The Church
We believe that the Church Universal is a New Testament institution unknown to the Old Testament prophets, established by Jesus Christ, who is its sole Head; revealed through the holy Apostles; empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; His “body” for service and His “bride” for glory. It began with the New Testament saints and will be completed at the coming of the Christ in the Rapture. Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:8, 2:1-13; 1 Corinthians 12:12-28; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23-33; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We believe that the Church Universal is manifest through the Local Church which is a congregation of immersion-baptized believers, associated by covenant faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His Laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in it by His Word; that its officers are pastors and deacons; that it has the absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit and is answerable only to Christ and that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipleship, and benevolence the will of the Local Church is final. Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 6:4-5, 7:17, 11:16; 1 Timothy 3:1-15

The Ordinances
We believe that there are two church ordinances; Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water to show in a beautiful and solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with the effects of that faith in our lives as it produces death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of our Lord’s death until He comes and should always be preceded by careful self examination. Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32