WHAT WE BELIEVE The essence of a church is contained, not in its building or its community presence, but in the body of its beliefs.

STATEMENT OF FAITH
Our purpose as a church is "to lead people to faith in Jesus Christ and then into a life of Christian discovery."

What is a life of faith?  Coming to faith is the process of:

1.	Realizing and confessing that God does not have first place in your life and asking Him to forgive your failures or sins. Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:9
2.	Believing that Jesus Christ is God's Son, that He died to pay your sins and that He rose again, and is alive today. John 3:16; Romans 10:9
3.	Accepting God's free gift of salvation without trying to earn it. Ephesians 2:8-9

Our relationship to God is not restored by anything we do, but on the basis of what Jesus already did for us.  Please contact us if you have any questions concerning your life of faith in Christ.

What We Believe

~About God  God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe.  He has eternally existed in three persons:  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  These are all co-equal and are one God.  Genesis 1:1; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2;  2Corinthians 13:14

~About Man  Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character.  He is the supreme object of God's creation.  Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin."  This attitude separates man from God.  Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2

~About Eternity  Man was created to exist forever.  He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation.  To be eternally separated from God is Hell.  To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life.  Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence.  John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:25;  John 5:11-12; Matthew 25:31-46

~About Jesus Christ  Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  He is co-equal with the Father.  Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross.  He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death.  He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords.  Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13

~About Salvation  Salvation is a gift from God to man.  Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works.  Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin's penalty.  Eternal life begins the moment one received Jesus Christ into his life by faith.  Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1

~About Eternal Security  Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity.  Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.  It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security.  John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

~About the Holy Spirit  The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son of God.  He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ.  He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation.  He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right.  The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.  2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1

~About the Bible  The Bible is God's word to all men.  It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.  Because it is inspired by God, it is without any mixture of error.  2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

~About Christ's Return  We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

~About Baptism  That all Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit when they are born again.  We believe that water baptism by immersion is a public testimony that symbolizes a believers death to sin and new life in Christ, and is done in obedience to the Biblical command by believers.  Acts 2:28-41, 47; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 8:36-10, 10:47, 18:8; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13

~About the Lord's Supper  We believe that those who partake of the Lord's Supper should be born again believers, walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Acts 2:42-46; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

~About the Church  That there is only one true Church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  We believe that the Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of the Word, the observance of believers baptism and communion as the ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts and outreach to the world.  Wherever God's people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church and that under the direction of Deacons, the pastor and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42-47