An AFFIRMATION: We affirm the Baptist Faith and Message Statement of the Southern Baptist Convention adopted on June 14, 2000.

THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God, wholly without error as originally given by God, and is sufficient as our only infallible rule of faith and practice. We deny that other books are inspired by God in the same way as the Bible.

GOD

We believe in the one true and living God, the creator and sustainer of all things. He is infinite, eternal, unchangeable, and is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is completely sovereign and the only one that is all powerful, all knowing, and all present. The Father is the head of the Godhead, and into His hands the kingdom shall be delivered. The Son is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, Jesus Christ, who was born of the Virgin Mary, hence the God-Man. He died on the cross to redeem man, rose again from the dead to justify the believer, ascended to the right hand of God where He intercedes for us, and in the Father’s own time will return in visible, personal form to overthrow sin and judge the ruled. The Holy Spirit is the one sent from God to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, to regenerate and cleanse from sin. He is the resident guide, teacher, and strengthener of the believer.

SATAN AND SINFUL MAN

We believe that man was created innocent, that he was tempted by Satan and sinned; because of this, men have been born in sin since that time and are by nature the children of wrath. We believe that Satan is a personal devil who with his angels carries on the work of iniquity in this world. Sin is basically rebellion against God, and the end of sin is eternal separation from God.

SALVATION

We believe that Jesus Christ is the only Savior from sin. He atoned for our sins on the cross and rose again for our justification. Apart from Jesus Christ there is no salvation. All men are under condemnation through personal sin, and escape from condemnation comes only through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This righteousness is imputed to the believer by God’s grace through faith. The Holy Spirit regenerates the one who in God’s mercy and grace makes the life commitment to Jesus Christ through repentance and faith, and the life begun in regeneration is never lost.

RESURRECTION

We believe in the final resurrection of all men, just and unjust. We believe that at death a person immediately goes into heaven or hell. We believe that those who commit their lives to Jesus Christ during this life will be raised to everlasting life, but those who are not committed to Jesus Christ in this life will be raised to everlasting condemnation.

THE CHURCH

We believe that a New Testament Church is a voluntary association of baptized believers in Jesus Christ who have covenanted together to follow the teachings of the New Testament in doctrine, worship and practice. We believe the only two church ordinances are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We likewise believe that only those who are committed to Jesus Christ as Lord are scriptural subjects for baptism and that immersion is the only proper mode of baptism. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial to the Lord’s death. The bread symbolizes His body which was given for us. The fruit of the vine symbolizes His blood which was shed for us. We believe that a church is the body of Christ served by two types of officers, pastors or bishops and elders or deacons, and affirmed through the democratic process of its members.

BAPTISM