STATEMENT OF FAITH AND PURPOSE:
New Life Ministries of Southwest Florida, Inc is an independent, evangelical, Bible believing, Bible teaching organization, committed to the proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and all its benevolent works, evangelism and salvation of the world; To labor in support of missions, the success of evangelism and of true Christian fellowship and edification of the saints; and in its Vision: “Creating and Developing a Christ Centered Lifestyle and Fulfilling our God Given Purpose.”
GOD:
God the Father:
(Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 44:8, John 3:16)
We believe in the eternal omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and immutable triune, true and living God; composed of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These offices within the Godhead are three persons (parts) in one, equal in every divine perfection and attribute, executing distinct, but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
God the Son:
Co-existent and co-eternal with the Father, who, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, took upon Himself the form of man; and by this becoming obedient unto death, bearing the curse of sin, sickness, and sorrow, redeeming us back to God. He arose the third day and ascended unto Heaven, where He sits on the right hand of God, the Father, where He lives to make intercession for us. (John 1:1-3, Matt. 1:23, 1 Tim. 2:5, Eph. 2:18, Phil. 2:6-11)
We believe that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, was with the Father and the Holy Spirit at the time of creation, was born of the virgin Mary, came in the flesh, without sin, was crucified, placed in Joseph’s tomb, conquered death, hell and the grave, rose from the dead on the third day, walked and talked with His disciples, publicly ascended up to Heaven, and that He will descend again to gather those who are born again to Heaven. (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:14; Luke 1:26-28; Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 16:9-19; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-12; Mark 15:22-47)
God the Holy Spirit:
The third person of the Godhead, co-existent and equal to the Father; sent by the Father through the Son, to reprove the world of sin and prepare the bride of Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit has visited true believers of all ages, and especially since the ascension of the Son back to the Father, and His coming on the day of Pentecost. He has made Himself known among all nations of people as our Comforter, Guide and Teacher. We believe the Holy Spirit convicts the sinner of his sin and draws him to Christ. (Judges 6:34; 11:29; John 16:8-14; Isaiah 63:10-12; Ephesians 4:30; Acts 8:17-20; Ezekiel 36:27; Joel 2:28, 1 John 5:7, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Genesis 1:26, 1 Timothy 1:17; John 1:1; I Corinthians 8:6; John 10:30) (John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:8)
(Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 44:8, John 3:16)
We believe in the eternal omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and immutable triune, true and living God; composed of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These offices within the Godhead are three persons (parts) in one, equal in every divine perfection and attribute, executing distinct, but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
God the Son:
Co-existent and co-eternal with the Father, who, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, took upon Himself the form of man; and by this becoming obedient unto death, bearing the curse of sin, sickness, and sorrow, redeeming us back to God. He arose the third day and ascended unto Heaven, where He sits on the right hand of God, the Father, where He lives to make intercession for us. (John 1:1-3, Matt. 1:23, 1 Tim. 2:5, Eph. 2:18, Phil. 2:6-11)
We believe that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, was with the Father and the Holy Spirit at the time of creation, was born of the virgin Mary, came in the flesh, without sin, was crucified, placed in Joseph’s tomb, conquered death, hell and the grave, rose from the dead on the third day, walked and talked with His disciples, publicly ascended up to Heaven, and that He will descend again to gather those who are born again to Heaven. (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:14; Luke 1:26-28; Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 16:9-19; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-12; Mark 15:22-47)
God the Holy Spirit:
The third person of the Godhead, co-existent and equal to the Father; sent by the Father through the Son, to reprove the world of sin and prepare the bride of Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit has visited true believers of all ages, and especially since the ascension of the Son back to the Father, and His coming on the day of Pentecost. He has made Himself known among all nations of people as our Comforter, Guide and Teacher. We believe the Holy Spirit convicts the sinner of his sin and draws him to Christ. (Judges 6:34; 11:29; John 16:8-14; Isaiah 63:10-12; Ephesians 4:30; Acts 8:17-20; Ezekiel 36:27; Joel 2:28, 1 John 5:7, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Genesis 1:26, 1 Timothy 1:17; John 1:1; I Corinthians 8:6; John 10:30) (John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:8)
HOLY SCRIPTURES:
We believe the Bible, the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, was given by inspiration of God. We accept this as the only infallible guide and rule of our faith and practice. (Matt. 24:35, Psalm 119:89, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:15, II Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Daniel 10:21; Acts 1:16-17; Matthew 21:42)
THE FALL OF MAN:
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin, the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God, and that man is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. God gave man freedom to choose between right and wrong. Man chose to listen to Satan, falling from the state of grace in which he was created. Man needed a Savior to save him from sin, and that Savior is Jesus –the ONLY way by which we are redeemed and receive salvation. We believe that everyone has sinned and has fallen short of the grace of God and His standard by which we were created. (Genesis 1:26, 27; Is. 53:6; Rom. 3:10; Rom. 3:22,23; Psalms 51:5; Genesis 6:5; Romans 5:12-19; John 3:6; Ephesians 2:1-3; Ephesians 4:17-19)
CONDITIONS OF SALVATION:
We believe that because of man’s total inability to save himself, salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ. Through being born again, we become new creatures in Christ. Old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. (1 Peter 1:19-20; Isaiah 53:5; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:12; Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:4-5; Titus 2:14; John 3:16; Isaiah 15:22; Rom. 8:1, 5; Rom. 12:1-2, 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Thess. 5:22, John 3; Matthew 19:13-22; I Corinthians 7:10, Luke 18:16-17; John 4:11-16; Psalms 98:3; 2 Cor. 5:17; Galatians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:24)
SANCTIFICATION:
Sanctification is a daily work of God’s grace for those who will surrender themselves to the work of God in their life, which will be an evolving constant growth in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 12:14; Philippians 3:21; 2 Thessalonians 5:19-23; John 17:17-19; 2 Timothy 2:20-21)
PERSEVERANCE:
We believe that all believers in Christ should continue in His grace and in the knowledge of the truth, and that God’s grace is able to help them overcome sin and all the obstacles and temptations of life, and that no man can take your salvation. However, those who would backslide and willfully refuse to follow Christ, if continued without repentance, would be lost. (2 Peter 1:12; 2 Corinthians 9:10; 2 Peter 1:4-8; 2 Peter 2:2; Romans 6:1-6; 2 Peter 1:8-9; I Corinthians 10:1-3; Hebrews 12:15-17; I John 5:16; Hebrews 6:1-6; I Timothy 4:1-2; Hebrews 3:12; John 15:1-7; Matthew 12:31-32)
MODERATION:
We believe that all men should know our moderation. The Christian should be sober, well balanced and seasoned with love. His zeal should be governed by godly wisdom. (Phil. 4:5; Eph. 4:14-15; 1 Cor. 13:5; Col. 3:12-13)
THE FALL OF MAN:
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin, the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God, and that man is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. God gave man freedom to choose between right and wrong. Man chose to listen to Satan, falling from the state of grace in which he was created. Man needed a Savior to save him from sin, and that Savior is Jesus –the ONLY way by which we are redeemed and receive salvation. We believe that everyone has sinned and has fallen short of the grace of God and His standard by which we were created. (Genesis 1:26, 27; Is. 53:6; Rom. 3:10; Rom. 3:22,23; Psalms 51:5; Genesis 6:5; Romans 5:12-19; John 3:6; Ephesians 2:1-3; Ephesians 4:17-19)
CONDITIONS OF SALVATION:
We believe that because of man’s total inability to save himself, salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ. Through being born again, we become new creatures in Christ. Old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. (1 Peter 1:19-20; Isaiah 53:5; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:12; Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:4-5; Titus 2:14; John 3:16; Isaiah 15:22; Rom. 8:1, 5; Rom. 12:1-2, 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Thess. 5:22, John 3; Matthew 19:13-22; I Corinthians 7:10, Luke 18:16-17; John 4:11-16; Psalms 98:3; 2 Cor. 5:17; Galatians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:24)
SANCTIFICATION:
Sanctification is a daily work of God’s grace for those who will surrender themselves to the work of God in their life, which will be an evolving constant growth in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 12:14; Philippians 3:21; 2 Thessalonians 5:19-23; John 17:17-19; 2 Timothy 2:20-21)
PERSEVERANCE:
We believe that all believers in Christ should continue in His grace and in the knowledge of the truth, and that God’s grace is able to help them overcome sin and all the obstacles and temptations of life, and that no man can take your salvation. However, those who would backslide and willfully refuse to follow Christ, if continued without repentance, would be lost. (2 Peter 1:12; 2 Corinthians 9:10; 2 Peter 1:4-8; 2 Peter 2:2; Romans 6:1-6; 2 Peter 1:8-9; I Corinthians 10:1-3; Hebrews 12:15-17; I John 5:16; Hebrews 6:1-6; I Timothy 4:1-2; Hebrews 3:12; John 15:1-7; Matthew 12:31-32)
MODERATION:
We believe that all men should know our moderation. The Christian should be sober, well balanced and seasoned with love. His zeal should be governed by godly wisdom. (Phil. 4:5; Eph. 4:14-15; 1 Cor. 13:5; Col. 3:12-13)
ESCHATOLOGY:
HEAVEN:
We believe that heaven is the habitation of the living God, where Christ has gone to prepare a place for all His children, where they shall dwell eternally in happiness and security to rule and reign with Him. (1 Cor. 2:9; John 14:2; Rev. 21:4; Rev. 22:5; Rev. 7:15-17)
HELL:
We believe hell is a literal place of utter darkness, bitter sorrow, remorse and woe, prepared by God for the devil and his angels. Further, the unbelieving, abominable, the murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, liars, and those who have rejected the love of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into a lake burning with fire and brimstone. (Rev. 14:10-11; Rev. 20:10, 14, 15; Rev. 21:7-8; Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-44)
JUDGMENT:
We believe in the final judgment of the wicked at the throne, when the dead, both small and great, shall be resurrected to stand before God to receive the reward of their deeds done in the flesh. (Matt. 13:41-43; Rev. 20:11-15; 2 Thess. 1:4-9; Rev. 14:9-13; Luke 16:23; Rev. 21:8; Rev. 20:12-13; 2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 12: 36-37; Acts 17:31)
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:
(Commonly referred to as Rapture): We believe that the second coming of Christ is imminent as Bible prophecies are fulfilled. The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet call of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then the redeemed which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall they ever be with the Lord. We believe in the literal “catching away” of the saints. We should therefore be ready, for in such an hour as we think not, the Son of Man will return. At this time, Christ shall rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. (1 Thess. 4:16-17; Titus 2:12-13; Matt. 24:36, 44; Acts 1:11)
THE SPIRIT MAN:
The spirit is endless, and does not die with the body, but immediately after death, enters into an eternal state of
happiness, if saved; or misery, if unsaved.
We believe that heaven is the habitation of the living God, where Christ has gone to prepare a place for all His children, where they shall dwell eternally in happiness and security to rule and reign with Him. (1 Cor. 2:9; John 14:2; Rev. 21:4; Rev. 22:5; Rev. 7:15-17)
HELL:
We believe hell is a literal place of utter darkness, bitter sorrow, remorse and woe, prepared by God for the devil and his angels. Further, the unbelieving, abominable, the murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, liars, and those who have rejected the love of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into a lake burning with fire and brimstone. (Rev. 14:10-11; Rev. 20:10, 14, 15; Rev. 21:7-8; Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-44)
JUDGMENT:
We believe in the final judgment of the wicked at the throne, when the dead, both small and great, shall be resurrected to stand before God to receive the reward of their deeds done in the flesh. (Matt. 13:41-43; Rev. 20:11-15; 2 Thess. 1:4-9; Rev. 14:9-13; Luke 16:23; Rev. 21:8; Rev. 20:12-13; 2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 12: 36-37; Acts 17:31)
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:
(Commonly referred to as Rapture): We believe that the second coming of Christ is imminent as Bible prophecies are fulfilled. The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet call of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then the redeemed which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall they ever be with the Lord. We believe in the literal “catching away” of the saints. We should therefore be ready, for in such an hour as we think not, the Son of Man will return. At this time, Christ shall rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. (1 Thess. 4:16-17; Titus 2:12-13; Matt. 24:36, 44; Acts 1:11)
THE SPIRIT MAN:
The spirit is endless, and does not die with the body, but immediately after death, enters into an eternal state of
happiness, if saved; or misery, if unsaved.
BAPTISM:
WATER BAPTISM:
We believe that water baptism is the immersion of believers in water, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; by the Name of Jesus. We believe baptism is commanded by God; that it follows conversion (salvation) and is not a life saving ordinance; but an outward sign of an inward work of the Spirit in one’s life. We believe that it is not needed that infants or children participate in this ordinance; as it is expected once they come to the age of accountability and can choose the path of salvation through Jesus Christ, and then follow the steps into water baptism. (Matthew 3:14-16; 3:5-6; I Peter 3:21; John 3:23; Acts 10:47; Matthew 28:19, Rom. 6:4; Acts 2:38)
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
We believe the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a definite experience, not identical with conversion. We believe the Born-again Christian can be, or should be, baptized in the Holy Spirit. This is a condition in which the Born-again Christian becomes so full of the Spirit of Christ that the “living water” of the Spirit flows from that individual. This is characterized by: Speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. utterance (Mark 16:17), The Gifts of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:1-11), The Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). This experience allows the believer power over the enemy, boldness to witness for Christ (Acts 1:8), and the ability to pray according to God’s perfect will. (Romans 8:26-28) The Holy Spirit (also referred to as Holy Ghost) is given to endue the believer with power from on high, to give inspired utterance, and to lead the believer into holiness and sobriety, and to equip them for a practical efficient, spirit filled, soul winning ministry of service. (John 14:16; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 19:6)
SPIRIT FILLED LIFE:
We believe that having received the initial infilling of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the believer should experience a continual renewing of the power from on high; the Holy Spirit is as gentle as a dove, easily grieved and wounded by coldness, prayerlessness, idle conversation, worldliness, and a judging or critical spirit; therefore, it is the will of God that we walk and abide in the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18; Acts 4:31; Eph. 4:30-32, 1 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 5:16-25; 1 John 2:6)
We believe that water baptism is the immersion of believers in water, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; by the Name of Jesus. We believe baptism is commanded by God; that it follows conversion (salvation) and is not a life saving ordinance; but an outward sign of an inward work of the Spirit in one’s life. We believe that it is not needed that infants or children participate in this ordinance; as it is expected once they come to the age of accountability and can choose the path of salvation through Jesus Christ, and then follow the steps into water baptism. (Matthew 3:14-16; 3:5-6; I Peter 3:21; John 3:23; Acts 10:47; Matthew 28:19, Rom. 6:4; Acts 2:38)
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
We believe the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a definite experience, not identical with conversion. We believe the Born-again Christian can be, or should be, baptized in the Holy Spirit. This is a condition in which the Born-again Christian becomes so full of the Spirit of Christ that the “living water” of the Spirit flows from that individual. This is characterized by: Speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. utterance (Mark 16:17), The Gifts of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:1-11), The Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). This experience allows the believer power over the enemy, boldness to witness for Christ (Acts 1:8), and the ability to pray according to God’s perfect will. (Romans 8:26-28) The Holy Spirit (also referred to as Holy Ghost) is given to endue the believer with power from on high, to give inspired utterance, and to lead the believer into holiness and sobriety, and to equip them for a practical efficient, spirit filled, soul winning ministry of service. (John 14:16; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 19:6)
SPIRIT FILLED LIFE:
We believe that having received the initial infilling of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the believer should experience a continual renewing of the power from on high; the Holy Spirit is as gentle as a dove, easily grieved and wounded by coldness, prayerlessness, idle conversation, worldliness, and a judging or critical spirit; therefore, it is the will of God that we walk and abide in the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18; Acts 4:31; Eph. 4:30-32, 1 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 5:16-25; 1 John 2:6)
GIFTS & FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT:
We believe that for the edification of the saints and up building of the church of Jesus Christ, the Hoy Spirit has the following gifts to bestow upon the individual believer – the Word of Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Gifts of Healing, Working of Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of Spirits, Divers kinds of tongues, and the Interpretation of Tongues. God dividing to every man severally as He will; that they should be coveted earnestly by all spiritual believers and exercised in the spirit of love. We believe that the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. These should be cultivated in the life of every believer. (I Cor. 12:7-11; 1 Cor. 12:31; Gal. 5:22-23; John 15:4; John 15:8)
COMMUNION:
We believe that communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is an ordinance of the Gospel and was instituted by our Lord to commemorate His broken body and shed blood for the remission of sins and to show our remembrance of Him until He comes. All believers have a right to the Lord’s Supper. “Let a man examine himself and so let him eat.” (I Corinthians 11:28) Sin, sickness and disease, and all things covered by the shedding of the blood of Christ should be discerned, and the realization of the redemptive blood of Christ should be a part of our worship in the Lord’s Supper. (I Corinthians 11:23-30; 2 Corinthians 13:5)
THE SABBATH:
We believe that the Christian Sabbath should be observed as a day of rest and for the worship of God. (Exodus 20; 11:31; 12:18; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Ezekiel 20:12; Matthew 28:1; Luke 23:56; Acts 13:42-48; Mark 2:27)
DIVINE HEALING:
We believe in divine healing and the gifts of the Holy Spirit operating through believers, beginning on the day of Pentecost and remaining until the return of our Lord. We believe the prayer of faith is able to heal and that God is willing to and does heal the sick today. (I Corinthians 12; I Corinthians 13:9-10; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17; James 5:14-16; Acts 3:16)
THE SABBATH:
We believe that the Christian Sabbath should be observed as a day of rest and for the worship of God. (Exodus 20; 11:31; 12:18; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Ezekiel 20:12; Matthew 28:1; Luke 23:56; Acts 13:42-48; Mark 2:27)
DIVINE HEALING:
We believe in divine healing and the gifts of the Holy Spirit operating through believers, beginning on the day of Pentecost and remaining until the return of our Lord. We believe the prayer of faith is able to heal and that God is willing to and does heal the sick today. (I Corinthians 12; I Corinthians 13:9-10; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17; James 5:14-16; Acts 3:16)
HUMAN SEXUALITY
MARRIAGE & FAMILY:
HUMAN SEXUALITY:
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in, outside of the confines of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. Any employee or volunteer of the church becoming pregnant or causing pregnancy as a result of consensual intercourse outside of the marriage relationship shall not serve in the church for a period in which repentance and restoration can be determined; but God has grace extended in such matters through this process. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. We believe that a man is man who was born a man, and a woman is a woman who was born a woman. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)
ABORTION / HUMAN LIFE:
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified taking of an unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defect, gender selection, birth or population control or the mental well being of the mother are acceptable. Although God grants forgiveness, grace and healing to any persons who unknowingly committed such an act, but this choice should absolutely be avoided and deemed as sinful transgression once having knowledge of such an act and should believe that willfully choosing abortion is abominable.
We believe that all human life is sacred and created in God’s image. The worth of human life should not be underestimated including unborn children, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Proverbs 21:21; Isaiah 40:31)
We believe that all human life is sacred and created in God’s image. The worth of human life should not be underestimated including unborn children, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Proverbs 21:21; Isaiah 40:31)
MARRIAGE:
We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one biological man and one biological woman and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union. We believe God honors and blesses the union of such. We believe that a Christian man or woman should not marry an unsaved person and should be equally yoked together with someone of like-minded faith and goals for the success of the marriage in which they wish to be blessed. We believe that no person should enter marriage lightly but understand that it is a sanctified ordinance in which God’s ultimate desire is for that bond to not be broken by divorce, except in such cases as outlined in scripture with Spiritual guidance and prayer. (1 Tim. 4:12; Hebrews 13:4; Gen. 2:24; 2 Cor. 11:8-9; Mark 10:6-9)
FAMILY:
New Life Worship Center believes in the importance of building strong families to facilitate many other areas of life, and to be strong in faith and the building blocks that affect a home, a church, a community and even the nation. Therefore, we believe in the importance of training and teaching the youngest to the eldest to promote strong family health. (Malachi 2:10-16; 2 Cor. 6:15; Matt. 19:5-9; Luke 16:18; Hebrews 13:4; Matt. 19:14; Prov. 6:20; Prov. 24:3-4; Deut. 6:6-9)
CHURCH RELATIONSHIP:
We believe that every born-again child of God should identify himself with the visible church of Jesus Christ, and should labor diligently, and contribute his temporal means toward the spreading of the gospel here on earth. We believe that the True Church is the family of God and is composed of all true Christians. (Ephesians 3:16-21; Hebrews 12:22-23; I Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:20-22; Acts 2:47; Matthew 16:18)
We believe that the tithes should be given into the storehouse of the Lord, which is the local church. (Heb. 10:24-25; Ps. 111:1; Acts 2:47; Acts 16:5; Rom. 12:5; Malachi 3:8-10; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; 1 Cor. 16:2)
We believe that the tithes should be given into the storehouse of the Lord, which is the local church. (Heb. 10:24-25; Ps. 111:1; Acts 2:47; Acts 16:5; Rom. 12:5; Malachi 3:8-10; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; 1 Cor. 16:2)
CHRIST, THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH:
We believe that Christ is the Head of the Church, for whom He bled and died for to establish the assemblance of the “Rock” by which He compared His church to be built upon; and that the government of the local church is with the body. Jesus stated that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church. (Colossians 11:8-19; Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 12:23; Ephesians 1:22; Acts 16:4-5)
GIVING / STEWARDSHIP:
We believe that every Christian, as a good steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church SO THAT there will be means for a strong church body to relieve those in need, and facilitate the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe and/or offering once the gift has been made, as we are to give as unto the Lord. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Malachi 3:8-10; Luke 6:38; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Galatians 6:16; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)
MISSIONS / EVANGELISM:
We believe that the coming of Jesus Christ is imminent as Bible prophecies are fulfilled. As His redeemed children, we should put forth our utmost efforts to spread the Gospel to every “kindred, tribe, and tongue”, meaning “to every person”. Because making disciples is the chief mission of the church, every hindrance or dissent of doctrine which would quench or dampen the flame of worldwide evangelism and missions work both locally and globally, should be cut off and cast away; so we may all endeavor to fulfill the Great Commission. (Mark 16:15; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; Eph. 5:14-16; Prov. 11:30; John 4:35-37)
CIVIL GOVERNMENT:
We believe that government is ordained of God and all Christians should be subject to the laws of the land, except those contrary to the revealed will of God. We pledge allegiance and moral and spiritual support to the United States of America. In times of war, the individual’s participation in actual combat shall be governed by his own conscience. (Rom. 13:1-7; Acts 5:29; Matt. 5:39-48; Heb. 12:14)
CALL TO THE MINISTRY:
We believe in a divine call of the ministry; and that God impresses His ministers with the burden of lost souls, to the extent that the call becomes irresistible; that when they yield to the call and exercise the gifts according to the scriptures, He accompanies them in their ministry. We believe that all men and women are spiritually equal in position before God. Accordingly, both men and women are eligible for positions of leadership within the church, as we should all subject ourselves to one another in the fear of the Lord. (Jonah 1:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Mark 3:14; Acts 1:22-26; Matthew 28:19)