The Nature of God
We believe in one God, eternal and self existent, self-revealed and manifested to man as Father, Son and Holy Ghost. [Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isa. 43:10-11; Matt. 28:19.] We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the virgin, Mary. [John 1:1,14; Mat. 1:18; Luke 1:26-27; Luke 2:7; I Tim. 2:5.] We believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed his blood as a sacrifice for our sins;
He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High. [I Pet. 2:24; Heb. 9:11-14; I Cor. 15:3-8; Acts 2:32-36; Heb. 10:12.] We believe in the personal, literal second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to judge both the quick and the dead. [I Thess. 4:16; Heb 9:27; I Cor. 15:51-52; Rev. 20:11-15; Acts 24:15.] We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ, to convict men of sin, righteousness and judgment and to empower the believer. [John 15:26; John 16:8, 14; Acts 1:8.]
God's Relation to Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin. [Gen. 1:26-31; Gen. 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-21.] We believe that man can be justified only by grace through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. [Eph. 4:11-12; Rom. 3:24-28.] We believe that water baptism identifies us with the death and burial of Christ, and that we should arise to walk in newness of life. [Rom. 6:3-9; I Pet. 3:21.] We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead. [Acts 24:15; I Cor. 15:35-44; Rev. 20:11-15.] We believe in everlasting blessedness for the believer, with judgment and everlasting punishment for the unbeliever. [Mat. 7:21-23; Rev. 20:11-15; John 5:29.]
The Church
We believe that the true Church is composed of such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. [I Pet. 2:4-5; Eph. 2:19-22.] We believe that Christ wants the members of His Church to carry the Gospel into all the world. [Mat. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8.] We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ is God’s instrument to establish and extend God’s Kingdom until the literal coming of Christ to reign over all the earth. [Rev. 11:15.] We believe in the autonomy of each local church and that itinerant ministries should be based out of and related to a local church with accountability to a senior minister. [Acts 13:1; Acts 15.] We believe that the church is the Body of Christ expressed as the church individual, the church local and the church universal and invisible. As such we believe the church to be more than just a building or a gathering of people. It is a body living in relationship and harmony under direction of the head, Jesus Christ. [I Cor. 6:15; II Cor. 1:1; Rom. 16:5; I Pet. 2:4-5; Eph. 2:19-22; I Cor. 12:12-31; Rom. 12:4-5; Eph. 4:11-16.] We believe that in all matters concerning the Body of Christ, in its direction, discipline, ministry and functioning that specific guidance and instruction, revelation and discernment of truth from falsehood, is available by the leading of the Holy Spirit who enables us to know spiritual things by the Spirit. [Acts 13:1-3; I Tim. 1:18; Rom. 8:14; I Tim. 5:22; John 16:13-15; I Cor. 5:3.]
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is at work today within the Church through His gifts, fruits and anointed ministers. [Acts 2:39; Rom. 12:6-8; I Cor. 12:1-11; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 4:11; I Cor. 12:28.] We believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to every believer and need to be activated and exercised to fulfill their divine purpose of blessing the Body of Christ. [Acts 2:39; II Tim. 1:6.] We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit wherein the Spirit is sent to gift each believer with their own private prayer/praise language used to edify themselves, and that such a baptism empowers the believer to be effective for Christ. [Acts 1:8; Acts 2:39; I Cor. 14:2; Jude 20; I Cor. 14:18; Acts 19:1-6.] We believe in divine healing of the body as part of the atoning work of Jesus Christ. This healing can be received and also ministered to others by various gifts [I Cor. 12:8-10; Mat. 8:16-17; I Pet. 2:24.]
The Ministries of Christ
We believe in the full function of the five-fold ministry which was given to perfect and equip the saints so they can enter into the work of their ministry, thereby edifying the whole Body of Christ. [Eph. 4:11-16; I Cor. 12:28.] We believe in the present day ministries of the apostles and prophets, which Christ has set in the Church as foundational and revelational ministries. We believe these two ministries will be restored to function in full power and authority before the literal second coming of Christ. [Eph. 2:20; Acts 3:21.]
Repentance
Repentance is a gift from God. It is simply not true that a person can repent at any time. Repentance is dependant upon the convicting action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of sinners and believers. The conviction of the Holy Spirit, which often accompanies the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, will result in the revelation of the sinfulness of self which should lead to Godly sorrow. Remorse, or worldly sorrow, is a feeling of deep regret, hopelessness or even despair. It does not lead to constructive change. On the other hand Godly sorrow, which may at times be mistaken for worldly sorrow, produces repentance which causes us to turn away from sin and selfishness and to receive faith for change. Worldly sorrow is destructive but repentance is life giving. Repentance changes the way we feel and act about sin, self and God. Repentance is a total change of heart, mind, attitude, emotions, will, action and lifestyle flowing form the turmoil and sorrow of Holy Spirit conviction of sin. [II Cor. 7:10; Psalms 51; Acts 11:18; II Tim. 2:25; Gen. 6:3; Rom. 1:18-32; Mat. 9:12-13.]
Benevolence
We believe that the Scriptures are clear concerning helping those in need. We are commanded to do good to all people as we have opportunity, with a special emphasis upon caring for those who profess to be fellow Christians, especially those of our own fellowship of believers. We are commanded to be generous and willing to share, laying up treasure for ourselves in the coming age by our kindness and generosity in this life. This is true for the church as an organization as well as for the individual members of the church. Therefore, in accordance with the biblical commands, as a fundamental aspect of the practice of our faith, we will share of our material goods with those in need and will minister to them to the best of our abilities, whatever the need. [Prov. 25:21; Is. 58:10; Gal. 6:10; 1 Tim. 6:18-19; Heb. 13:16.]
Counseling (Discipleship)
We believe that the scriptures clearly define that members of a congregation can seek out advice, consultation, direction, purpose, resolution, and guidance from amongst the shepherds, elders, mature men and women, and Five-Fold Ministry Gifts within the Body of Christ. [I Kings 1:12; Prov. 27:9; Prov. 11:14; Ps. 55:13-14.] We further believe that consultation and instruction is applicable by the scriptures through sessions, a company of persons in close deliberation set together, to lay a foundation, set in place and give wise counsel. This also provides safety, defense, rescue and freedom from trouble. [Ps. 55:13-14; Prov. 1:11-14; Prov. 12:15.] The personal care of the saints is the sanctification of the whole person, body, soul and spirit, [I Thess. 3:13; 5:23.] through the love that flows from faith, patience and hope, and the redemptive power of the Cross of Christ, [Rom. 3:25; Luke 9:23.] The atoning blood of Jesus, [Eph. 2:13-16; I Peter 1:18-19.] The transformation of the soul through the word of God, [Rom. 12:1-2.] the denying of the old nature, [Gal. 2:20, 5:24; I Peter 1:13-15.] salvation through grace not works, [Eph. 2:1-8.] and the promise of the resurrection, [John 3:16, 10:25-26.] are the effective working mechanisms that characterize pastoral care ministry. Such ministry is foundational to the practice of our faith.
Deliverance
The need for deliverance is manifested by an inability to be free from a bondage: e.g., mental (emotional), physical or spiritual normally associated with demon activity. It is God’s desire to bring deliverance to his people. Job 5:19, Psalms 91:3, II Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 2:15; II Peter 2:9). We have been granted the authority in the name of Jesus to bring deliverance to others. (Mark 16:17, John 14:12; I Cor. 12:8-11). We must understand that our warfare is with the forces of evil (Eph. 6:12), our weapon is the word of God, our authority and power is from Jesus himself (Mark 16:17, Acts 1:8) and that the battlefield is first of all in the spiritual realms. (Eph. 6:10-18, II Cor. 10:3-5, Rom. 8:9, Gal. 5:22-23)