To be human is to be formed by someone or something, and this process happens whether we are intentional about it or not.
As disciples of Jesus, we choose to be intentionally formed by Jesus’ love, leadership, and lifestyle (Gal. 4:19; Matt. 11:28-30).
Being loved by Jesus is central to our identity. To dismiss this part of discipleship leads to being stingy toward God, others, and self.
The biggest deception in the modern church is the dismissal of effort in the Christian life. Failing to practice the lifestyle of Jesus leads to being stuck in frustration and hypocrisy.
To be a student of Jesus is to give Him full reign and authority over our minds and perception of reality. Ignoring His leadership leads to a stubborn heart and a stunted life.
The Christian life never makes sense in isolation. We were created in the image of the Triune God who exists in community.
As followers of Jesus, we choose to do the hard work of dwelling together in groups, on Sundays, and as family (Acts 2:42-47; Rom. 12:9-18).
We meet weekly in homes to share a meal, pray together, discuss how God is moving in our lives, and engage in the practices together.
We gather weekly in the sanctuary to sing together, learn from the Scriptures, serve one another, and make space for God’s grace.
We are a community of spiritual fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters. We grow together toward growth and maturity. Like a healthy family, we honor those ahead of us and are hospitable to those behind us.
The church is at its best when it lives on mission. As a community, we seek the renewal of our city by meeting spiritual, physical, emotional, and relational needs.
As students of Jesus, we intentionally sacrifice our time, talents, and treasure for our neighborhood, our workplace, and our world (Mk. 2:17; Matt. 9:36-38).
Jesus’ primary strategy to reach the lost was hospitality, and we seek to do the same. We don’t make demonstrations out of people; we make dinner for people.
We use our skill sets and passions to give people value and allow the gospel of Jesus Christ to give us our validation. We are contributors, not consumers.
We pray, give, and go around the world to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). 10% of our budget is dedicated to missions.
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31-32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. Genesis 1:1,26; John 1:1,3 ; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19-20; Ephesians 4:5-6
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.Luke 10:21-22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; John 6:27; Romans 1:7; I Timothy 1:1-2; I Timothy 2:5-6; I Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. Matthew 1:18-25 ; Luke 1:26-38 ; John 1:1 ; John 20:28; Romans 9:5 ; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30-31 ; Matthew 20:28 ; Ephesians 1:4 ; Acts 1:11 ; Romans 5:6-8 ; Romans 6:9-10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:28; I Timothy 3:16
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. John 14:16-17,26 ; John 15:26-27; John 16:9-14 ; Romans 8:9 ; I Corinthians 3:16; I Corinthians 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26
We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and therefore under condemnation. We believe that those who repent and forsake sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation and receive eternal life. Genesis 1:26 ; Genesis 2:17; Genesis 5:2; Eccl. 2:11; John 3:14 ; John 5:24; John 5:30; John 8:12; John 10:26; Romans 9:22 ; II Thessalonians 1:9; Rev. 19:20 ; Rev. 20:10,14,15; Psalm 51:7 ; Jeremiah 17:9 ; James 1:14 ; Romans 3:19 ; Romans 5:19; Proverbs 28:13 ; I John 1:9 ; John 3:16 ; John 1:13; II Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25
All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed,selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.
Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12, 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:13-16,43-48, 22:36-40, 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:18-21, 10:27-37; John 15:12, 17:15; Romans 12–14; 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, 6:1-7, 7:20-24, 10:23-11:1; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; James 1:27, 2:8
We are associated with the Southern Baptist Denomination and give to the cooperative program.
We believe that the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is a valuable summary of biblical teachings that is faithful to the Bible. It is conservative enough to accurately represent what the Bible teaches about important topics (Christ, Humanity, Salvation, and the Church), and yet, it is broad enough that Christians everywhere can come into agreement with it.
We wouldn’t be anywhere without our partners. The following have had different levels of support but all of them have given to us financially and have helped us in our training and leadership development.
