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We consider the following to be essential beliefs:
GOD
God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. God is personal and active in all of creation. God exists in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal, all fully God while possessing unique attributes.
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus, God incarnate, was both fully God and fully human. He lived a sin-free life and is God’s Chosen One to bring salvation to all peoples, of all time. Jesus willingly died on a cross to redeem all humankind and to offer us the gift of eternal life. He ascended to heaven and will return to earth to judge the living and the dead.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. This is God’s presence in the world – with us for guidance, comfort, and strength. The Holy Spirit works on the outside inviting all people into relationships. The Holy Spirit works from the inside, of those who accept the invitation to relationship, changing us, renewing us, and strengthening us to accomplish the mission of God.
HUMAN BEINGS
All human beings are created in God’s image (imago Dei) and designed to be in relationship with our creator. Through sin, humankind breaks its relationship with God. But through God’s grace (prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying) humankind is reunited with God, and we begin the process of being recreated into the persons God intends us to be.
SALVATION
Salvation is the free gift of God; it cannot be earned. There’s no behavior, no matter how holy or righteous, by which we can achieve salvation. It’s the gift of a gracious God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation involves repentance (turning from sin) conversion (being made new) and justification (being made right with God).
AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to us. Inspired by the Holy Spirit and written by humankind, the Bible is the source of truth and the final authority for Christian belief and practice.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The Kingdom of God is the reign of God. It is revealed whenever and wherever God’s will is done on earth as it is in Heaven. This Kingdom is the mission and the primary task of the Church today.
CHURCH
The Church is an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. The Church was never to be a place or destination. The Church is the people of God, filled with the Spirit of God, joined in the mission of God. God is actively working to transform the world and has chosen the Church – the people of God, as an instrument of this transformation (individually, socially, societally). God’s intent is for all believers to be joined in the ecclesia (movement) under the leadership of God, for the transformation of the world.
THE SACRAMENTS
We recognize the two sacraments in which Christ himself participated: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
BAPTISM
Through baptism, we are joined with The Church and with Christians everywhere. Baptism is symbolic of new life, a sign of God’s love and His forgiveness of our sins. “Baptism is an already inward work of grace.” Infant baptism is a covenant between God, the child’s parents, and the Church. It is a commitment to inspire and nurture the faith of children, so they will grow to profess their own faith in Christ and follow Him as Savior and Lord. We will celebrate infant dedication and baptism. For those baptized as infants, we celebrate baptism as a remembrance of baptism, with teenagers and adults making a public profession as a follower of Christ. We baptize by sprinkling, immersion, or pouring.
THE LORD’S SUPPER (COMMUNION)
The Lord’s Supper is a holy meal of bread and wine that symbolizes the body and blood of Christ. The Lord’s Supper recalls the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and celebrates the unity of all the members of God’s family. By sharing this meal, we give thanks for Christ’s sacrifice and are nourished and empowered to go into the world in mission and ministry. The communion table is open to all who love Christ, repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another.
Why do we do what we do?
We are passionate, not perfect, followers of Jesus Christ who want to make a difference in the lives of our fellowship, the community, and the world. We are Wesleyan in theology and practice. John Wesley, the founder of a renewal movement within the Church of England, which later became the Methodist church, said: Light yourself on fire with passion, and people will come from miles to watch you burn.
MISSION: Love God, Love Others and Serve the world!
CHRISTLIKENESS: Jesus Christ is the defining feature of God’s will and relationship with all humankind. In Christ is found both newness of life and the highest and clearest example for godliness. People made new in Christ find Him to be the source of faith, hope, and love in both the inner life and in our outward actions engaging a world desperate for hope and life.
DISCIPLE-MAKING: Making disciples is a clear mandate from Christ. This requires a strong missional focus on evangelism and training in spiritual growth and holy living. Done effectively, this will produce and promote growth and health in and among the churches.
UNITY IN DIVERSITY: There is intrinsic value in every person. Biblical unity becomes all the more important and beautiful in the light of the wide-ranging differences in personalities, cultures, races, languages, talents, and perspectives. Finding unity and mutual love in Christ eliminates devaluation and deprivation of life to one another.
OUR LIFE LIVED TOGETHER: Love one another, serve one another. We use our spiritual gifts and talents to serve one another and the world. Strive together to fulfill the Great Commission. We support the church financially. Meet together regularly for fellowship, worship, teaching, and the Lord’s Supper. Pursue personal holiness and obedience to God’s teaching and direction.
Inspiration:
Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth. ~ John Wesley
Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10.19-25 (NRSV)
Join us on the journey of making each other better, making the community better, and making the world better.