We believe that the Holy Bible is the Word of the living God; true, immutable, steadfast, and unchangeable...

- written by holy men of old as they were moved upon and inspired by the Holy Spirit;

- a lamp to guide our feet from the depths of sin and sorrow to the heights of righteousness and glory;

- an unclouded mirror that reveals the face of a crucified Savior;

- a plumb line to make straight the life of each individual and community;

- a sharp two-edged sword to convict of sin and evil doing;

- a strong cord of love and tenderness to draw the penitent to Christ Jesus;

- a "balm of Gilead," empowered by the Holy Spirit to heal and quicken each drooping heart;

- the only true ground of Christian fellowship and unity;

- the loving call of an infinitely loving God;

- the solemn warning of the wrath and retribution that shall overtake the unheeding;

- the sign post that points to heaven and a danger signal that warns of hell;

- the divine, supreme and eternal tribunal by whose standards all men, nations, creeds, and motives shall be tried.

(Ps. 119:59-60, 89, 105; Is. 8:20; Mt. 24:35; Jn. 5:39; Acts 17:11; Eph 6:17; Phil. 1:9-11, 3:16; 1 Thess. 5:21; 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 1 Jn. 4:1,6; Jude 3)

We believe that there is but one true and living God; maker of heaven and earth and all that is in them; who ever was, and is and shall be. He is infinitely holy, mighty, tender, loving and glorious; worthy of all possible love and honor, confidence and obedience, majesty, dominion and might, both now and forever. There is one God, manifested in three Persons: equal in divine perfection, executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

The Father — Whose glory is so exceeding bright that mortal man cannot look upon His face and live, but whose heart was so filled with love and pity for His lost and sin-condemned children that He freely gave His only begotten Son to redeem and reconcile them unto Himself.

The Son — Co-existent and co-eternal with the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, took on the form of man, bore our sins and sorrows, shedding His blood upon the cross to purchase redemption for all who would believe on Him. He defeated death and hell, rose from the grave and ascended on high leading captivity captive. He is now the great Mediator between the Father and man, making intercession for those for whom He laid down His life.

The Holy Spirit — The third Person of the Godhead: omnipotent, omnipresent, performing an inexpressibly important mission upon earth, convicting of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, drawing sinners to the Savior, rebuking, pleading, searching, comforting, guiding, quickening, teaching, glorifying, baptizing and enduing with power from on high those who yield to His tender ministrations, preparing them for the great day of the Lord’s appearing.

(Ex. 33:20; Is. 43:10-11, 44:8; Job 38:4-7; Mt. 1:23, 28:19; Jn. 1:1-3, 3:16, 15:26, 16:7-14; Rom. 8:11; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 2:18; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 1 Jn. 5:7)

We believe that man was created in the image of God, before whom he walked in holiness and purity, but that by voluntary disobedience and transgression, he fell from purity and innocence to the depths of sin and iniquity. The consequence of this is that all people are now sinners, not by constraint but by choice, utterly void by nature of that holiness required by the law of God, inclined to evil, guilty and without excuse, justly deserving the condemnation of a just and holy God.

(Gen. 1:27, 3:9-19, 6:12; Ps. 51:5; Is. 53:6; Ez. 18:19-20; Mt. 20:15; Jn. 3:6; Rom. 1:18, 20, 32, 2:1-16, 3:19, 5:12, 15-19, 8:7; Gal. 3:10, 22; Eph. 2:3)

We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, the Just for the unjust. Freely and by divine appointment of the Father, Jesus takes the sinner’s place, bearing his sins, receiving his condemnation, dying his death, fully paying his penalty, and signing with His life’s blood, the pardon of every one who would believe upon Him.

(Is. 1:18, 53:5, 55:7; Titus 2:14; Heb. 7:25)

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly through grace; that we have no righteousness or goodness of our own through which we may seek divine favor. We must come, throwing ourselves upon the unfailing mercy and love of Him who bought us and washed us in His own blood, pleading the merits and the righteousness of Christ the Savior, standing upon His word and accepting the free gift of love and pardon.

(Is. 64:6; Jn. 6:47; Rom. 3:10, 23, 6:23; Eph. 2:8, 13)

We believe that upon sincere repentance, godly sorrow for sin, and a whole-hearted acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ, believers are justified by faith, gaining access to peace, assurance and favor with God.

(Lk. 1:77-79; Jn. 6:37; Rom. 5:12, 8:1; 1 Jn. 1:9)

We believe that the change which takes place in the heart and life at conversion is a very real one:

- that the sinner is "born again" in spirit, in a glorious and transforming manner, where old and carnal things pass away and all things become new;

- insomuch that the things once most desired are now despised, while the things once abhorred are now held most sacred and dear;

- having imputed to the believer the righteousness of Christ and having received the Holy Spirit - new desires, aspirations, interests, and perspectives transform the heart to openly confess and serve the Lord.

(Ps. 1:1-2; Jn. 3:3; Rom. 3:24-25; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:20)

We believe that having been cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and having received the witness of the Holy Spirit at conversion, it is the will of God that we be sanctified daily and become partakers of His holiness; growing constantly stronger in faith, power, prayer, love and service - where self decreases and Christ increases - where are lives become a true reflection of the Christ within.

(Prov. 4:18; Is. 35:8; Rom. 8:5; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Thess. 4:3, 5:23; Heb 6:1; 1 Peter 2:2)

We believe that water baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, according to the command of our Lord, is a blessed outward sign of an inward work; a beautiful and solemn emblem reminding us that even as our Lord died upon the cross of Calvary so we reckon ourselves now dead indeed to sin, buried with Him by baptism into death; And also as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life.

We believe in the commemoration and observing of the Lord’s supper by the use of the broken bread, a symbol of Jesus Christ whose body was broken for us; and by the juice of the vine, which should remind the participant of His shed blood. This ordinance spans the gulf of years between Christ's crucifixion and the coming of the Lord, when Christ will partake it again with His children.

(Mt, 28:19-20; Acts 2:37-38, 41, 22:16; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 11:26, 28; 2 Cor. 13:5; Gal. 3:27-28; Col. 2:12; 1 Peter 3:20-21)

We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the incoming of the promised Comforter to endue the believer with power from on high; to glorify and exalt the Lord Jesus; to equip the individual and the Church for practical, efficient, joyous, Spirit-filled ministry to advance God's kingdom in this world. The believer may have every reason to expect His incoming to be after the same manner as that in which He came upon Jew and Gentile alike in scripture.

(Jn. 14:16-17; Acts 1:5, 8, 2:4, 8:17, 10:44-46, 19:6; 1 Cor, 3:16)

We believe that it is the will of God that we live and walk in the Spirit, moment by moment, being patient, loving, truthful, sincere, prayerful, not murmuring, instant in season and out of season, serving the Lord.

(Rom. 12:12; 1 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 5:16, 25; Eph. 6:18; 1 Jn. 2:6)

We believe that the Holy Spirit has bestowed spiritual gifts upon the believing church of the Lord Jesus Christ, empowered through the Holy Spirit and given to each one as He sees fit, for the advancement of His kingdom. We should exercise these gifts in accordance with the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance - as irrefutable evidence of a Spirit-filled life.

(Lk. 3:9; John 15:8; Rom. 11:29; 1 Cor. 12:1-31, 14:12)

We believe that the moderation of the believer should be known of all men; that his experience and daily walk should never lead him into extremes, fanaticism, unseemly manifestations, backbitings, murmurings; but that his sober, thoughtful, balanced, mellow, forgiving, and zealous Christian experience should be one of steadfast uprightness, equilibrium, humility, self-sacrifice and Christ-likeness.

(1 Cor. 13:5; Eph. 4:14-15; Phil. 4:5; Col. 3:12-13)

We believe that divine healing is the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to heal the sick and the afflicted in answer to believing prayer; that He who is the same yesterday, today and forever has never changed but is still an all-sufficient help in the time of trouble, able to meet the needs of, and quicken the body into newness of life, as well as the soul and spirit in answer to the faith of them who ever pray with submission to His divine and sovereign will.

(Mt. 8:17; 9:5; Mk. 16:17-18; Acts 4:29-30; James 5:14-16)

We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent, the day and hour of which are only known by our Heavenly Father. We believe, based on the words of Christ, that the coming of the Lord is near at hand and each day should be lived as though He were expected to appear that day. The work of spreading the gospel, the sending forth of missionaries, and the general duties for the upbuilding of the church should be carried on as diligently and thoroughly as possible.

(Mt. 24:36-44; Lk. 12:35-37, 19:13; I Thess. 4:16-17; Titus 2:12-13; Heb. 9:28)

We believe that having accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior and King, it is the sacred duty of the believer, whenever this lies within his power, to identify himself with, and labor most earnestly for the upbuilding of God’s kingdom with the visible church of Christ upon the earth. This visible church is seen in a congregation of believers, who have associated themselves together in Christian fellowship and in the unity of the Spirit, observing the ordinances of Christ, worshipping Him in the beauty of holiness, reading and proclaiming His Word, laboring for the salvation of souls, giving their temporal means to carry on His work, edifying, encouraging, establishing one another in the most holy faith, and working harmoniously together as dear children who are many members of one body, of which Christ is head.

(Ps. 111:1; Mal. 3:16-17; Acts 2:47, 16:5; Rom. 12:5-8; Heb. 10:24-25)

We believe that the civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; and that governors and rulers should be prayed for, obeyed, and upheld, at all times except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Ruler of the conscience of His people, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.

(Ex. 18:21-23; Deut. 16:18; 2 Sam. 23:3; Ps. 72:11; Dan. 3:15-18, 6:7-10; Jer. 30:21; Mt. 10:28, 23;10; Acts 4:18-20, 5:29; Rom. 13:1-3, 14:9-13; Rev.19:16)

We believe that the dead shall be raised up and stand with the living before the judgement seat of God; and that then a solemn and awful separation shall take place wherein the wicked shall be adjudged to everlasting punishment and the righteous to life eternal; and that this judgement will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or in hell on principles of righteousness as set forth in His holy Word.

(Mt. 13:41-43; 2 Cor. 5:10)

We believe that Heaven is the indescribably glorious habitation of the living God; and that the Lord has gone to prepare a place for His children; a place to which the followers of Christ will be carried, where the Lord Jesus Christ will present them to the Father without spot or wrinkle. There will be unutterable joy when they behold His face in an everlasting kingdom where there is no darkness, night, sorrow, tears, pain, nor death.

(1 Cor. 2:9; Jn. 14:2; Rev. 7:15-17, 21:4, 22:5)

We believe that hell is a place of outer darkness and deepest sorrow; a place prepared for the devil and his angels, a place of grief and eternal regret on the part of them who have rejected the mercy, love and tenderness of the crucified Savior, choosing death rather than life; and that there into a lake that burns with fire and brimstone shall be cast the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, all liars, and they who have rejected and spurned the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ — in spite of every entreaty and warning of the Holy Spirit.

(Ez. 33:11; Mt. 13:41-42, 25:41; Mk. 9:43-44; Rev. 14:10-11, 20:10, 15)

We believe that seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, and that the end of all things is at hand, the redeemed children of the Lord should shine forth as a light that cannot be hid, a city set upon a hill, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth, girding the globe with the message of salvation, declaring with burning zeal and earnestness the whole counsel of God that when the Lord of Glory shall appear, they shall be found standing, having fulfilled the great commission by our Lord.

(Prov. 11:30; Ez. 3:17-18; Mt. 9:38; Mk. 16:15; Jn. 4:35-37; Eph. 5:16; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; James 5:20)

We believe that the method ordained of God to sustain His ministry and the spread of the gospel after His command is tithes and offerings. They are ordered of the Lord and practiced as part of God’s plan for the church’s material needs and the spirituality of His people. Being “joint heirs” with Him we know that giving unto His kingdom which is also ours is an enjoyable thing, and God is pleased when we give out of our love for Him and not out of compulsion nor duty.

(Mal 3:10; Lk. 6:38; 1 Cor. 16:12; 2 Cor. 9:7)

We believe that as followers of Christ, our stance on righteous living and morals should always be built firmly on Christ and not on cultural norms. These statements are based on our attempt to carefully and faithfully read the scripture and the premise that humanity is created by God and designed to reflect His glory and goodness in our desires and behaviors. While each of us bears God's image, the introduction of sin has resulted in disordered desires and behaviors in each of us. These show up acutely in our human sexuality. We would be remiss to not situate this conversation within the arc of the salvation narrative: that God has provided rescue in Jesus for every wayward desire and proclivity within us. By placing faith in Him we are reborn - the power of His Spirit transforming us into His likeness.

Sexuality - Followers of Jesus Christ are to live in Christlike righteousness, including pursuing sexual wholeness that is biblically good, godly, pure, and joyful while fleeing the seductive lies and false promises of sexual immorality. Sexual immorality includes acts of adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bestiality, pedophilia, pornography, pansexuality, etc.

(Lev. 18:22; Prov. 5:1-14; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-20; 1 Tim. 1:9-10)

Marriage - God intends marriage to be a life-long sacred union between a male and a female that reflects the union between Christ and the Church.

(Gen. 1:26-28; 2:18-24; Mt. 19:3-8; Eph. 5:21-33)

Abortion - We are created in the image of God with unique purpose and dignity, making life sacred. He is the Author of life and warns against the shedding of innocent blood. From conception, we each have our own DNA, making us unique from our mothers. Jesus' incarnation happened at the point of his conception in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit. Scripture affirms that God is intimately involved in forming each person in the womb and that he even knew us before we were formed. In the event of Mary and Elizabeth, we even see spiritual awareness before birth. Since God has a purpose for each life that is conceived, and since He "conceived" each one's purpose first and authored each one's existence, to interfere with that purpose is to overstep into the place of God.

(Gen. 1:26-27; Ex. 20:13; Jer. 1:5; Ps. 139:13-16; Prov. 6:16-19; Is. 44:24; Lk. 1:29-35, 39-44)

Gender - God created humans in His image as male and female, with biological gender at birth signifying the distinction between the two. We find no biblical basis for separating gender identity, sexual identity, and anatomy.

(Gen. 1:26-28; 2:4-25; Mt. 19:4; Mk. 10:6)