The Bible
We believe the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired word of God. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God, given through men chosen by Him. Scripture, thus, at one and the same time, speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of its human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice; and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.

God
We believe that there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons — a trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. God created all things, demonstrating the glory of His power, wisdom, and goodness. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.

Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal second person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily paid for the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.

The Holy Spirit
We believe the essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need of a Savior, and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength, and wisdom and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for building the body, the church.

Man
We believe man was created by God in His image, giving every man and woman great potential, worth, and value. Man rebelled against God, falling into sin, marring his likeness to God, and severing his relationship with God. Man is completely unable to take away or make up for his rebellion against God. Only through faith in Jesus Christ can man obtain the righteousness God requires to restore man’s relationship with God.

Salvation
We believe the central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call all people into fellowship with Himself. We believe the only basis for salvation is the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection for all who believe. Only those who receive Jesus Christ by faith are justified in God’s sight and born of the Spirit, becoming children of God.

The Church
We believe there is one true church universal, comprised of all those who truly acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. As the body of Christ — His agent and representative — the purpose of the church is to glorify God by accomplishing His work and reflecting His character. The church has the God-given mission of proclaiming Christ to all people and nurturing those who believe to become mature disciples of Christ; the church should also be devoted to teaching God’s word, fellowship, worship, and prayer. The individual believer should develop his or her own gifts and abilities in service to the church and its mission. We believe the church is to be led by elders who are mature men of character, men, who lead eagerly rather than under compulsion, and by example, not by coercion or intimidation.

Ordinances
We believe baptism by immersion in water and the Lord’s Supper, or communion, are ordinances to be observed by the church, but not to be regarded as a means of salvation.

Human Destiny
We believe death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a resurrection of the body, and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation (hell). Believers will be received into eternal communion with God (heaven) and will be rewarded for works done in this life.

The Future
We believe in the literal, physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth to establish His kingdom at the end of the age.

Faith and Practice
We believe Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We recognize that the church cannot and should not bind the conscience of individual Christians in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible.