We believe in a church that is…
Doctrinally reformed to scripture and Christ centered.
- Reformed to Scripture: We confess the Westminster Standards as a faithful doctrinal summary of the system of doctrine contained in scripture. These were documents which came out of the protestant reformation in England, Scotland, and Ireland. They may be found on our Website. We believe that the church should be always reforming back to the purity of the Gospel truth presented in the scriptures. Also, we believe that all matters of life and faith should be formed based on God’s infallible word.
- Christ-Centered: We believe that all scripture speaks of one great story, the story of our Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us, and gave himself for us. We also believe that the preaching of the Gospel is both necessary for the unbeliever to be brought into the kingdom, but also for the believer to be built up and live a life of gratitude for God’s amazing grace.
Corporately worshiping, fellowshipping, and covenant family centered.
- Worship: we believe in observing the Lord’s Day (Sunday) as a special day of rest and worship. We pass this same truth on to our children in that we endeavor to make the day different than the other six. First, we are blessed through the special gathering of God’s people. The children are able to be with their friends from church in a way uncommon to the rest of the week. Secondly, we are blessed because we can learn more about God from the scriptures and Christian teachers. It is an opportunity to bring unbelieving friends to our homes to hear the gospel. The play on a day of rest might resemble the play on a day when you stay home from school because you need rest. It’s a day of quiet play. It’s a day to be quiet and think about God, what He has made, and continues to do. It’s a day to be helpful and kind.
- Fellowship: The local church is a covenant community. So we believe the church should have regular events where the whole congregation can gather for the enjoyment of one another’s company.
- Family Centered: The church is the extended family of God, and we seek to be a family for to one another. We believe that God works in the natural lines of families because he tells us so in his word (Gen 17:7-14, Acts 2:38-39). We as a congregation are dedicated to bring all Christian children into a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to establish daily worship in every home.
Pastorally nurtured, admonished, and cared for.
- Nurtured: The pastoral ministry serves the church by the preaching the word, prayer for the congregation, and by education of the congregation about the faith. It was said by the Roman Catholic Church in the past that “Ignorance is the mother of devotion.” This was said because it was assumed that theology was bad for the purity of one’s piety. We believe the opposite to be true. The Christian life is one where we are morally and relationally transformed by the renewing of our minds. Christian doctrine leads to Christian practice. One protestant pastor once said, “The world doth now see that without knowledge the mind is not good. And look, as no knowledge is so necessary as that of the grounds and principles of the Christian religion.”-Thomas Vincent.
- Admonished: The elders of the church have the duty and privilege of counseling and disciplining Christians who are struggling with sin and out of accord with the life and faith to which our Lord Jesus calls us.
- Care: The deacons minister to the physical needs of the church body as they come up, as well as steward the physical resources of the church.
Evangelistically grown and gathered.
- Growing: We believe that the church should be extended primarily by the ministry of the Gospel shared with unbelievers (Matt 28:18-20). Historically, church planting has shown itself to be the most efficient means to that end, as well as the methodology Saint Paul himself followed.
- Gathering: Though the church is primarily extended by conversion of unbelievers, it is also necessary for the church to seek out believers who have no church home (Luke 15:1-2, Mark 7:24-29). Many reformed churches are grown by convincing men and women of our system of doctrine; though this is not the primary way for churches to grow, it is a reality. It is necessary for those believers to worship where it would be right with their consciences; for, to disregard one’s conscience is neither right nor safe.