revealing the Scriptures' truths.
THE BIBLE
AND ITS USE: The Bible
is the story of God's faithfulness and love toward His people and
remains the promise of God's faithfulness and love for us today. It is
God's inspired word revealed to us through His wisdom. The Bible is a
guide for the Christian walk throughout life and is for instruction,
inspiration, reproof, and correction that we may learn and
grow in God's
will for us.
BAPTISM:
Baptism is an ordinance observed by our
Church. We believe that while baptism alone does not bring salvation;
it is an outward reflection of an inward action. Believer's Baptism by
immersion symbolizes our desire to be obedient to Jesus Christ, to be
buried and arise again in newness of life with Christ. As the public
baptism of Jesus was an acknowledgment of submission to the Creator's
will, so the Christian's baptism is a public acknowledgement of
submission to the judgment and will of God.
THE LORD'S SUPPER:
The Lord's Supper is a
second ordinance which our church practices. It is a memorial meal in
which we, as a congregation, join together to remember the foundation on
which we all stand, the cornerstone of which is Jesus Christ. The
"meal" is a reminder that we are bound together and are not isolated
individuals, each in search of God in their own way, but individuals who
share in the fellowship of the Spirit. The Lord's Supper is a constant
reminder to each of us that Jesus Christ suffered and died that we might
have everlasting life.
THE ROLE OF THE PASTOR:
The role of the Pastor is to
be the "shepherd" of the laity, caring for their spiritual needs and
encouraging and exhorting their Christian walk. The Pastor is an
enabler of the laity, preparing them for ministry through preaching,
teaching, and helping to identify and build up their gifts for
ministry. The Pastor is also to participate in the administration of
the church by collaborating with boards, committees, etc. The Pastor is
seen as a representative of the church in the community.
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