WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe:
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In the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament in their original writings as fully inspired of God, and accepts them as the final authority for faith and life.
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In one God eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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That Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and is true God and true man.
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That God created man in His own image; that man sinned and thereby incurred the penalty of death, physical and spiritual; and that all human beings inherit a sinful nature; which issues (in the case of those who have reached moral responsibility) in actual transgression involving personal guilt.
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That the Lord Jesus died for our sins, a substitutionary sacrifice, according to the Scriptures, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.
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In the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, His ascension into heaven, and His present life as our High Priest and Advocate.
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In the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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​In the personality of the Holy Spirit, His regenerating work, and abiding presence in the true believer.
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That all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.
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That all Christians are called to a life of holiness, devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and service for Him.
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In the priesthood of all believers.
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​In the resurrection both of the just and the unjust, the eternal blessedness of the redeemed, and the eternal banishment of those who have rejected the offer of salvation.
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​That the Lord Jesus Christ appointed two ordinances - baptism and the Lord’s Supper to be observed as acts of obedience and as perpetual witnesses to the cardinal facts of the Christian faith.
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​That baptism is the immersion of the believer in water as a confession of identification with Christ in burial and resurrection, and that the Lord’s Supper is the partaking of bread and wine as symbolic of the Saviour’s broken body and shed blood, in remembrance of His sacrificial death till He come.
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That God has sanctioned marriage between a man and a woman, therefore we believe in heterosexual relationships between a natural man and a natural woman within the confines of lawful matrimony. Adherence to this stated principle of sexual behaviour is an inherent requirement for membership of the church.​
HOW WE LIVE THIS OUT
To be rooted in Scripture
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We believe that Scripture is God’s very word and the authority for us for faith and life. Scripture is the plumbline that God has given to guide us as we follow Him and we root all that we believe and all that we do in Scripture.​
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
James 1:22
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.
To be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led​
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We believe that God desires His church to be both led by the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit for life and ministry. We believe in an active God, who speaks both through His Scripture and His Spirit to lead His children as they follow Him. We further believe that God empowers us through His Spirit for both the mundane and supernatural works that He has prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 5:15-21
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5:16-18
6 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
To be disciple-makers​
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We believe that Jesus’ primary mode of ministry was to make disciples – followers who would apprentice themselves to Him. And His command to those disciples was to replicate themselves – to make more disciples. It is our belief that every believer is called to be a disciple-maker, continuing the work that Jesus began, by reproducing what He has done in their life in the lives of others, who will reproduce that work again in the lives of still others, and so on.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age.”
John 20:21
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
To be a kingdom community​
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We believe that Jesus came to reveal the Kingdom of God to humanity, and through salvation, to welcome us into a new community – a community of the Kingdom of God, rather than the Kingdom of darkness. This new community is to live by the tenets of the Kingdom that will one day exist perfectly when Jesus comes again, but is now to be embodied by His people, under the rule and guidance of it’s King, Jesus Himself.
Acts 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many
wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and
had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone
who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple
courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere
hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added
to their number daily those who were being saved.
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1 Corinthians 12:13
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or
Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
To be missional​
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We believe in being a church on mission. As the church, our existence has a purpose which is fundamentally missional. Each of us exist to continue the work of Jesus and to reach those who do not yet know Him, drawing them through
faith in Christ into His new Community. This means that we value those who have a calling to full time mission, that we support and send them, and that every member of the church exists as a missionary into their local context and culture.
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
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Romans 10:13-14
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can
they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear
without someone preaching to them?
To be prayerfully dependent on God​
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We believe in being a church that is deeply connected to our Father. Jesus modelled a life of deep intimacy in prayer with His Father. Jesus knew His Father, He trusted Him, spoke to Him, listened to Him and obeyed Him when He spoke. We recognise that only God can build His Kingdom. As His children, we come to serve Him in a posture that is wholly and fully dependent on Him and deeply connected to Him through prayer.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus.
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Ephesians 6:18
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and
requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the
Lord’s people.
To prioritize ministry to the next generation ​
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We believe that it is critically important to raise up faith in the next generation. The story of Joshua’s generation stands as a stark reminder of what can happen to God’s people when they neglect this critical calling. To this end, we are intentional in dedicating significant ministry resources to our children, youth and young adults ministries, to ensure that they grow and develop a vibrant and deep faith of their own.
2 Timothy 1:5
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and
in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
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Psalm 78:4
We will not hide them from their descendants;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done.