What we believe

God’s Word

The Bible

We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and His specific revelation to mankind. It is perfect and infallible, the greatest love story ever told and the most extraordinary rescue mission in human history.

The Word of God is the foundation on which this ministry operates and is governed, and it is the final authority for what we believe and how we live. Where any earthly law contradicts the Scriptures, we believe God’s Word takes precedence.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 · Psalm 119:89 · Acts 5:29

One God, three Persons

God

We believe there is one living and true God, who exists eternally in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These three are equal in power and glory.

God created everything from nothing, speaking all of creation into existence.

Deuteronomy 6:4 · Matthew 28:19 · Genesis 1:1

Our Lord and Savior

Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ is fully God, equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He exists eternally, with no beginning and no end, and all things were created through Him and for Him.

He was born of a virgin and laid in a manger, lived a sinless life and died a sinner’s death in our place. After willingly laying down His life, He rose from the dead on the third day, overcoming sin and death. He then ascended into heaven, where He is preparing a place for all who believe in Him.

We wait in eager expectation for His return: first to gather His church to Himself, and then, seven years later, to judge the world and defeat Satan once and for all.

John 1:1–3 · Colossians 1:16 · 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 · John 14:2–3 · 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

A Person, not a power

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is a Person and fully God, equal with the Father and the Son. He is present on earth today, convicting the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.

The Holy Spirit indwells every believer at salvation and empowers believers for service. He gives spiritual gifts to whom He wills, when He wills. We believe all of the spiritual gifts are active in the body of Christ today, and that they must be used according to God’s Word, in balance and in order.

We believe the initial, physical evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is love for others.

John 16:8 · 1 Corinthians 12:11 · 1 Corinthians 14:40 · John 13:35

Saved by grace

Mankind and salvation

We believe all people are sinful by nature and that all have fallen short of God’s perfect standard. No amount of hard work, charitable deeds or morality can save us.

Salvation is God’s gift of grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ. Everyone who repents and trusts in Him is forgiven and made a new creation in Christ.

Romans 3:23 · Ephesians 2:8–9 · 2 Corinthians 5:17

One body, one Head

The Church

We believe there is only one church, and Jesus Christ is its Head. The church exists to know, love and glorify God and to make Him known to the world.

Jesus gives apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry. The church is called to gather regularly for Bible study, fellowship, communion and prayer, and to make disciples in every nation, baptizing them and teaching them to obey the whole counsel of God.

Ephesians 4:11–12 · Acts 2:42 · Hebrews 10:25 · Matthew 28:19–20

Sacred from conception

Human life

We believe all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Every life is of immeasurable worth in all its stages and conditions, including the unborn, the elderly, those with physical or mental disabilities, and every person from conception to natural death.

We are therefore called to defend, protect and value all human life.

Psalm 139:13–16 · Genesis 1:27

Created male and female

Gender

We believe God is the Creator of all things, and that He created each person uniquely as male or female. He designed man and woman differently to complement and complete one another.

Genesis 1:27 · Matthew 19:4

God’s design for the family

Marriage

Having created each person as male or female, God instituted monogamous marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Marriage is the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society.

We recognize marriage only as the union of one biological man and one biological woman. Accordingly, this ministry will not perform, or allow to be performed on its property, any ceremony that falls outside this definition, and it will not recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions, domestic partnerships or any other union outside this definition. This will remain our position even if state or federal law recognizes such unions.

Genesis 2:24 · Matthew 19:4–6