Being used by God to change lives . . . This statement should be true of our church as a whole (and each small group, and each ministry area) but is also a mission we hope is embraced by each individual.

We believe that Scripture, in its entirety, originated with God and was intended for use by man in all matters of faith and conduct. Scripture reflects the personalities of the human writers who were chosen by God. However, the Bible is a revelation from God alone. It is perfectly accurate, authoritative, complete, and reliable.

The Bible teaches that God is the sovereign Creator and the Lord of all that exists. He is one and yet exists eternally in three personalities: Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit.

The Bible teaches that sin separates us from God. Sin is any conscious thought or action that does not please God. It is the mark of human imperfection and the reason we are in need of reconciliation to God.

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is God’s eternally existing son. He lived on earth in human form as a product of miraculous conception and virgin birth. Jesus lived a sinless life and was a willing sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. His resurrection after death provided an opportunity for all people to have abundant and eternal life.

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is God who comes to live within every believer at conversion. He provides the believer with all that is necessary (direction, gifts, fruit) to live within the will of God.

The Bible teaches that human beings, though created in the very image of God, have chosen to disobey God by sinning. It is only by the perfect sacrifice of Christ that human beings can be reconciled to God.

The Bible teaches that Salvation is an act of God’s love and grace. This gift from God is free to anyone who chooses to follow Jesus Christ in faith as his/her Savior. That eternal gift is appropriated as a believer demonstrates trust by obeying Him as Lord.

Because people matter to God, these values are in the very fibers/DNA of who we are as a church.

Outward: Lost people matter uniquely to God. Their separation from Jesus drives us. We regularly sacrifice for those who are not part of our church.

Excellence: Not perfect or slick, but always intentional and well-prepared. Never sloppy. We invite and engage critique for constant improvement.

Unity: We assume the best about each other. We communicate directly. We respect order and structure. The parts serve the whole. The Mission comes first.

Leadership: Effective ministries are led by effective leaders. Servant-hearted. Christ-centered. Mission-driven. We must constantly reproduce and develop them.

Journey: Everyone is welcomed as they are. Everyone has a next step. No one has arrived. We are fascinated by authentic stories of God at work in lives.

We believe that every Christ-follower should continue to grow in their faith. As a guideline, we believe that every Christ-follower should:

CULTIVATE a personal relationship with Jesus.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – Jesus in John 15:5

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. – Philippians 3:10-11

CONNECT in relationships where truth meets life.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ. – Ephesians 4:15

They devoted themselves to… the fellowship… – Acts 2:42

CONTRIBUTE by serving.

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” – Mark 8:34-35

CARE about people far from God.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” – Luke 19:10

… “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
– Mark 2:16-17

These commitments are intended to help us define and mutually accept the way that we will relate to one another.

1. Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive Jesus Christ as the Lord, Savior, and, supreme Treasure of our lives, and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
2. We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and peace; to promote its spirituality and fruitfulness; to sustain its worship, ordinances, and discipline; to welcome, and test biblically, instruction from the Scriptures by the Pastor of the church seeking to grow toward biblical unity in the truth; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
3. We also engage to maintain family and personal devotions; to educate our children in the Christian faith; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment, to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; to seek God’s help in abstaining from all drugs, food, drink, and practices which bring unwarranted harm to the body or jeopardize our own or another’s faith.
4. We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.
5. We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will, if possible, unite with a likeminded church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant.