Beliefs We Cherish

We adhere to the statement of faith as found in the Baptist Faith and Message of 1963, essentially given in the following. The complete Statement of Faith is available to read.

• The Scriptures: We believe that the Holy Bible, although penned by men, is inspired of God and is the record of His revelation to humankind.

• God: We believe in one true and living God, who is the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe as well as the Redeemer and Lord of humankind. We believe that He has revealed Himself in three divine persons. He is God the Father who reigns with providential care over the universe and its people. He is God the Son, the Father's only begotten and eternal Son, who is both Lord and Savior. He is God the Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of God who exalts Christ and leads humankind to God.

• Salvation: We believe that salvation is by the grace of God through personal faith in His Son, Jesus.

• The Gospel: We believe that Jesus died for our sins on Calvary's cross, was buried, and on the third day rose from the dead, and that this message should be proclaimed to the world.

• The Church: We believe the church to be the Body of Christ on earth, and includes the redeemed of all nations and all ages. We believe in the local church, an autonomous, democratic body under the Lordship of Christ. We believe in the priesthood of the believer and the freedom of the soul under the guidance of the scripture and the Lordship of Christ.

• Baptism and the Lord's Supper: We believe that two ordinances have been given to Christ's church: baptism (the immersion of the believer in water as an act of testimony and obedience) and the Lord's Supper (the symbolic memorializing of the sacrificial death of Christ.)

• The Kingdom: We believe the Kingdom of God includes His sovereignty over the lives of those who willingly receive Him as well as His sovereignty over the universe, anticipating the Kingdom's full consummation at the return of His Son at the end of the age.