We hold to a foundational set of beliefs that define who we are. These essential convictions are a big reason for the unity we share as followers of Christ. At the same time, we recognize and accept that believers may have various viewpoints on issues not central to our faith.

About God

We believe in the real and personal existence of one God, the Creator and ultimate Ruler, who exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is limitless, flawless, and has chosen to reveal Himself to people through His presence, His creation, the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and the Church. By His sovereign will, wisdom, and power, God sustains His creation and directs human history in line with His eternal purpose. God’s unchanging nature includes attributes such as omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, perfect holiness, justice, love, mercy, and grace. Ultimately, God is the supreme authority for both our faith and our daily lives.

Supporting references: Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 33:13-15, 135:6-7, 139:7-18; Isaiah 5:16; Jeremiah 32:17; Romans 1:20, 5:8, 8:38-39, 11:33-36; Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 4:8

About Jesus Christ

We affirm that Jesus Christ is truly God. He also became fully human by the miracle of the virgin birth and came to earth to conquer Satan and evil. Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, yet lived a perfect and sinless life, in full obedience to the Father. By willingly dying on the cross, Jesus satisfied God’s justice, paid the penalty for sin in full, and made it possible for us to be reconciled with God. He rose physically and literally from the grave and later ascended to heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Father, mediating for us. One day, Jesus will return for all who trust in Him and will establish His Kingdom in the renewed heaven and earth.

Supporting references: Matthew 28:5-7; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-4, 3:16-18; Acts 1:11; Romans 8:34, 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 2:14-18, 4:15-17, 1 Peter 2:22; 2 Peter 3:10-13; 1 John 2:1-2, 3:8; Revelation 21:1-2, 22:1-7

About the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God. The Spirit actively works in the world to convict people of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and applies Jesus Christ’s saving work to anyone who turns from sin. The Holy Spirit gives believers confidence in their salvation, strength, direction, comfort, and wisdom for daily living. He indwells every Christian and empowers them for godly living and service within the family, the church, and the world.

Supporting references: John 16:8-15; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:1-17, 22-27; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 3:16, 4:30, 5:18

About the Bible

We hold that the Bible, made up of thirty-nine Old Testament books and twenty-seven New Testament books, is divinely inspired and free from error in its original form. Everything it asserts and teaches is true, serving as God’s message to humanity regarding His work in creation, mankind’s fall, and His plan for redemption and restoration. The Scriptures reveal the truth about life, death, and judgment, and show that God’s plan to redeem and restore is fully accomplished through Jesus.

Supporting references: Joshua 1:8; John 2:22, 5:39-40, 45-47, 7:42; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 22:18-19

About Human Beings and Sin

We believe God created human beings in His own image, uniquely made to have relationship and fellowship with Him. Due to our disobedience in the Garden of Eden, all people inherit a sinful nature from Adam. As a result, our actions and thoughts have separated us from God, leaving us morally guilty before Him. Without God’s power, humanity is under sin’s control, inclined to rebel against God, and deserving of spiritual death.

Supporting references: Genesis 1:26-27, 2:15-3:24; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 5:12, 18, 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:56-57; Ephesians 2:1-9; Hebrews 11:6

About Salvation

We believe that salvation is available solely by God’s grace through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This gift is open to everyone. Salvation means our sin debt is paid by Jesus’ death, and His righteousness is credited to us. It is deliverance from guilt, separation, bondage, and death, restoring us to freedom, relationship, holiness, and life. Those who accept salvation will spend eternity in God’s presence and will enjoy His blessings forever. We become new creations and children of God. While good works do not earn salvation, a genuine faith leads to increasing holiness, obedience, submission, and love for God and others.

Supporting references: John 1:12-13, 10:7-10, 14:6-7; Romans 5:1-2, 6-11, 8:1-4, 9-11, 14-17, 10:9-13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20-21; Ephesians 1:11-13, 2:4-10; Hebrews 9:11-22

About the Church

We believe the church is the body of Christ, with Jesus as its head. The global church consists of everyone united to Christ and to one another through the Holy Spirit. Locally, the church is called to worship God in everything and to bring Christ’s redemptive work into every area of life and culture. The church should grow in love for both fellow believers and those who do not know Christ, serve and encourage others, and spread the message of redemption worldwide. Jesus is continually building His church, and nothing can limit the spread of His Kingdom. God uses the church to fulfill His highest purpose—to glorify Him and impact a lost world with His wisdom and love.

Supporting references: Matthew 16:18-19, 28:18-20; Acts 2:38-47, 4:32-37, 5:12-14; Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:19-23, 3:8-11, 20-21, 4:1-5:2; Colossians 1:18, 24; 1 Thessalonians 1:3-10; 1 John 4:7-11

About Spiritual Gifts

We believe that God’s love and wisdom are shown in the way He equips the body of Christ with spiritual gifts. These gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit as He chooses, exercised according to opportunities from Jesus, and made effective by the Father’s power. God intends for every person to use their gifts to serve others and display His grace in different ways. Instead of bringing attention to oneself or creating pride, spiritual gifts are meant to glorify God, build up believers, and draw others towards Him.

Supporting references: Psalm 37:4; Romans 12:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13:3, 14:1, 12b, 18, 15:10; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Peter 4:10-11

About the Coming Age

We believe that Jesus Christ will physically come again to raise the dead, judge all people, and bring His Kingdom to completion. He will take with Him to heaven all who have accepted Him as Savior and Lord. Those who died trusting in God will also be raised to everlasting life. All who have rejected Christ, both living and dead, will face judgment and eternal separation from God, resulting in everlasting conscious torment in a place the Bible calls Hell.

Supporting references: John 5:21-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Revelation 20:11-15

About Baptism and Communion

We believe Jesus commanded two observances: Baptism and Communion, both of which should be faithfully practiced. Baptism is a public declaration of our death to sin and new life in Christ. While it does not bring about salvation, Baptism is an act of obedience, symbolizing that we have been cleansed by Jesus and now belong to Him. Immersion is considered the best outward sign of this inward change, and we will baptize by immersion whenever possible.

Communion is a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice, reminding us that only through His work are our sins forgiven and our spiritual lives sustained. It also assures believers that one day, they will dwell with Christ forever. Like Baptism, Communion is an outward symbol of an inner reality and does not grant salvation.

Supporting references: Matthew 3:5-6, 26:26-29, 28:19; Acts 2:38-39, 8:12-13; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

About Marriage

We believe marriage was instituted by God from the very beginning, starting with the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. From its origin, marriage was meant to demonstrate God’s design, with a man and a woman joining together as “one flesh.” This unity is expressed through their shared purpose, mutual understanding, the raising of children, commitment to their family’s good, and their intimate relationship. The marriage bond between a man and woman is meant to reflect the relationship among the persons of God and also the relationship between God and humanity.

For those whom God calls to marriage, wholeness is found within that relationship. God designed men and women to “complete” one another as they grow together in unity. Notably, every mention of marriage by Jesus and the authors of Scripture refers to the union of a man and a woman.

Being single is not considered lesser in any way. Those gifted with singleness are equally valued in God’s Kingdom, both now and eternally. In fact, Scripture teaches that single individuals can often serve God in unique ways that married people cannot.

Supporting references: Genesis 1:28, 2:18-25, Malachi 2:10-16, Matthew 19:2-12, 1 Corinthians 7:7-8; Ephesians 5:23-32