The Church Founders
“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
Matthew 28:18-20
I. Church Covenant:
“Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
“We engage therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality, to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
“We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances, to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment, to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger. To be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
“We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer, to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.
“We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.”
II. Founding Families:
Pastor John & Katy Tauscher
Bill & Barbra Alsept
Cindy Burke
III. Articles of Faith:
Article I
Inspiration of Scripture
Holy men of God wrote the scriptures as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (II Pet. 1:21). The Bible, as originally written, is perfect and completely inspired and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (II Tim. 3:16,17; James 1:17).
Article II
One True God
There is only one eternal God ( Deut. 6:4: Isa. 45:5). The Father is an entity never seen by men (John 1:18: John 4:24). Jesus Christ, the Son, is also eternal. He was sent to earth to be the Lamb of God, to die for the sins of the whole world and was raised on the third day. He then ascended to the right hand of God as High Priest over the House of God (Matt. 16:21; Mark 16:19; John 1:29; Heb. 3:1, 7:16, 10:21). The Holy Spirit represents the Father and the Son to man, convicting of sin, and is a special Comforter to the church, to dwell in her and to teach her the truths of God (Matt. 28:19; John 14:16-17, 15:26, 16:7-15).
Article III
Satan
Satan is and has been a real and active force opposing God and man in every age (Isa. 14:12-13; Mat. 4:1; I Pet. 5:8). He continues to influence the wicked and to tempt the righteous in these times. He faces a sentence of 1000 years in the bottomless pit followed by eternity in a lake of fire (Rev. 20:2, 3, 10). He will give his power to the soon coming Man of Sin (Rev. 13:4).
Article IV
Original Sin
Adam disobeyed God and became dead in sin (Gen. 2:17, 3:6). All men are descendants of him and are also dead in sin (Rom. 5:15-19; Eph. 2:1-3).
Article V
Salvation by Grace
Sinners cannot be saved by any work of their own. Salvation of the depraved sinner is only by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). The gospel of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is the only power to change sinners and give them life (John 10:10; Rom. 1:16). Jesus is the Lamb of God and laid down His life for the propitiation of the sins of the whole world (Matt 26:26, I John 2:2).
Article VI
Eternal Purpose and Covenants
God knows and foreknows all things (Isa. 46:10; I Pet. 1:2). He elects (John 15:16; Rom. 8:23), predestines many things (Eph. 1:5, 11) and this is all according to His good pleasure. These are all the right, power and authority of a sovereign God (Deut. 32:39-43). God has an eternal purpose with His creation, which is accomplished through Jesus (Eph. 3:11). This eternal purpose was planned by God Himself and is explained progressively in the form of covenants, especially the Abrahamic and the New Covenant. Thus Christ was chosen as the seed of Abraham, through the line of David, and had to be such to be the proper carrier of the promises (Matt 1:1; Luke 1:32). Jesus laid down His life, giving His precious blood for the establishment of the New Covenant (Matt 26:27-29, I Cor 11:25).
Article VII
Church Ordinances
All believers are to be baptized and added to the church; which is the New Covenant (Acts 2:41). Baptism, being a burial, is therefore only by complete immersion (Rom. 6:3-4). The authority of baptism is by Christ through His church (Matt. 28:18-19). The Church is a body of baptized believers living faithfully unto Christ. The ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26: 26-27, 28:19). Baptism is required for proper service, as it is the entrance to the New Covenant and the hope of the future resurrection (Rom. 6:1-4). The Lord’s Supper is restricted to the members of that local church and is a confirmation of our relationship to Him in the New Covenant (Matt. 26:26-29; Luke 22:20). Baptism and the Lord’s Supper present a complete picture of the gospel promises; the death, burial and resurrection of both Christ and His people.
Article VIII
Church Origin and Perpetuity
The church is built by Jesus and began during His personal ministry on earth (Matt. 16:18). Jesus was and is the only person ever having the authority to start the church. He is the rock and only foundation on which the church is built (I Cor. 3:11). His churches are local and visible and in no sense universal or invisible (Gal. 1:2; Rev. 1:4). Not all saved are in the church. Not all assemblies claiming to be His qualify as scriptural churches. True churches may lose their identity as His church (Rev. 2:5; 3:16). False churches cannot progressively improve to become His. The true church has never been out of existence. It has continued from the day Jesus began building and will continue until He returns (Matt. 16:18, 28:20; Eph. 3:21). This continuance has been by one church separating members from their local body unto another assembly unto this day (Acts 8:14-17, 13:1-4).
Article IX
Great Commission
The gospel of Christ is to be preached to every person until the end (Mark 16:15). The gospel is the power by which God works all good things toward man (Rom. 1:16). Because of the gospel, we obtain salvation, the keeping of our life, the services of God in truth (Phil. 1:27); the revealing of mysteries (Eph. 6:19); and a partaking of the glory and kingdom of Christ (Matt. 4:23). Thus, the gospel is the good news from God concerning how we can be brought back into wholeness and fellowship with Him, starting with faith and ending with faith, all by His grace.
Article X
Christ’s Kingdom Reign
Jesus will return to earth again as King (Acts 1:11; I Tim. 6:15). The church shall be presented to Him sanctified, cleansed, washed and without spot or wrinkle, as His bride (Eph. 5:25-27). His bride shall walk with Him in righteous robes of white (Rev. 19:8). He shall reign forever and of His kingdom there shall be no end (Luke 1:33). The New Jerusalem shall descend from God and righteous saints that do His commandments shall have right to enter (Rev. 21:24-27). All others, living then are without the city and have no right to enter neither will they have any portion with the bride (Rev. 21:27, 22:15).
Article XI
Two Resurrections
Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection, they shall be priests of God and Christ and reign with Him a thousand years (Rev. 20:4-6). There is also a second resurrection wherein Christ sits on a great white throne and whosoever is not found written in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15).