What We Believe

The Holy Scriptures

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God: true, immutable, steadfast, and unchangeable (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

The Eternal Godhead

We believe that God is triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the Three are coexistent, coeternal, and equal in divine perfection (1 John 5:7).

The Fall of Man

We believe that man, created in the image of God, by voluntary disobedience fell into the depths of sin and iniquity, bequeathing sin’s nature and consequences to all mankind, with their accompanying loss of intended meaning and purpose (Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12).

The Plan of Redemption

We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, took our place, and with His life’s blood purchased the pardon for all who believe in Him (John 3:16; Titus 2:14).

Salvation Through Grace

We believe that salvation is wholly through grace; that no human righteousness or merit can contribute to our receiving God’s love and favor (Ephesians 2:8).

Repentance and Acceptance

We believe that, upon sincere repentance and a whole-hearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God through Jesus’ sacrificial death (Romans 10:6-10; 1 John 1:9).

The New Birth

We believe that the change that takes place in people at conversion is a very real one; that having received righteousness in Christ and having received of His Spirit, people will have new desires, interests, and pursuits in life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).

Daily Christian Life

We believe that it is the will of God that those who have been born again grow in sanctification, become partakers of His holiness, and daily grow stronger in the faith, power, prayer, love, and service (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is an essential response to Jesus’ command, testifying to His lordship as Christ and King (Romans 6:4). We believe in observing the Lord’s Supper, receiving the broken bread and the fruit of the vine with joy and faith as we partake anew of the life and triumph of Christ’s Cross (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers to exalt Jesus, to live lives of holiness, and to be witnesses of God’s saving grace; we expect the Spirit’s incoming to be after the same manner as that in which He came upon believers in the days of the Early Church (Acts 1: 5, 8; 2:4). We believe that when a person is Baptised in the Holy Spirit they can expect to receive a personal prayer language (speak in tongues).

The Spirit-Filled Life

We believe that it is the will of God that believers walk in the Spirit moment by moment, serving the Lord and living lives of patience, love, truth, sincerity, and prayer (Ephesians 4:30-32; Galatians 5:16, 25).

The Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit bestows enabling ministry gifts upon believers, and that these gifts will build up the Body of Christ through edification and evangelism(1 Corinthians 12:1-11); as evidence of a Spirit-filled life, believers should show spiritual “fruit”: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:22-25).

Moderation

We believe a Christians’ moderation should be obvious to others and that relationship with Jesus should never lead people into extremes of fanaticism; their lives should model that of Christ in uprightness, balance, humility, and self-sacrifice (Colossians 3:12, 13; Philippians 4:5).

Divine Healing

We believe that divine healing is the power of Jesus Christ to heal the sick in answer to the prayer of faith; He, who does not change, is still willing and able to heal the body, as well as the soul and spirit in answer to faith (Mark 16: 17, 18; James 5:14-16).

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent; the certainty of His coming and the fact that no man knows the hour of His coming prompt our evangelistic efforts; that the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven, the dead in Christ shall rise, and the redeemed will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (Matthew 24:36, 42, 44; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

Church Relationship

We believe that it is our sacred duty to identify ourselves with a congregation of believers with whom we can worship God, observe the ordinances of Christ, exhort and support one another, labor for the salvation of others, and work together to advance the Lord’s Kingdom (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:24).

Civil Government

We believe that civil government is by divine appointment and that civil laws should be upheld at all times except in things opposed to the will of God (Acts 4: 18-20; Romans 13:1-5).

Judgment

We believe that all shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ: the redeemed to be delivered unto everlasting life, and the unrepentant unto everlasting punishment (Revelation 20:11, 12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Heaven

We believe that heaven is the glorious habitation of the living God and the eternal home of born-again believers (John 14:2; Revelation 7:15-17).

Hell

We believe that hell is a place of darkness, deepest sorrow, and unquenchable fire, which was not prepared for man but for the devil and his angels; yet it will become the place of eternal separation from God for all who reject Christ as Savior (Matthew 13: 41, 42; Revelation 10:10, 15).

Evangelism

We believe that soul winning is the “one big business” of the Church on earth, and that every hindrance to worldwide evangelism should be removed (James 5:20; Mark 16:15).

Tithing and Offerings

We believe that tithing and offerings are ordained of God to sustain His ministry, spread the Gospel, and release personal blessing (Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 16: 1, 2).

Worship as Priority

The worship of God is our primary ministry, pursued with biblically motivated zeal and offered in reverence with humility, child-likeness, and joyfulness. (Psalm 5:7-8, 11-12, 22:3, 34:1-3, 100:4; Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15)

God’s Word as Authority

The Word of God is our final authority and source of life-guidance, calling us to a faith-filled, obedient, godly lifestyle. (Deuteronomy 4:2; Psalm 19:7; Proverbs 30:6; Matthew 5:18; Romans 7:12; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Hebrews 4:12; James 1:22-25; Revelation 22:18-19)

God’s Love Bringing Wholeness

A Holy Spirit-begotten climate of God’s love is that atmosphere which most readily begets living hope, fosters true health, and produces practical holiness, as Jesus’ cross points us to a path of discipleship and a life free of condemnation, at rest in God’s grace. (Exodus 15:25-26, 23:25; Psalm 34:19, 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:3; Malachi 4:2; Romans 8:1-2; Ephesians 2:14; 2 Timothy 1:7; James 5:13-16)

Ministry to the Family

The biblically modeled family is God’s foundational social and governmental unit, and is to be nourished, served, and preserved as such. Fundamental to this value is the sanctity of marriage, biblical sexuality, and human life. (Genesis 2:24; Psalm 139; Matthew 19:4-5; Mark 10:6-9; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:2; Ephesians

Ethnic Harmony in God’s Kingdom

Under God our Creator, ethnic diversity is respected; and under Christ our Redeemer, all humanity is invited to answer the Bible’s call to the values and virtues of the Kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-29; Ephesians 2:11-22; Colossians 3:10-11)

Unity of Christ’s Body

The unity of the Church – Christ’s global, many-faceted Body – is to be earnestly sought and unselfishly served, that this value for which Jesus prayed may find its answer in our attitudes and commitments. (Genesis 13:8; Psalm 133:1; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:1-6; Colossians 3:12-14; Hebrews 13:1)

Constant Prayer unto Fruitfulness

Steadfast prayer and faithful intercession allow us to enter a partnership with God Almighty, and they are the foundational means of personal and corporate fruitfulness in life, service, and ministry. (Psalm 55:16-17; Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; James 16-18)

Spirit-Filled Witness and Service

The ministry of the Church is to be conveyed through the means of maturing believers: baptized in the Holy Spirit for empowered witness and equipped in the Word and His gifts for faithful service. (Isaiah 43:12, 44:8, 52:7; Matthew 28:20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8, 22:15; Romans 10:14-17; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 3:15; Revelation 12:11)

Vitality of the Spiritual Language

The biblical exercise of Holy Spirit enabled supernatural utterance is vital for prayer, praise, intercession, and edification, and is a desirable and an available resource for every believer. (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:1-4; Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11,14; Ephesians 6:18)

Commitment to Spiritual Warfare

The reality of the invisible realm of spiritual conflict demands biblical confrontation through prayer and ministry with discernment and love; that the triumph of Calvary is not minimized, but applied by such means. (Judges 5:20; Jeremiah 1:10; Matthew 11:12; John 14; 2 Corinthians 6:7, 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Timothy 1:18)

A Spirit of Giving and Stewardship

To live is to give – in tithes, offering, and all life’s resources. We steward what we have been given of time, gifts, and finances, seeing these as being from God’s Hand, yet as ours to obediently distribute. (Genesis 28:22; Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 15:10; Psalm 15; Proverbs 3:9-19, 23, 11:25; Malachi 3:8-12; 2 Corinthians 9:6-12)

Commitment to Sound Doctrine

We adhere to the Declaration of Faith of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel; always living in the spirit of the maxim – in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity. (Romans 6:17; 1 Timothy 6:3-6; 2 Timothy 1:!3; Titus 1:9, 13-14, 2:1)