What We Believe

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe.  He is love.  His creation is good.  There is one God who exists forever in perfect community as three persons:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
-Genesis 1; 1 John 4:16

Jesus is the Son of God, fully human and fully God. Jesus was tempted just as we are and yet lived a sinless human life.  He died on a Roman cross that we might become the righteousness of God. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead to show He had conquered sin and death.  Jesus ascended to the Father and will return again to earth as the Savior of the world.
-2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:17,18

The Bible is God's story to all of us. Written by human authors over thousands of years, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit (inspired by God).  The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the New Testament declare His design and plan for living on mission and knowing who God is and His will for our lives.
-2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 10:1-11

We are made in God's image to be like Him in character, but because of sin and selfishness, humans have sought to live apart from a good God.  Remember Adam & Eve?  Everyone is born with a selfish nature that is convinced that it can live without God. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of independence and pride toward God called sin.  Somehow, we all think we are smarter than God in some part of our lives.
-Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8

Only Jesus can right the waywardness of our hearts. God, through Jesus'  life and death, offers us the gift of a relationship that cannot be earned by our own goodness, wisdom, or strength. This gift is freely offered, but we must accept it. We begin this journey of faith by saying yes to letting Jesus lead. We can never make up for our waywardness by self-improvement or trying to be really good people. Rightness is offered in grace and received by faith in Jesus Christ alone.
-John 15:13; 1 Peter 3:18

We all have choices.  We can either let Jesus lead us and live forever with God (Heaven) or choose not to let Jesus be the leader of our lives and be eternally separated from God (Hell).
-2 Timothy 2:11; John 6:58; John 14:1-3

When people choose to follow Jesus, God plants inside of them all that is needed to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach their friends, family, neighbors,
and co-workers how to love God.  As people go on the mission with Jesus, churches emerge, and God changes the world heart-first.  As hearts change, we all win, and the world gets better.
-Mark 16:15-20; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:42,43

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make us aware of our need for Jesus. The Holy Spirit lives in
every follower of Jesus. The Holy Spirit provides all followers of Jesus with the power to live a life of love, understanding, spiritual truth, and boldness in sharing God's message with others.
-Acts 1:8; 4:31

Through faith in the name of Jesus, we believe that divine healing is possible today.
-James 5:14-16; 2 Peter 2:24

Water baptism is an expression of life change. It is a declaration of us learning to surrender to Jesus and His leadership. The symbol of baptism is a powerful reminder that we identify with Jesus in both His death (immersion under the water) and in His life (coming out of the water).
-Matthew 28:19; Galatians 3:27; 2 Corinthians 5:17

We believe in the soon-coming, personal, and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
-1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Corinthians 11:26