I believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future. We owe Him the highest love, reverence, obedience, and praise.

I believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but in their free will, they sinned when tempted by Satan. In unity with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Because of our sinful nature, there is no work in which we can perform that can provide our own righteousness or salvation.

I believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation. Only through repentance of sins and declaration of Christ as Lord can salvation be obtained. It cannot be earned by any works, but rather by grace by faith alone.

I believe that the true church comprises all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. It is their purpose to live out the Great Commission of Christ: to go make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them all things commanded by Christ as found in God’s scriptures

The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel.

• Through Baptism, we illustrate our death to sin, and new life in which we are made clean through Christ’s atoning work. I personally believe in credo-baptism by immersion.

• Through the Lord’s Supper, we memorialize the death of Christ and look forward in hope to His Second Coming.

Though the ordinances are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.

• God created both man and woman uniquely different, yet both in His image. It is my firm belief that any attempt to deny, alter, or deform what God has designed is a denial of God’s authority over His creation.

• God’s ultimate design was for a man and woman to become one through marriage. God’s plan has always been that sexual intimacy is meant for only those within a biblical marriage covenant. Any sexual intimacy between anyone other than a man and woman joined together in marriage is an affront to God’s design of creation.

I believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His return, He will bring about defeat to His enemies and bring about the final judgment of all men. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

I believe that God spoke His perfect Will through inperfect men, and therefore all of Scripture is:

• the inerrant Word of God, without error in the original writings,

• the complete revelation of His will for salvation

• the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged.

• to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.

Both women and men played a critical role in God’s work through His covenant with Israel and in the early church. God desires all believers to live out the Great Commission, which includes proclaiming the Gospel and teaching what was commanded by Christ through Scripture. However, it is my conviction and opinion that the office of Pastor and Elder is scripturally reserved for qualified men. The office of deacon and lay leadership are open to all believers, as there is not a clear distinction otherwise.