Doctrinal Summary

We believe that the Bible, as we have it in the sixty six books of the Old and New Testaments, is divinely inspired, and the only infallible and authoritative word of God. (2Tim 3:16; 2Pet 1:20-21; Matt 5:18; 1Cor 2:13). We believe that the Bible should be read with the intent of the author as the basis of interpreting the text. We believe in understanding the Bible using biblical theology before moving to systematic theology.

We believe that there is one God, Creator and Lord of the universe, eternally existent in three persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, co-equal, co-existent, and co-eternal; distinguishable but indivisible. (Deut 6:4; Is 44:6-8; Matt 28:19; 2Cor 2:13).

We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, truly man, truly God. He died on the cross of Calvary as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. He was buried, rose from the dead bodily according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, where he is now the interceding High Priest, at the right hand of the Father. (Jn 1:14; Lk 1:34-35, Jn 3:16; Phil 2:5-8; 1Cor 15:3-5).

We believe that man was created in the image of God. He fell into sin and was consequently separated from God. All men are sinners, both by birth and choice. As a result, man is by nature depraved, under condemnation, and unable to attain divine righteousness. (Gen 1:26; Ezek 18:4; Rom 3:10-18; 5:12-18).

We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and complete work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. The blood of Jesus Christ is the only basis for the remission of sins (Eph 2:8-9; Heb 9:12,22; Rom 5:11; Acts 4:12). While it is essentially spiritual in nature, the benefits of salvation embrace the total needs of the total person—spirit, soul, and body. (1Pet 2:24; 3Jn 2; 2Cor 8:9; 1Thess 5:23).

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead and is instrumental in:

• Regeneration — that is the new birth of every person who responds to God's Word and accepts Christ as Saviour and Lord. (Jn 3:3-8; Rom 10:9-10).
• The baptism in the Holy Spirit as an ongoing experience for a life time. (Acts 2:1-4; 19:1-6).
• Sanctification — a life of separation from the world to live a life of holiness, producing the fruit of the Spirit. (Heb 12:14; 2Cor 7:1; Gal 22-23).
• The gifts and ministries of the Spirit as manifested in the early church including divine healing of the spirit, soul, and body. (1Cor 12:14, Jas 5:14; Mk 16:17).

We believe in the reality and person of Satan and the eternal judgment of him and his angels. (Lk 4:1-13; Eph 6:12; Matt 25:41).

We believe that the Church is

• The redeemed community of God's people for all time.
• The body of Christ. Jesus Christ is both the head and the chief cornerstone of the church.
• The local church is the expression of the universal church.

We believe that the essential functions of the church are the following:

• Manifest the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers, which is the eternal purpose of God. (Jn 4:23-24).
• To build itself up in love and unity of the faith and grow up in all aspects into Christ, the Head of the church. (Eph 4:11-16).
• To actively engage in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ among all nations. (Acts 1:8; Matt 28:19-20).

We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion for believers as an obedience to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Matt 28:19; Acts 2:36-38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:1-15).

We believe in the royal priesthood of believers. (1 Pet 2:9).

We believe in the Lord's Supper or the breaking of bread as instituted by the Lord for believers to remember the work of Christ (memorial), teach the gospel (catechetical), and as exhortation to stay centered on the gospel (paraenetic). (Matt 26:26-29; 1Cor 11:23-30).

We believe in giving of our substance to the Lord as part of spiritual worship. The Bible teaches that our tithes and offerings must be brought into the storehouse (local church), which is then used for the work and support of the ministry. (1Chron 16:28; Mal 3:10; 1Cor 16:2; Matt 23:23).

We believe in the resurrection from the dead of believers to eternal life and unbelievers to eternal judgment. (1Cor 15:50-54; 1Thess 4:16-17; 2Thess 1:8-9).

We believe that Jesus Christ will return to this earth personally, visibly, and bodily in power and glory to establish His Kingdom and to judge the living and the dead. (Jn 14:3; 1Thess 4:16-17; Acts 1:11).

We believe marriage is between a biological male and biological female and is for a lifetime. We do not agree with separation or divorce.

We believe that discipleship begins with the conviction of the gospel and then followed by making progress on pathways to maturity in the teachings of Christ where the gospel is implemented in every area of the life of each disciple who are members of the church as per the commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every member is to be established in the first principles of Christ — the basic teachings of Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20, Hebrew 5:11-14, Colossians 2:6-8).

We believe the fulfillment of the Great Commission is through the planting, establishing, entrusting, and multiplying of churches, as witnessed in the Acts of the Apostles.

We believe that the leadership of the church is twofold: Apostolic leadership functioning as a team planting new churches and overseeing the churches planted by regular visits, situational communication to sort out problems, establishing churches in the gospel and teaching and raising leaders; Local leaders including Elders and Deacons and other leaders who lead the local church establishing each member in the gospel and teachings.