What We Believe

We believe the Bible is our only and absolute authority for what we believe and practice. We are held captive to it as our infallible and inerrant guide. We are ready to be instructed by God’s Word in bringing all of our convictions and traditions in line with what it teaches.

We believe the church is to be a worshipping and training center for believers which enables them to influence their world. Each believer is gifted for ministry and will find fulfillment in life as they learn to honor the Lord through the giving of themselves in ministry in the church family and in being salt and light to a lost world (1 Peter 4:10-12). We gather as a church to preach and teach the gospel, worshipping our Savior and seeking to encourage one another -- we leave to evangelize and serve.

We believe God is the Giver of Salvation through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Scriptures teach that God chose before the foundation of the world those who would receive His grace for salvation. This decision is based on God’s mercy and not on the basis of any merit in man. We acknowledge that these concepts are difficult if not impossible for the finite mind of man to comprehend but we further acknowledge that this is what the Bible teaches (Romans 9:15-24). We teach that man is responsible before God to repent and believe the Gospel and that when he does, it is the evidence of God’s mercy which has enabled him to do so. And so we give God all the glory for our salvation from it’s beginning in the counsels of God until it’s consummation resulting in our glorification. Our confidence in God’s sovereignty in all things motivates our evangelistic and missionary endeavors.

We believe in loving our neighbors – engaging our culture in positive ways. We want to encourage each member to live in ways that they will bring honor to God as they serve and love their neighbors. We must live “in the midst” of our world while remaining “separated” from evil practices. We want all our members to be involved in their community. We acknowledge that the media can have a most negative impact upon our lives if we are not discerning. What we partake in the way of movies and literature can often either strengthen our resolve to serve Christ or can dull our conscience and make us insensitive to the needs of others. A rule book is not needed, but rather a consistent walk in the Spirit.

We believe in the soul competency of every believer. By this we mean that each believer by God’s enabling can understand for himself, without the aid of any mediator or priest, all that God requires of him. He is his own believer/priest. This does not mean he is competent in a self-sufficient way, but rather he can understand what the Scriptures command. He is responsible before God individually for what he believes and practices. It also means that we endeavor to win and persuade men through the presentation of God’s Word, in the power of the Holy Spirit, not by coercion of any kind. Other implications of this principle include believer’s baptism – baptism that is the response of faith. Included as well, is the principle that the power of the state should not have governing influence on the ministries of the church – while the church should be free to proclaim truth to the governing authorities.

We believe in the autonomy of the local congregation. We are an independent church, meaning that no other church or entity (mission, denomination, or regional group of church leaders) can dictate to the local church what its ministries should be. We voluntarily cooperate with the Southern Baptist Convention and other churches or missions of like faith as we follow God’s direction in seeking to fulfill our Great Commission responsibilities as instructed in Mt. 28:19-20.

We believe in Elder Polity. We believe in servant leadership and that the qualifications for church leaders were given to protect the church in decision making. In the Scriptures these leaders are called elders, bishops, and pastors, with these three terms used interchangeably, emphasizing three aspects of the same office (discernment in decision making, oversight, and shepherding). Each church in the New Testament was characterized by having multiple elders who served and led the congregation. Through elder leadership, each member of the congregation has a voice and can influence decision-making through their elders. This is proper congregational partnership. Elders serve with the members by representing their concerns and streamlining decision-making and responses to ministry needs. Members serve by affirming and implementing the direction God gives.

We hope you will come visit us. Remember, if you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, we are already brothers and sisters in the universal Body of Christ. We trust God would help us to be a blessing to you as we serve the Lord together!