What We Believe
1. GOD, JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT
God manifests himself in three persons. God the Father as the Creator and Lawgiver, Jesus his son who took the form of a man to become our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit sent to earth to guide and comfort us until Christ returns. Salvation is only promised to those who accept Christ as their personal Savior.
2. SALVATION
Jesus was God in the flesh; he was born of a virgin and lived a blameless life while on earth. He died on the cross as our substitute, to cover our sins, and make us blameless before God if we will accept his sacrifice on our behalf. He rose to life on the third day, presented himself to man, and has gone to Heaven to prepare a place for us where we may be with him for eternity. Jesus can save our soul from damnation. If you are to become a Christian, you must make Jesus Christ both your Lord and Savior.
3. THE BIBLE AND ITS USE
The Bible is the word of God to man. It is infallible as delivered to its authors. In it we come to know our God and are given guidance in how we conduct our lives to please God and to bring joy in living. It is to be handled with care, studied, and passed along so others grow in the knowledge of God. Having said this we further believe as it is written in Matthew 19:4 Jesus said, "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh? So they are no longer two but one. Therefore, what God has joined together let man not separate." Therefore, as a church we believe that there are only two sexes (genders) man and woman. We further believe that marriage is only between a man and a woman.
4. BELIEVER'S BAPTISM/LORD'S SUPPER
The believer’s baptism is to be given to the Christian to be an avenue where a new believer can publicly acknowledge their new birth in Christ. The believer seeks to be baptized not in order to be saved but as an act of obedience to Christ. We believe that the preferred mechanism for this declaration is the immersion of the believer, although special circumstances may call for flexibility.
The Lord's Supper has been given to the believer to bring them regularly back to the recognition of the price Christ paid for our redemption. It is to be shared regularly and only taken after the believer has prepared themselves.
5. THE PURPOSE, PLACE, AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH
The church has multiple missions in the world. It is the mechanism by which believers support one another in a world they are not always welcome. The church is responsible for the feeding of new Christians to do the work of Christ. The church is a place where believers are led to recognize their spiritual gifts and shown how to put them to work in the Kingdom. It is the focus where the saints can find support for their carrying out the Great Commission. Finally, it is the bride that Christ is grooming for His return.
6. THE ROLE OF THE LAITY, THE ROLE OF THE MINISTER
The laity are the prime witnesses to the world of the saving grace of God. They are the workers in the church and in the world. We believe in the priesthood of all believers where the minister and the laity stand on equal ground. The laity can take Christ into the world in ways a pastor cannot.
The minister is the local shepherd to a flock of believers delivered to them by Christ. He feeds them, comforts them, leads them to where Christ would have them, and helps them to understand the word of God. He is a co-worker with the flock. He is not responsible for all the happenings within the church but carries the cross given by Christ.
7. THE AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CONGREGATION
The local congregation is responsible for the task of supporting the ministry of the flock. They must make the decisions that best match the circumstances with which the church is faced and provide the resources needed for the ministry. While the local church is very autonomous, it is wise for like-minded churches to bond together to provide overall supporting activity that anyone could not support either financially or with trained staff. For that reason, we choose to work with like-minded churches in the area.
8. AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES/USA
Our church has been a member of the ABC since its beginning and continues to be active in the ABC. We are particularly active in the home mission programs and have provided significant support over the years to many of the ABC missions. We appreciate the support that they offer the local church and the pastors who serve in their churches.