1. We value Scripture and are committed to being guided by its principles and to proclaim its message as the means to Redeem, Renew, Revive, and Restore.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
2. We value Prayer as a daily obedient response to God, which He honors and to which He responds and acts in our best interest.
(1 Thessalonians 5:17)
3. We value Worship as a unifying event that draws people to God as the only One who deserves whole-hearted adoration. Our worship is to inspire, encourage, ignite passionate love for Jesus and bring us to a loving surrender to Him whether done individually or as a church body.
(Psalm 150)
4. We value pursuing a large, challenging Vision knowing God glorifies Himself by accomplishing more through us than we ever could accomplish ourselves.
(Ephesians 3:2)
5. We value Evangelism as an all-consuming passion, knowing Christ suffered and died for those who do not know Him.
(Matthew 28:19)
6. We value Excellence realizing that nothing less than our best efforts are sufficient for our excellent God.
(1 Corinthians 10:31)
7. We value the Family unit as the foundation to the healthy development and wellbeing of all future generations and their peace and joy.
(Genesis 6:8, 22:18, 1 Chronicles 17:24-27)
8. We value the Church as a movement that is never large enough. We will always count our sheep and use that as a tool to make sure we have not lost one along the way. Since it is the job of the church to make disciples, numerical growth is a measure we use to determine the church’s health and success.
(Acts 2:41, 4:4, Matthew 14:21, 28:19)
9. We value Fellowship that involves us spending such time together as it enables us to love each other as Christ loves us.
(John 15:12, Acts 2:44-47)
10. We value Doing Whatever It Takes to further Christ’s mission through the church by giving generously and sacrificially of our time, talents and resources.
(Romans 12:1, 1 Corinthians 10:31)
11. We value Simplicity keeping ministries relevant and focused on our vision.
(Matthew 15:24, Galatians 2:7, Philippians 3:14, Hebrews 12:1)
12. We value CHRIST as the Head of the church and keep Him first in all things as we humbly seek to know Him better, love Him more and serve Him more faithfully.
(Exodus 20:3, 1 Samuel 7:3, Matthew 22:37, Luke 4:10, Ephesians 5:2)
Essentials of Our Faith
All Scripture is self-attesting, and being Truth requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God—the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments—is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks. On this sure foundation, we affirm these additional essentials of our faith.
Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one Person forever. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Mediator.
The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior, indwelling our hearts. He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.
Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace. God credits His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justifies them in His sight. Only such as are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life.
The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ. The Church finds her visible yet imperfect expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached in its purity and the sacraments are administered in their integrity, where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting she awaits the return of her Lord.
Jesus Christ will come again to the earth personally, visibly, and bodily—to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).
The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to the Great Commission requires total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.” He calls us to a life of self-denying love and service. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
The Essentials are set forth in greater detail in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms. For more information regarding these beliefs, go to www.epc.org.
In Essentials … Unity
In Non-Essentials … Liberty
In All Things … Charity