What We Believe
1.
We believe in one God-Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Creator of all things.
2.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, was buried, was resurrected, ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father and is true God and true man.
3.
We believe the Bible in its entirety to be the inspired Word of God and the infallible rule of faith and conduct.
4.
We believe in the resurrection of the dead, the eternal happiness of the saved, and the eternal punishment of the lost.
5.
We believe in personal salvation of believers through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
6.
We believe in sanctification through the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit, and we believe in personal holiness, purity of heart and life.
7.
We believe in divine healing, through faith in the Name of Jesus Christ, and that healing is included in the Redemption.
8.
We believe in baptism by water, in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as distinct from the New Birth, in speaking with tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance (Acts 2:4), in the gifts of the Spirit, and the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit. We believe that all of these are available to believers.
9.
We believe in the Christian’s hope: the soon-coming, personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What We're Here To Do
Responding:
To respond more fully to God in personal commitment, and public worship that acknowledges God’s work, communicates His truth, and celebrates His presence. As this happens in people’s lives, it will result in a commitment to the person of Christ.
Relating:
To relate more freely with one another in love, transparency, and active ministry to spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. As this happens, it will result in commitment to the family of Christ.
Reaching:
To reach out more fervently to people outside Christ by building caring relationships with those who are responsive to God, and communicating God’s truth and love. As this happens, it will result in a commitment to the cause of Christ.
Reproducing:
To reproduce more faithfully ourselves and our ministries. As a member of a disciple making community, each believer is to reproduce other believers, leaders reproduce other leaders, and ministries reproduce new ministries until the body reproduces itself as a new church. As this happens, it will result in a commitment of life to being a servant of Christ.
Our Core Commitments
To be Christ-Centered in devotion and Christ-like in character and conduct. This represents our “heart” and the emotional commitment of our Christian identity. When people desire to know what God is like, we want to be the people where they can see. We exist to be a committed worshiping centre where people can know God.
To be Bible-Based in our understanding of life and the world, and in our message. This is our “mind” and the essential intellectual content of our Christian faith. When people want to know what God has said, then we want to be the place where they can hear. We exist to be a clear teaching voice where people can hear from God.
To be People-Friendly in our relationships. This represents our “family” and the relational concern of our Christian love. We want to be a community where people really care, where each individual matters. When people want to know how much God relates, then we want to be the community where they experience it. We exist to be a caring community where people can experience God.
What's Important to Us
Innovation:
We seek to be flexible and innovative in methods, while remaining faithful to the Biblical mandate for ministry.
Biblical authority with life application:
We are committed to teaching the Bible with accuracy, clarity and relevance.
Impact and Intimacy:
We seek to function as a large church in our worship celebration and community impact, but feel like a small church in our small group caring and personal intimacy.
Enthusiasm and enjoyment:
We desire to be a church with a sense of excitement, where things are happening, and where people are genuinely enjoying their Christian lives.
Unity with Diversity:
We value diversity, so our goal is not to agree on every issue, but to be clearly “together” in our basic consensus about why we are here.
Excellence:
All ministries give all praises to God; therefore we seek to do all things well.
Seeker-friendly:
We eliminate barriers to the gospel wherever possible by ensuring that our public ministries are sensitive to the spiritual understanding of those not yet reached for Christ.
Our Corporate Structure
Simple Structure: we seek function as an organism of co-operating believers, not a rigidly structured organization, which tightly drawn lines of control. We seek to work together as integrated and co-operating teams, with individual freedom and encouragement for each person to take initiative in worthwhile ministry and to use his/her God-given gifts to the full.
Staff Leadership:
Pastoral staff serve is to provide vision setting, overall direction and co-ordination, in order to promote an environment conducive to ministry initiative and growth. “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers…” I Peter 5:2
Board Oversight:
The elders, deacons and deaconesses of the Ministries Board serve to set policies, provide oversight, and afford accountability. “If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” I Timothy 3:1
Lay Ministry:
The work of the ministry is done by the members of the church. “Christ…gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:11-12
Team Approach:
No one should serve in any position alone, and each person serving should be equipping another.
Small Groups:
Believing that ministry and spiritual growth best occur in a relational context, we provide opportunity for both interpersonal caring and mutual ministry in a relational setting.