Who We Are
Who we are and what we strive to do as a church family can be summarized as Upward (toward God), Inward (toward one another) and Outward (toward the world). We want everyone in our church family to excel in each of these areas.
UPWARD
The heart of our faith is a relationship with God. To love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength is the greatest commandment (Mark 12:29-30). We grow in our relationship with God by knowing Him through scripture, which is why our sermons and classes are always centered on a clear explanation and application of the Bible.
We encourage personal devotions and together follow a read-through-the-Bible schedule. We also worship God through prayer and bring to Him our personal concerns, the needs of those around us, the ministry of the church, our nation and our world.
INWARD
Helping one another grow in Christian maturity and equipping one another for service are high priorities and take many forms. Discipleship is an intentional component of several programs, but it is primarily “caught” in our relationships rather than “taught.” There are many mature believers among us so this is a great church family if you want to grow in Christ-likeness. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching“ (Hebrews 10:23-25). Parents have the primary responsibility for leading their children and teens to Christian maturity and we support their efforts with Sunday School and Children’s Church.
OUTWARD
We stress the need for the body to proclaim the gospel to a lost world (Matthew 28:18-20), not only for their sake but also so there will be more voices in Heaven to adore our Savior. Evangelism is the most challenging part of ministry because it is a direct attack on the Enemy’s rule. We give this area particular attention, not only because it is important but because it is difficult. In our culture evangelism through friendships is the most effective strategy, therefore we pray for each other’s friends and relatives to know Christ. Our English as a Second Language program fosters friendships between teachers and students, and sharing our faith is a natural outcome. We support a number of missionaries and missions organizations through prayer and finances plus the sermons and Bible Hour classes in the month of May have a special emphasis on missions. Several of our members are full time missionaries and many of our youth and adults have joined short term missions projects.
A strong outward ministry focus is one of our defining characteristics as a church family. This honors God, blesses those we reach and stretches us to grow spiritually as we undertake new areas of personal and group ministry.
What We Believe
We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of all who believe, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.
We believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived His life on earth without sin. He died on a cross the sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of the Majesty of High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men of sin, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service. He also illumines Scripture for the believer.
We believe that man was created in the likeness and image of God. But because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience man became a sinner by nature. Everyone is, therefore, separated from God and under His wrath. It is only by faith through regeneration of the Holy Spirit that anyone can receive salvation leading to eternal life in fellowship with God.
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead provide the only ground for the justification and salvation for all who believe, and that only such as receive Jesus Christ by faith are born of the Holy Spirit and thus become the children of God.
We believe that water baptism is an ordinance to be observed by the Church during this present age. However, it is not to be regarded as a means of salvation. While we believe that immersion is the only Scriptural mode of baptism, any person who knows Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior may be admitted to membership and service of this Church upon confession of faith. Baptism is to be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) is an ordinance to be observed by the Church during this present age. It is, however, not to be regarded as a means of salvation. The Lord’s Supper should be administered to believers only, in accordance with the Word of God. Any who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ may partake of the Lord’s Supper in this Church whether or not they are members. The time of observance of this ordinance may be regulated by the Board of Elders.
We believe that the true Church is composed of all persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. Further, we believe that only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local Church.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that every local Church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs, in accordance with the Scriptures.
We believe in the personal, premillennial and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that this “blessed hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. (Note: while our church is historically premillennial, we allow latitude on this point.)
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead, of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.
Our Leadership
Alex McDonough
Jim McClymonds
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Jim and Gail often invite folks for Sunday lunch so don’t be shy about accepting!
