Statement of Faith

God, Humanity, and the Bible

• 1. The Bible: God inspired human authors to write the Bible. It is the unique record of God's revelation of Himself to humanity, and our ultimate guide for how to live and what to believe. Jesus is the criterion by which all scripture is to be interpreted.
• 2. God: There is only one true God. He exists in three equal parts: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We worship a sovereign, loving Creator who invites us into relationship and actively sustains us through grace.
• 3. Humanity: God created humans in His own image, but we, through free will, chose to sin. Because of this, every person is born with a natural tendency to sin and needs God’s forgiveness. Every individual possesses soul competency-the direct capability and responsibility to relate to God without human mediators.

Salvation and the Christian Life

• 4. Salvation: God freely offers forgiveness and eternal life to anyone who trusts in Jesus. Jesus died and rose again to pay for our sins. It involves the total regeneration and renewal of the believer, resulting in a life of discipleship, spiritual growth, and active love.
• 5. God's Grace: God chooses to save people out of His own love and grace. True believers persevere to the end and are kept secure by the power of God, encouraging a life of gratitude rather than fear.
• 6. The Church: A church is a local, self-governing group of baptized believers. They work together to worship God and spread the Gospel under Jesus' leadership. Under the priesthood of all believers, we affirm that God calls both men and women to all levels of leadership, ministry, and ordination.
• 7. Baptism and Communion: The ordinance of baptism by immersion is a symbolic act demonstrating a believers faith in Christ. The ordinance of communion (the Lord's Supper) is a symbolic memorial of Christ's sacrifice. We practice open communion, welcoming all followers of Jesus to Christ's table.
• 8. Sunday (The Lord's Day): Sunday is a special day for Christians to rest, worship God, and focus on spiritual growth.

Purpose and the Future

• 9. The Kingdom of God: God is the ultimate ruler of the universe, and He rules in the hearts of people who follow Jesus. We partner with God to manifest His Kingdom here and now.
• 10. The End Times: Jesus will return to Earth one day in his own time and own way. We look forward to the ressurection of the dead and God's final restoration of all creation.
• 11. Sharing Faith: It is every Christian's duty and privilege to share the Gospel and help others find faith in Jesus. We seek to meet both spiritual needs and physical needs worldwide.
• 12. Education: Christians value learning and wisdom. We champion freedom of inquiry and support academic institutions where faith and intellectual exploration can integrate without fear of censorship or rigid ideological control.

Society and Responsibility

• 13. Stewardship: God is the source of all blessings. Everything we have—time, money, and talents—belongs to God. We are called to be faithful stewards, responsible for using these resources generously to serve Him.
• 14. Working Together: Baptist churches should cooperate with one another to advance the Gospel. We practice voluntary association.
• 15. Culture and Society: Christians should work to make their communities better by standing up for justice, helping the needy, and living by Jesus’ moral teachings.
• 16. Peace and War: Christians should actively work for peace and oppose war, always standing up for what is right and just. We seek to be instruments of Christ's peace and reconcilliation in a fractured world.
• 17. Religious Freedom: We advocate for a free church in a free state, affirming that separation of church and state is essential to protect religious liberty for all people. Everyone should have the freedom to follow their own conscience when it comes to religion.