Statement of Faith

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this congregation is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves; to go and make disciples of all people, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded.

Statement of Faith

This congregation believes that the Bible is the Word of God, without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in the matters of faith and conduct.
This congregation believes that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that they are equal in every divine perfection and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.
This congregation believes in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in his virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe He died in our place to atone for our sins, in His bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, continual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
This congregation believes in the Holy Spirit, 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 for 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 the building up of the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father.
This congregation believes that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical but also spiritual death which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are guilty sinners in thought, word and deed.
This congregation believes that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior receive forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life, and are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
This congregation believes that salvation from judgment, forgiveness of sin, and eternal life are free gifts of God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and cannot be earned, deserved, inherited or bought.
This congregation believes that water baptism is the symbol of Holy Spirit baptism, and therefore is done by immersion for followers of Jesus Christ. We also believe in the dedication of children to God, as well as their parents, family and this church to raise the child in such a way that they might live for God. We intentionally celebrate and communicate about these events so as to clear up any confusion that may arise.
This congregation believes that those who celebrate in the partaking of the Lord’s Supper should be believers walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
This congregation believes that the Church is the body of Christ on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit and exists to evangelize the lost and to edify the saved.
This congregation believes that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with each other as members in the building of the kingdom of God.
This congregation believes that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
This congregation believes the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 2:18-25). We believe that marriage between one man and one woman, for life, uniquely reflects Christ’s relationship with His Church (Eph. 5:21-33). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
This congregation believes that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, or use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt. 15:18-20; 1 Cor. 6:9-10).
This congregation believes that in order to preserve the function and integrity of New Hope Fellowship Church, Inc. as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to New Hope Fellowship Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by New Hope Fellowship Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22).
This congregation believes that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11).
This congregation believes that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of New Hope Fellowship Church.
This congregation believes that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps. 139.)
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of New Hope Fellowship Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Pastor is New Hope Fellowship Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s application.