Our Mission TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION:  “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20) TO EQUIP THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY:  "It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-13) TO MULTIPLY AND CREATE DISCIPLES:  "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." (II Timothy 2:2) TO GATHER TOGETHER, WORSHIP CHRIST OUR LORD & TO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER:  "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 10:25) "They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42) Our Basic Beliefs GOD: There is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), eternally existent (John 1:1-3), creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1). He exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are one in essence but distinct in person and function (John 15:26, Matthew 3:16-17). JESUS CHRIST: Jesus Christ is fully God (John 10:30) who took on flesh through a virgin birth (Matthew 1:22-23) and dwelt on the earth (John 1:14). He was perfectly sinless (Hebrews 4:15). He died on a cross as a substitute for our sins (John 19:33), was buried, and physically rose from the dead (Luke 24:3-6), and ascended to live eternally with the Father (Acts1:10-11). MAN: Man is the direct creation of God and made in His image (Genesis 1:26). Every member of the human race is sinful by nature from birth (Romans 5:12, I Corinthians 15:22). Every member of the human race has sinned before God (Romans 3:23). Because of sin, every member of the human race is lost without Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:6, Proverbs 14:12, John 3:36). SALVATION: The death of Jesus Christ ALONE paid the price for salvation (Romans 5:6-8, Isaiah 53:5). Salvation is attained through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:3-6). Repentance (turning away) from sin is essential for salvation (Acts 2:38, Acts 26:20, Luke 13:3, II Corinthians 7:10). Evidence of salvation is confirmed, but not obtained, by: Good works (Matthew 7:17, Galatians 5:22-24). Water Baptism by immersion (Colossians 2:12, Romans 6:1-3). Salvation for the believer is secure for eternity (John 10:27-28, Hebrews 7:25, I John 5:13). HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, co-existent with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19). The Holy Spirit indwells a man at the moment of conversion (Acts 10:44, Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit is the chief agent of salvation and holiness in the life of the believer (Romans 15:16). The work of the Holy Spirit is manifest by fruit (Galatians 5:22-26, Ephesians 2:10) in cooperation with the believer's yielding (Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 5:18). The Holy Spirit endows each believer with a special gift to minister to the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:7, 11; I Peter 4:10-11). The Holy Spirit can be quenched (I Thessalonians 5:19) and grieved (Ephesians 4:30-32) by a believer. THE BIBLE: The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, though written by men, is verbally (word for word) inspired by God (2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16) and inerrant in its original writings. All the words of the Bible are the final, complete, written, and true revelation of God (Revelation 22:18-19). The Bible is sufficient to meet all the needs of all believers (2 Timothy 3:17, Psalm 19:7-14). The Bible is understood through the guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). The meaning of the Bible is determined by the historical, grammatical, and literary use of the author's language, comparing scripture with scripture (2 Timothy 2:15). THE CHURCH: The church is a local assembly of baptized believers (Hebrews 10:25). The church is organized to carry out the mission to evangelize and teach every person (Matthew 28:19), and to carry out the ordinances of the Lord's supper and believer's baptism (Acts 2:42-47). The supreme Head of the church is Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18). The local church is governed by mature, godly men, also know as elders and deacons (Titus 1:5-9, I Timothy 3:1-13). The church is self-supporting by the sacrificial giving of her members (I Corinthians 16:1-2). SECOND COMING: We believe in the literal, visible (Revelation 1:7), personal, and soon return of Jesus Christ for His Church (Revelation 22:12), at which time He will transform our bodies, whether dead or alive, into a body suited for heaven (Philippians 3:20-21).