Our Beliefs
"In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things charity" - Rupertus Meldenius
As an Assembly of God church, our core doctrines in summary are that Jesus saves, heals, baptizes in the Holy Spirit, and is coming again.
Listed below are the essential doctrines of the Christian faith that all Christ-followers adhere to, along with our Pentecostal distinctives. There are also underlined hyperlinks you can click that further explain certain topics with articles, along with a copy of "The Statement of Fundamental Truths."
Please feel free to ask our pastors any questions you may have about our doctrines or theology as we all grow in God together.
The Word of God
The Bible (the 66 books of both the Old and New Testaments) is the only divinely inspired, authoritative, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, declaring His design, will, and plan for all mankind, which we are to live by as Christians.
(Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matt. 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.)
The One True God and Christ's Deity
There is only One True God who is all-knowing, all-powerful, has always existed, and is completely perfect. He has revealed Himself to us in Scripture as One God in three Persons: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (known as the Trinity).
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, physical death on the cross, bodily resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of the Father all happened as the Scripture describes.
(Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10-11; Matt. 1:21-23, 28:19; Luke 3:22, 4:1; John 1:1-2, 5:25, 14:6; Acts 1:2-3, 2:22, 4:10-12; Col. 1:15; 1 Thess. 4:16-18; 1 John 5:7 Titus 2:13; Rev. 19:10, 22:5)
The Fall and Redemption of Man
Though created good, mankind willingly fell into sin, ushering in evil and death both physically and spiritually.
Thankfully, however, every person can have restored fellowship with God: salvation through repentance (turning away from their old life and the sins they used to commit) by trusting in Jesus as their only means of salvation and professing Him as their Lord. This gift of God is given by grace alone through faith alone in what He did on the cross, apart from our works.
(Genesis 1:26,27, 2:17, 3:6; Luke 24:47; John 3:3,16-18, 36, 8:24; Acts 2:21; Romans 3:23, 5:12-19, 6:23, 10:9-15; Eph. 2:8-10,13-18; Titus 2:11-13, 3:4-7; 1 John 1:9)
The Sanctification Process
Sanctification initially occurs at salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy but a progressive, lifelong process of growth. The Holy Spirit works in the believer, separating them from evil, continually drawing them closer to God, and helping them become more Christlike. This is the will of God for His church, and we must remain submitted to keep ourselves from stumbling.
(Romans 6:1-13, 8:1-2, 13; Gal. 2:20; 5:22-23; Eph. 4:22-24; 1 Thess. 4:3-5; Phil. 2:12-13; Hebrews 10:9-10; 1 Peter 1:5; 2 Peter 3:18; Jude 1:24)
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit,
Its Evidence, and Spiritual Gifts
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a special experience following salvation available to believers, empowering them for witnessing and effective service, just as seen in New Testament times.
The first, outward sign (not the only/exclusive sign) is "speaking in tongues" as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and throughout the book of Acts. It is continually evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit, a desire for deeper devotion to Christ, supernatural boldness to witness, and the power to operate in spiritual gifts. We strongly encourage, as Scripture tells us, to earnestly desire, pursue, and practice all spiritual gifts according to Biblical guidelines and parameters.
(Joel 2:28-39; Mark 1:8, 16:17-18; Luke 3:16, 24:49, John 7:37-39, 14:15-31, Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4, 16, 4:23-31, 10:44-47, 11:12-18, 19:1-6; Romans 6:3-14, 8:1-2, 11; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, Chapt. 14; Gal. 5:22-33; Eph. 4:1-32, 5:15-21)
The Healing Power of God
Divine Healing for any sickness (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) is a privilege made available to believers because of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. We also believe in and practice anointing the sick with oil, the laying on of hands, and praying in faith, acknowledging that God alone is the Healer. Ultimately, every believer will see the promise of healing fulfilled when receiving their glorified body in Heaven, where there is no sickness, no pain, and all things are made new.
(Psalm 30:2, 41:3, 103:2-3, 107:20, 147:3; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17; Mark 16:18; Acts 3:12-14, 10:38; 1 Cor. 12:28, 14:12; 15:53; Gal. 2:10, 6:10; 1 Peter 2:24; James 1:27, 5:14-15; 1 John 3:8; 3 John 1:2; Rev. 21:4)
The Ordinances of the Church
Two ordinances are practiced in the church:
[1] Water baptism by immersion as a public profession of faith after repenting of one's sins and receiving Christ's gift of salvation, and [2] Holy Communion (also known as the Lord's Supper), the symbolic remembrance of Christ's suffering and death for our salvation, which we do until He returns.
(Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 10:47,48; Romans 6:4; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Peter 1:4)
The Church's Mission and Leadership
The Church's mission is to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe "the Church" is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God’s offer of redemption through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ, regardless of their denomination. We are also instructed to congregate together (the local church) until the imminent day of Jesus’ return.
A divinely-called and ordained leadership serves the Church, equipping believers to be effective in [1] reaching the lost, [2] worship, [3] building one another up, and [4] meeting the needs of others through ministries of love and compassion.
(Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-20; John 2:40-47, 4:23-2, 17:22-29; Romans 15:5; Gal. 6:10; Eph. 4:3, 11-16; Phil. 2:1-5; Col. 3:12-15; Heb. 10:24-25, 12:23)
The Sanctity of God's Design
In the beginning, God created human beings in His image as one of two sexes: male or female. Regardless of their stage of life or development, every human being has value and purpose. Any attempt, procedure, or practice that willingly and consciously harms or terminates that life is a devaluing of an image-bearer of God and is a sin.
We further affirm that God's definition of marriage is the exclusively heterosexual, monogamous, and life-long union of one genetically born male and one genetically born female. This means any sexual relation, union, identity, or gender expression outside of this framework is a sin and against God's design, which has not changed nor will ever be changed.
Speaking all of these truths in love, we emphasize that God's grace, freedom, forgiveness, and transformation are always available to those who truly deny themselves and follow Christ in repentance and faith, regardless of the sins committed.
(Gen. 1:26-27, 2:18, 23-24; Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:7–23; 20:10–21; Deuteronomy 5:18; Job 31:15; Psalm 127:3, 139:13,16 Jer. 1:5; Matt. 19:4-5, 10-12; Mark 10:5–9; Romans 1:18-32; Eph.4:17–19, 5:31–33; 1 Thess. 4:3–5; Matthew 5:27–28; 15:19; Rom. 1:26–27; 1 Cor. 6:9–13; Gal. 1:15, 5:19; Col. 3:5; Hebrews 13:4)
The Blessed Hope and Millennial Reign
The Blessed Hope is the future moment in time when Jesus will rapture His Church before His bodily return to Earth ("The Second Coming"). At this future moment, all believers who have died will rise from their graves, followed by those who are still alive, to meet the Lord in the air.
The Millennial Reign of Christ will commence when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over the earth for 1,000 years. His reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.
(Psalms 72:3-11; Isaiah 11:6-9; Ezekial 37:21-22; Micah 4:3-4; Zephaniah 3:19-20; Zechariah 14:5; Matt. 24:27, 30; Acts 1:11; Romans 11:26-27; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess.4:16-18; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 2:10; Rev. 1:7, 19:11-14, 20:1-6)
The Final Judgement
A Final Judgment will take place before God's Great White Throne, where all people will stand before Him. Those who accepted Christ, whose names are in the Book of Life, will be with the Lord. Those who rejected Christ will be judged for their sin by being consigned to everlasting, eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire, the second death.
(Daniel 12:2; Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:28-29, 12:38; Acts 17:31, 24:15; Roman 2:5-6, 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 15-20-23; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Tim.4:7-8; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 14:11, Chpts. 19-20, 21:8, 21:27)
The New Heavens and Earth
There will be New Heavens and a New Earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever, following His millennial reign on Earth. "And so shall we forever be with the Lord!"
(Isaiah 65:17-19, 66:22-23; John 14:2-3; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. Chpts. 21-22)