What We Believe

We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. It is God’s self-revelation, written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because God is truthful, holy, and unchanging, His Word is entirely trustworthy in all that it affirms.

We believe the Scriptures are without error in the original writings and are the supreme and final authority for faith and practice. The Bible governs the church’s doctrine, shapes its worship, directs its ministry, corrects its errors, and equips believers for every good work.

We believe Scripture is sufficient for all matters of life and godliness. The church is therefore called to submit to the Word of God, preach it faithfully, teach it clearly, and obey it without apology.

(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)

We believe there is one true and living God who eternally exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is one in essence, nature, glory, and purpose, yet He has revealed Himself as three persons who are fully and equally God.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three gods, nor are they merely three expressions of one person. Rather, the one God exists eternally as Father, Son, and Spirit, perfect in unity, rich in love, and worthy of all worship.

Scripture clearly affirms the oneness of God while also revealing the fullness of His triune nature. The Father plans redemption, the Son accomplishes redemption through His life, death, and resurrection, and the Spirit applies redemption by regenerating, indwelling, sealing, and sanctifying believers.

We believe the doctrine of the Trinity is essential to Christian faith and worship. Believers are loved by the Father, saved by the Son, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, all Christian prayer, worship, fellowship, and obedience flow from the triune nature of God.

(Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3; John 10:30; John 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

We believe salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Salvation cannot be earned by human effort, religious works, moral achievement, or personal merit. It is the gift of God, received through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

We believe salvation is the work of God’s sovereign grace. Before the foundation of the world, the Father purposed to save a people for Himself. The Son accomplished salvation through His sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, and present intercession. The Holy Spirit applies salvation by convicting sinners, regenerating hearts, granting new life, and sealing believers until the day of redemption.

We believe God elects individuals unto salvation in a manner consistent with His perfect wisdom, justice, love, and sovereignty. We also affirm that all people are genuinely responsible to repent of sin and believe the gospel.

We believe all who are truly born again are eternally secure in Christ. Genuine believers will persevere in faith, not by their own strength, but because they are kept by the power of God. True saving faith will bear spiritual fruit as evidence of new life in Christ.

(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; John 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 10:27-30; Philippians 1:6)

We believe baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances given by Christ to His church.

We believe baptism is the immersion of a believer in water as an act of obedience and public testimony. Baptism symbolizes the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. It does not save, but it visibly testifies to the spiritual reality of salvation that has already taken place through faith in Christ.

We believe the Lord’s Supper is a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. The bread and the cup signify His body and blood, given for sinners. Through the Lord’s Supper, the church remembers Christ’s death, proclaims His finished work, examines itself reverently, and worships Him with gratitude.

We believe both baptism and the Lord’s Supper are acts of obedience and worship, not means of earning salvation.

(Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2:8-9; Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

We believe the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers for the glory of Christ, the building up of the church, the work of ministry, and the advancement of the gospel. These gifts are not given for personal pride, spiritual status, or disorder, but for the common good of the body of Christ.

We believe the Holy Spirit remains active in the life of the church and distributes gifts according to His sovereign will. Therefore, we do not believe Scripture requires us to deny that God may still grant gifts such as healing, tongues, interpretation, prophecy, or other works of divine power according to His purposes. At the same time, we believe these gifts must always be practiced under the authority of Scripture, in submission to Christ, and for the edification of the church.

We believe the foundation of the church was laid through Christ’s appointed apostles and prophets, and that the office of apostle is no longer active in the foundational sense. No modern claim of spiritual gifting, prophecy, revelation, dream, vision, or impression may add to, correct, replace, or stand alongside the authority of Scripture. The Bible alone is the final, sufficient, and infallible Word of God.

We believe all claims of spiritual gifts must be tested carefully by Scripture, spiritual fruit, doctrinal faithfulness, and pastoral oversight. The church must not despise the work of the Spirit, but neither may it accept every spiritual claim without discernment. Love, order, truth, humility, and the clear proclamation of the gospel must govern the use of all gifts.

We believe tongues, if practiced in the gathered church, must be interpreted, limited, orderly, and edifying to the body. Tongues are not the necessary evidence of salvation, Spirit baptism, spiritual maturity, or a higher Christian experience. Likewise, any prophetic word or spiritual impression must be weighed carefully and may never be treated as equal to Scripture or binding upon the conscience of believers.

We believe God still hears prayer, heals according to His will, strengthens His people, and works in ways beyond human ability. Yet the church must seek the Giver above the gifts, the glory of Christ above spiritual experience, and the maturity of the body above personal display.

(Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Corinthians 12:27-31; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40; Ephesians 2:19-22; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; Hebrews 2:3-4; James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 John 4:1)

We believe God owns all things and that His people are called to live as faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to them. Biblical stewardship includes the use of time, abilities, finances, possessions, opportunities, and spiritual gifts for the glory of God and the good of others.

We believe Christians should give generously, cheerfully, sacrificially, and proportionally to support the work of the local church, care for those in need, advance missions, and invest in eternal purposes. While the New Testament emphasizes grace-driven generosity rather than a mandatory percentage, the principle of tithing may serve as a helpful starting point for cultivating discipline and generosity.

We believe giving is an act of worship that expresses trust in God’s provision and aligns the heart with His kingdom priorities. Believers should not give under compulsion, but from hearts shaped by gratitude, faith, and love.

(Psalm 24:1; Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

We believe God designed the family as the first and most foundational institution of society. Marriage is a covenantal union between one man and one woman, established by God at creation and affirmed by Christ. This covenant is designed to reflect the relationship between Christ and His church.

We believe husbands are called to lovingly lead, serve, protect, and sacrifice for their wives as Christ loved the church. Wives are called to willingly support, respect, and help their husbands according to God’s good design. In this covenant, both husband and wife possess equal dignity, worth, and value before God.

We believe parents bear the primary responsibility for the spiritual formation of their children. Parents are called to teach God’s Word, model godliness, discipline in love, and guide their children toward maturity in Christ.

We believe strong families are essential to a healthy church, and the church should actively support, protect, and equip families to fulfill their God-given roles.

(Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:18-24; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33; Ephesians 6:1-4)

We believe men and women are equally created in the image of God, equally valuable before God, and equally gifted by the Holy Spirit for service in the body of Christ. Women play indispensable roles in the life and ministry of the church, including discipleship, teaching other women, serving in ministry, encouraging the body, strengthening families, and advancing the mission of the gospel.

We believe Scripture reserves the office of pastor or elder for qualified men. This conviction is rooted not in cultural preference, but in God’s good and intentional design for order, leadership, and flourishing within the church.

We believe biblical complementarianism, rightly practiced, honors both men and women as they serve according to the roles God has lovingly given.

(Genesis 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 2:3-5; Galatians 3:28)

We believe all human life begins at conception and is sacred because every person is made in the image of God. Therefore, the unborn possess dignity, value, and personhood before God.

We believe abortion is the taking of innocent human life and is contrary to God’s revealed will concerning the sanctity of life. The church must speak clearly and compassionately in defense of the unborn and in support of vulnerable mothers, fathers, and families.

We believe the church must also extend the grace of Christ to those who have experienced abortion. The gospel offers forgiveness, hope, restoration, and healing to all who repent and trust in Christ. Truth and compassion must walk together.

(Genesis 1:26-27; Exodus 20:13; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41-44)

We believe God created humanity as male and female, both bearing His image and possessing equal dignity and worth. We believe marriage is the covenant union of one man and one woman, and that sexual expression is reserved for that covenant relationship.

We believe all sexual activity outside of biblical marriage is sin. This includes adultery, fornication, pornography, homosexual practice, and every other form of sexual immorality. We also believe any rejection of God’s design for biological sex and gender falls short of His good and holy standard.

We believe every person must be treated with dignity, compassion, and truth because every person bears the image of God. The church must hold firmly to biblical conviction while offering sincere love, gospel hope, and the call to repentance and new life in Christ.

(Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:3; Hebrews 13:4)

We believe all pastoral authority must be derived from and governed by the Scriptures. A pastor does not possess authority inherently, nor is he free to exercise authority according to personal preference, personality, or positional power. Pastoral authority is delegated by Christ, accountable to Christ, and exercised under the authority of His Word.

We believe the pattern for pastoral authority is seen most clearly in the Lord Jesus Christ. Though all things had been given into His hands, He humbled Himself, took the position of a servant, and washed His disciples’ feet. With all authority given to Him, the Son of God chose to serve. Therefore, pastoral authority must be marked first by humility, servanthood, and sacrificial love.

We believe pastors are undershepherds who serve under the authority of the Chief Shepherd. They are called to lead God’s people by teaching sound doctrine, correcting error, guarding the flock, modeling a holy life, and equipping the saints for the work of ministry. Their authority is tied to faithfulness to the Word of God, not to personal ambition or control.

We believe pastoral authority is relational and accountable. Pastors are called to watch over souls as those who will give an account to God. Therefore, authority exists not for dominance, but for care; not for control, but for discipleship; not for self-promotion, but for the building up of the body of Christ.

(John 13:3-5; Matthew 20:16; Matthew 20:28; Acts 20:28-31; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:9; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

We believe missions are central to the identity and obedience of the church. Christ has commanded His church to make disciples of all nations through the faithful proclamation of the gospel, baptism, teaching, and obedience to His Word.

We believe every local church should be engaged in gospel mission locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. This includes praying for missionaries, giving financially, forming strategic partnerships, sending members, supporting church planting, and equipping believers to share the gospel faithfully.

We believe missions flow from the heart of God, who desires people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation to know and worship Him. A healthy church should therefore be outward-looking, prayerful, evangelistic, and committed to the worldwide advancement of the gospel.

(Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13-15; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 7:9-10)

We believe in the personal, bodily, and visible return of Jesus Christ. We affirm a pre-tribulational and premillennial understanding of the end times.

We believe the rapture of the church is distinct from Christ’s second coming. At the rapture, Christ will come for His church, and believers will be caught up to meet Him in the air before the seven-year tribulation.

We believe the tribulation will be a time of divine judgment upon the unbelieving world and a period in which God will refine and restore Israel. During this time, many will come to faith in Christ, though they will face great persecution.

We believe that following the tribulation, Christ will return bodily with His church, defeat His enemies, and establish a literal thousand-year reign upon the earth. During this millennial kingdom, Christ will reign in righteousness, Israel will be restored, glorified believers will reign with Him, and God’s covenant promises will be fulfilled.

We believe that after the millennium, Satan will be released for a final rebellion, defeated, and cast into the lake of fire. The Great White Throne judgment will follow, where unbelievers will be judged and condemned to eternal separation from God. Believers will dwell forever with the Lord in the New Heavens and New Earth.

We believe these truths should lead the church to worship faithfully, live holy lives, proclaim the gospel urgently, and await Christ’s return with hope.

(Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20-21)