Our Mission / Vision
In receiving and believing on the name of Jesus, we will actively make more disciples by joining God
with all we have in building His kingdom one soul at a time.
with all we have in building His kingdom one soul at a time.
This comes directly out the of commands of Jesus Christ as laid out in scripture. We are to come to know Him (John 1:12), to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8) and go into all nations and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). It also come from Jesus' example as He loved the one possessed by demons, the widow burying her only son, the one bleeding for years, one who was blind, one who was a leper, and many more. We do this out of love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (John 14:23-24), and for all people (2 Peter 3:9). We can only love, however, because He first loved us (1 John 4:10). His love for each one of us is our motivation for this mission of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:17-20).
Our Story
Suedberg Church of God is a member of the Eastern Regional Conference (Harrisburg, PA) of the Churches of God, General Conference (Findlay, OH). This is a Christian denomination founded under the leadership of one Rev. John Winebrenner, V.D.M., who was formerly a minister in the German Reformed Church. Suedberg Church of God, founded 1870 - 1871, was a mission under the pastorate of Elder Israel Hay, of Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania. Services were conducted at the Old West Pine Grove schoolhouse.
On April 16, 1871, thirty-eight persons from the mission group joined in organizing a Church of God. The need for a building to house the worshipers was urgent. The decision to build the church was made on October 21, 1871. On May 19, 1872, the worshipers participated in the cornerstone ceremony. The church structure was sufficiently completed to use for dedicatory services on November 17, 1872.
Suedberg Church of God has been holding services, ministering to the community and serving God continually for over 140 years.
On April 16, 1871, thirty-eight persons from the mission group joined in organizing a Church of God. The need for a building to house the worshipers was urgent. The decision to build the church was made on October 21, 1871. On May 19, 1872, the worshipers participated in the cornerstone ceremony. The church structure was sufficiently completed to use for dedicatory services on November 17, 1872.
Suedberg Church of God has been holding services, ministering to the community and serving God continually for over 140 years.
Our Beliefs and Values
God: We believe in one eternal God who created everything. He loves us and deserves to be loved.
Therefore, we will love God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, our Creator and LORD.
Jesus: We believe Jesus is God and man and provides the only way for our salvation.
Therefore, we will follow Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Holy Spirit: We believe God the Holy Spirit, lives in believers to empower, teach, and equip His church.
Therefore, we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to teach and equip His church.
The Bible: We believe the Bible, God’s unchanging Word, reveals His nature and our need to be saved.
Therefore, in studying the Bible, we will learn to live for God, in a fallen world.
The Church: We believe the Church is followers of Christ united, encouraging, and growing together under His leadership.
Therefore, we will be united under Christ, encouraging and helping one another grow in faith.
Worship: We believe worship is continually offering praise to God for who He is, individually and as a church.
Therefore, we will worship the Lord in Spirit and truth when together and when alone.
Humanity: We believe though created perfectly in God’s image, man’s rebellion brought separation, that only Christ can restore.
Therefore, we will repent of our sin, encouraging others to repent and be restored to God through Christ.
Sin and Salvation: We believe death exists because of sin. Believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior produces eternal life.
Therefore, we will believe in Jesus living and proclaiming eternal life is only found in Him.
Edification: We believe building up one another intentionally through word and deed leads to spiritual maturity in Christ.
Therefore, we will build up one another to bring about increasing spiritual maturity.
Prayer: We believe earnestly talking with God, praising Him, asking of Him, submitting to Him, unleashes His power.
Therefore, we will pray with God, desiring His will be done powerfully in this life.
Therefore, we will love God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, our Creator and LORD.
Jesus: We believe Jesus is God and man and provides the only way for our salvation.
Therefore, we will follow Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Holy Spirit: We believe God the Holy Spirit, lives in believers to empower, teach, and equip His church.
Therefore, we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to teach and equip His church.
The Bible: We believe the Bible, God’s unchanging Word, reveals His nature and our need to be saved.
Therefore, in studying the Bible, we will learn to live for God, in a fallen world.
The Church: We believe the Church is followers of Christ united, encouraging, and growing together under His leadership.
Therefore, we will be united under Christ, encouraging and helping one another grow in faith.
Worship: We believe worship is continually offering praise to God for who He is, individually and as a church.
Therefore, we will worship the Lord in Spirit and truth when together and when alone.
Humanity: We believe though created perfectly in God’s image, man’s rebellion brought separation, that only Christ can restore.
Therefore, we will repent of our sin, encouraging others to repent and be restored to God through Christ.
Sin and Salvation: We believe death exists because of sin. Believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior produces eternal life.
Therefore, we will believe in Jesus living and proclaiming eternal life is only found in Him.
Edification: We believe building up one another intentionally through word and deed leads to spiritual maturity in Christ.
Therefore, we will build up one another to bring about increasing spiritual maturity.
Prayer: We believe earnestly talking with God, praising Him, asking of Him, submitting to Him, unleashes His power.
Therefore, we will pray with God, desiring His will be done powerfully in this life.
Our Beliefs in Full
THE TRIUNE GOD:
THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOD, ETERNALLY EXISTING IN THREE PERSONS: FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT, WHO ARE CO-EQUAL IN THEIR ESSENTIAL NATURE, ATTRIBUTES, AND PERFECTION. HIS WORK IS PRIMARILY CREATION, GRACE, JUSTICE AND MERCY THROUGH HIS LOVE. GOD WANTS US TO KNOW HIM AND HAS REVEALED HIMSELF TO US IN VARIOUS WAYS. (GENESIS 1:1; DEUTERONOMY 6:4; PSALM 18:30-31, 147:5; MATTHEW 28:19; MARK 12:29; LUKE 3:22; JOHN 4:24, 5:23, 10:30, 14:9; ACTS 5:3-4; HEBREWS 1:1-3)
JESUS CHRIST:
AS GOD THE SON HE WAS CONCEIVED IN THE FLESH BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, BORN OF A VIRGIN, FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN. HE IS WITHOUT SIN, AND IS THE ONLY MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. HE IS SAVIOR AND LORD. HE DIED AND WAS RESURRECTED AND ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN. THIS SAME JESUS WILL COME TO RECEIVE US THAT WE MAY BE WITH HIM FOREVER. (ISAIAH 7:14, 9:6-7; MATTHEW 1:18-25; MARK 14:61-62; JOHN 1:1-3, 14, 29, 5:18, 8:58, 10:30; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11; COLOSSIANS 2:9; 1 TIMOTHY 2:5; HEBREWS 1:2-9, 2:14-15; 1 JOHN 5:20)
THROUGH HIS CRUCIFIXION, HE PAID FOR THE WORLD’S SIN, SATISFYING THE RIGHTEOUS WRATH OF GOD, PROVIDING REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE ON HIS NAME. FORTY DAYS AFTER HIS BODILY RESURRECTION HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN WHERE HE SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD AS OUR INTERCESSOR. (ISAIAH 53:5-6; LUKE 24:36-43; JOHN 3:16, 20:25-28; ROMANS 3:21-26; I CORINTHIANS 15:3-8, 20-23; GALATIANS 3:13; COLOSSIANS 1:13-14, 19-20; I PETER 1:18-19, 2:24; I JOHN 2:1-2)
THE HOLY SPIRIT:
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE CONVICTS THE WORLD OF SIN, LEADING TO REPENTANCE, AND SPIRITUAL BIRTH. HE INDWELLS, EQUIPS, GUIDES, SANCTIFIES, SEALS, TEACHES AND TRANSFORMS EACH BELIEVER, ENABLING HIM TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND HIS WORD. (JOHN 3:5-8, 14:16-17, 26, 15:26, 16:7-15; ACTS 1:8, 5:3-4; ROMANS 8:9, 13-14; 1 CORINTHIANS 2:10-11, 6:11, 19, 12:4-13; 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18; GALATIANS 5:16-18, 22-23; EPHESIANS 1:13-14, 4:30)
THE BIBLE:
THE SIXTY-SIX BOOKS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS ARE THE VERBALLY INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, THEY ARE WITHOUT ERROR IN THE ORIGINAL WRITINGS, AND THEY ARE THE COMPLETE AND FINAL REVELATION OF GOD. THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF THE SCRIPTURES IS THE GOOD NEWS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD. PROPER INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. (MATTHEW 5:18; JOHN 17:17; 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17; 2 PETER 1:20-21; REVELATION 22:18-19)
THE CHURCH, WORSHIP AND EDIFICATION:
ALL WHO HAVE PLACED THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST ARE UNITED TOGETHER BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ONE SPIRITUAL BODY, THE CHURCH, OF WHICH CHRIST IS THE HEAD. IN ADDITION, THE MEMBERS OF THIS ONE SPIRITUAL BODY ARE DIRECTED TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES TOGETHER IN LOCAL CHURCHES. (MATTHEW 16:18; ACTS 2:42-47; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-13; EPHESIANS 1:22-23; COLOSSIANS 1:18; HEBREWS 10:25). THE CHURCH IS TO WORSHIP THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. WORSHIP IS TO BE ORDERLY, A WITNESS TO THE UNSAVED. (JOHN 4, I COR 14), AS WELL AS EDIFIYING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH BODY (1 COR 12, I COR 14, EPH 4).
THERE ARE THREE ORDINANCES THAT HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO THE LOCAL CHURCH TO BUILD UP THE BODY OF BELIEVERS: BAPTISM, FEET WASHING AND THE LORD’S SUPPER. BAPTISM BY IMMERSION IS AN OUTWARD SYMBOL OF AN INWARD GRACE FOR THOSE WHO PROFESS FAITH IN CHRIST AND COMMIT TO FOLLOW HIM. BAPTISM IS NOT ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION. (MARK 1:9-10; MATTHEW 28:16-20; ACTS 2:41; ROMANS 6:3-5, 10:9-10). FEET WASHING IS A CELEBRATION OF THE INCARNATION AND REMINDS US OF OUR CALLING TO BE SERVANTS. IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF OUR LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR ONE ANOTHER. IT REMINDS US OF OUR NEED TO MINISTER AND TO BE MINISTERED UNTO. (MARK 10:45; JOHN 13:12-17). THE LORD'S SUPPER, OR COMMUNION, IS INTENDED TO REMIND US OF CHRIST’S ATONING DEATH. IT IS A PROCLAMATION OF LIFE AND HOPE. THIS ORDINANCE IS OPEN TO ALL PROFESSING CHRISTIANS. (LUKE 22:19-20; 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-29).
HUMANITY:
MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD IN HIS OWN IMAGE AND IS NOT THE PRODUCT OF EVOLUTION. HE FELL INTO SIN BY PERSONALLY DISOBEYING THE COMMAND OF GOD. THROUGH ADAM ALL MANKIND IS SINFUL IN NATURE AND PRACTICE AND IS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO SAVE HIMSELF. ALL FACE A FUTURE OF BEING ETERNALLY SEPARATED FROM GOD. (GENESIS 1:26-28, 2:7, 18-24, 3:1-24, 9:6; MATTHEW 19:4-6; MARK 7:21-23; JOHN 8:42-44; ROMANS 1:18-20, 3:10-12, 23; ROMANS 5:18-19; EPHESIANS 2:1-3)
AT DEATH, THE REDEEMED PASS IMMEDIATELY INTO THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST AND THERE REMAIN IN FELLOWSHIP UNTIL THEIR BODILY RESURRECTION RESULTING IN GLORIFICATION. THE UNSAVED AT DEATH DESCEND IMMEDIATELY INTO HADES, WHERE THEY ARE KEPT UNTIL THEIR BODILY RESURRECTION RESULTING IN DAMNATION. (DANIEL 12:2; LUKE 16:22-23, 23:43; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:8; PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11; REVELATION 20:11-15)
WE BELIEVE IN THE PRESENTATION OF CHILDREN FOR THE LORD’S BLESSING, SETTING THEM APART FOR THE LORD. CHILDREN ARE GIFTS OF GOD AND PART OF THE CHURCH BODY. PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL NURTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN. THE CONGREGATION ALSO SHARES THIS RESPONSIBILITY. (DEUTERONOMY 6:1-2, 6-9; MATTHEW 18:3-6; LUKE 18:15-16)
SIN and SALVATION:
ETERNAL SALVATION FROM SIN, DEATH AND HELL IS THE FREE GIFT OF GOD'S GRACE AND IS BASED SOLELY UPON ONE’S PERSONAL FAITH IN CHRIST, NOT BY WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY WORKS OF ONE’S OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS. SANCTIFICATION IS BOTH INSTANTANEOUS AND PROGRESSIVE. JESUS AROSE BODILY FROM THE GRAVE GUARANTEEING BELIEVERS' OWN FUTURE RESURRECTION. WHEN RECEIVED, THIS SALVATION IS ETERNALLY SECURE. (JOHN 1:12-13, 3:16, 5:24, 10:28-30, 14:6; ACTS 16:31; ROMANS 3:23-26, 5:1, 8, 6:23, 10:9-10; EPHESIANS 2:8-9; TITUS 3:5; HEBREWS 7:24-25; 1 PETER 1:18-19, 1 JOHN 5:11-13)
AT DEATH, THE REDEEMED PASS IMMEDIATELY INTO THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST AND THERE REMAIN IN FELLOWSHIP UNTIL THEIR BODILY RESURRECTION RESULTING IN GLORIFICATION. THE UNSAVED AT DEATH DESCEND IMMEDIATELY INTO HADES, WHERE THEY ARE KEPT UNTIL THEIR BODILY RESURRECTION RESULTING IN DAMNATION. (DANIEL 12:2; LUKE 16:22-23, 23:43; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:8; PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11; REVELATION 20:11-15)
WE BELIEVE IN THE PRESENTATION OF CHILDREN FOR THE LORD’S BLESSING, SETTING THEM APART FOR THE LORD. CHILDREN ARE GIFTS OF GOD AND PART OF THE CHURCH BODY. PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL NURTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN. THE CONGREGATION ALSO SHARES THIS RESPONSIBILITY. (DEUTERONOMY 6:1-2, 6-9; MATTHEW 18:3-6; LUKE 18:15-16)
FUTURE EVENTS:
WE BELIEVE IN THE SECOND COMING AND ULTIMATE VICTORY OF JESUS CHRIST, THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF BELIEVERS, AND GOD BRINGING HISTORY TO ITS PROPER CLOSE IN HIS WAY AND TIME. THE MESSAGE OF END TIMES IS ONE OF VICTORY AND FULFILLMENT FOR CHRISTIANS, THE ULTIMATE TRIUMPH OF GOD’S KINGDOM, AND FINAL JUDGMENT. UNTIL THEN, THE MISSION OF GOD’S PEOPLE IS TO BE SALT AND LIGHT IN THE WORLD. (MATTHEW 24:30-31; ACTS 1:10-11; 1 THESSALONIANS 4:16-17; 2 PETER 10; REVELATION 21:1-5, 22:20)
THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOD, ETERNALLY EXISTING IN THREE PERSONS: FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT, WHO ARE CO-EQUAL IN THEIR ESSENTIAL NATURE, ATTRIBUTES, AND PERFECTION. HIS WORK IS PRIMARILY CREATION, GRACE, JUSTICE AND MERCY THROUGH HIS LOVE. GOD WANTS US TO KNOW HIM AND HAS REVEALED HIMSELF TO US IN VARIOUS WAYS. (GENESIS 1:1; DEUTERONOMY 6:4; PSALM 18:30-31, 147:5; MATTHEW 28:19; MARK 12:29; LUKE 3:22; JOHN 4:24, 5:23, 10:30, 14:9; ACTS 5:3-4; HEBREWS 1:1-3)
JESUS CHRIST:
AS GOD THE SON HE WAS CONCEIVED IN THE FLESH BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, BORN OF A VIRGIN, FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN. HE IS WITHOUT SIN, AND IS THE ONLY MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. HE IS SAVIOR AND LORD. HE DIED AND WAS RESURRECTED AND ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN. THIS SAME JESUS WILL COME TO RECEIVE US THAT WE MAY BE WITH HIM FOREVER. (ISAIAH 7:14, 9:6-7; MATTHEW 1:18-25; MARK 14:61-62; JOHN 1:1-3, 14, 29, 5:18, 8:58, 10:30; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11; COLOSSIANS 2:9; 1 TIMOTHY 2:5; HEBREWS 1:2-9, 2:14-15; 1 JOHN 5:20)
THROUGH HIS CRUCIFIXION, HE PAID FOR THE WORLD’S SIN, SATISFYING THE RIGHTEOUS WRATH OF GOD, PROVIDING REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE ON HIS NAME. FORTY DAYS AFTER HIS BODILY RESURRECTION HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN WHERE HE SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD AS OUR INTERCESSOR. (ISAIAH 53:5-6; LUKE 24:36-43; JOHN 3:16, 20:25-28; ROMANS 3:21-26; I CORINTHIANS 15:3-8, 20-23; GALATIANS 3:13; COLOSSIANS 1:13-14, 19-20; I PETER 1:18-19, 2:24; I JOHN 2:1-2)
THE HOLY SPIRIT:
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE CONVICTS THE WORLD OF SIN, LEADING TO REPENTANCE, AND SPIRITUAL BIRTH. HE INDWELLS, EQUIPS, GUIDES, SANCTIFIES, SEALS, TEACHES AND TRANSFORMS EACH BELIEVER, ENABLING HIM TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND HIS WORD. (JOHN 3:5-8, 14:16-17, 26, 15:26, 16:7-15; ACTS 1:8, 5:3-4; ROMANS 8:9, 13-14; 1 CORINTHIANS 2:10-11, 6:11, 19, 12:4-13; 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18; GALATIANS 5:16-18, 22-23; EPHESIANS 1:13-14, 4:30)
THE BIBLE:
THE SIXTY-SIX BOOKS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS ARE THE VERBALLY INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, THEY ARE WITHOUT ERROR IN THE ORIGINAL WRITINGS, AND THEY ARE THE COMPLETE AND FINAL REVELATION OF GOD. THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF THE SCRIPTURES IS THE GOOD NEWS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD. PROPER INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. (MATTHEW 5:18; JOHN 17:17; 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17; 2 PETER 1:20-21; REVELATION 22:18-19)
THE CHURCH, WORSHIP AND EDIFICATION:
ALL WHO HAVE PLACED THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST ARE UNITED TOGETHER BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ONE SPIRITUAL BODY, THE CHURCH, OF WHICH CHRIST IS THE HEAD. IN ADDITION, THE MEMBERS OF THIS ONE SPIRITUAL BODY ARE DIRECTED TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES TOGETHER IN LOCAL CHURCHES. (MATTHEW 16:18; ACTS 2:42-47; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-13; EPHESIANS 1:22-23; COLOSSIANS 1:18; HEBREWS 10:25). THE CHURCH IS TO WORSHIP THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. WORSHIP IS TO BE ORDERLY, A WITNESS TO THE UNSAVED. (JOHN 4, I COR 14), AS WELL AS EDIFIYING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH BODY (1 COR 12, I COR 14, EPH 4).
THERE ARE THREE ORDINANCES THAT HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO THE LOCAL CHURCH TO BUILD UP THE BODY OF BELIEVERS: BAPTISM, FEET WASHING AND THE LORD’S SUPPER. BAPTISM BY IMMERSION IS AN OUTWARD SYMBOL OF AN INWARD GRACE FOR THOSE WHO PROFESS FAITH IN CHRIST AND COMMIT TO FOLLOW HIM. BAPTISM IS NOT ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION. (MARK 1:9-10; MATTHEW 28:16-20; ACTS 2:41; ROMANS 6:3-5, 10:9-10). FEET WASHING IS A CELEBRATION OF THE INCARNATION AND REMINDS US OF OUR CALLING TO BE SERVANTS. IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF OUR LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR ONE ANOTHER. IT REMINDS US OF OUR NEED TO MINISTER AND TO BE MINISTERED UNTO. (MARK 10:45; JOHN 13:12-17). THE LORD'S SUPPER, OR COMMUNION, IS INTENDED TO REMIND US OF CHRIST’S ATONING DEATH. IT IS A PROCLAMATION OF LIFE AND HOPE. THIS ORDINANCE IS OPEN TO ALL PROFESSING CHRISTIANS. (LUKE 22:19-20; 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-29).
HUMANITY:
MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD IN HIS OWN IMAGE AND IS NOT THE PRODUCT OF EVOLUTION. HE FELL INTO SIN BY PERSONALLY DISOBEYING THE COMMAND OF GOD. THROUGH ADAM ALL MANKIND IS SINFUL IN NATURE AND PRACTICE AND IS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO SAVE HIMSELF. ALL FACE A FUTURE OF BEING ETERNALLY SEPARATED FROM GOD. (GENESIS 1:26-28, 2:7, 18-24, 3:1-24, 9:6; MATTHEW 19:4-6; MARK 7:21-23; JOHN 8:42-44; ROMANS 1:18-20, 3:10-12, 23; ROMANS 5:18-19; EPHESIANS 2:1-3)
AT DEATH, THE REDEEMED PASS IMMEDIATELY INTO THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST AND THERE REMAIN IN FELLOWSHIP UNTIL THEIR BODILY RESURRECTION RESULTING IN GLORIFICATION. THE UNSAVED AT DEATH DESCEND IMMEDIATELY INTO HADES, WHERE THEY ARE KEPT UNTIL THEIR BODILY RESURRECTION RESULTING IN DAMNATION. (DANIEL 12:2; LUKE 16:22-23, 23:43; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:8; PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11; REVELATION 20:11-15)
WE BELIEVE IN THE PRESENTATION OF CHILDREN FOR THE LORD’S BLESSING, SETTING THEM APART FOR THE LORD. CHILDREN ARE GIFTS OF GOD AND PART OF THE CHURCH BODY. PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL NURTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN. THE CONGREGATION ALSO SHARES THIS RESPONSIBILITY. (DEUTERONOMY 6:1-2, 6-9; MATTHEW 18:3-6; LUKE 18:15-16)
SIN and SALVATION:
ETERNAL SALVATION FROM SIN, DEATH AND HELL IS THE FREE GIFT OF GOD'S GRACE AND IS BASED SOLELY UPON ONE’S PERSONAL FAITH IN CHRIST, NOT BY WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY WORKS OF ONE’S OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS. SANCTIFICATION IS BOTH INSTANTANEOUS AND PROGRESSIVE. JESUS AROSE BODILY FROM THE GRAVE GUARANTEEING BELIEVERS' OWN FUTURE RESURRECTION. WHEN RECEIVED, THIS SALVATION IS ETERNALLY SECURE. (JOHN 1:12-13, 3:16, 5:24, 10:28-30, 14:6; ACTS 16:31; ROMANS 3:23-26, 5:1, 8, 6:23, 10:9-10; EPHESIANS 2:8-9; TITUS 3:5; HEBREWS 7:24-25; 1 PETER 1:18-19, 1 JOHN 5:11-13)
AT DEATH, THE REDEEMED PASS IMMEDIATELY INTO THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST AND THERE REMAIN IN FELLOWSHIP UNTIL THEIR BODILY RESURRECTION RESULTING IN GLORIFICATION. THE UNSAVED AT DEATH DESCEND IMMEDIATELY INTO HADES, WHERE THEY ARE KEPT UNTIL THEIR BODILY RESURRECTION RESULTING IN DAMNATION. (DANIEL 12:2; LUKE 16:22-23, 23:43; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:8; PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11; REVELATION 20:11-15)
WE BELIEVE IN THE PRESENTATION OF CHILDREN FOR THE LORD’S BLESSING, SETTING THEM APART FOR THE LORD. CHILDREN ARE GIFTS OF GOD AND PART OF THE CHURCH BODY. PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL NURTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN. THE CONGREGATION ALSO SHARES THIS RESPONSIBILITY. (DEUTERONOMY 6:1-2, 6-9; MATTHEW 18:3-6; LUKE 18:15-16)
FUTURE EVENTS:
WE BELIEVE IN THE SECOND COMING AND ULTIMATE VICTORY OF JESUS CHRIST, THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF BELIEVERS, AND GOD BRINGING HISTORY TO ITS PROPER CLOSE IN HIS WAY AND TIME. THE MESSAGE OF END TIMES IS ONE OF VICTORY AND FULFILLMENT FOR CHRISTIANS, THE ULTIMATE TRIUMPH OF GOD’S KINGDOM, AND FINAL JUDGMENT. UNTIL THEN, THE MISSION OF GOD’S PEOPLE IS TO BE SALT AND LIGHT IN THE WORLD. (MATTHEW 24:30-31; ACTS 1:10-11; 1 THESSALONIANS 4:16-17; 2 PETER 10; REVELATION 21:1-5, 22:20)