This section introduces what we believe as a congregation and why we believe it. We include a few statements from historic sources, such as the Apostle’s Creed, that help bring together our beliefs in an easy to read form but make no mistake; we believe in God’s Word as the only source of authority or teaching for believers in God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son and the precious Holy Spirit.
The Bible teaches us everything we need to know about God, sin, salvation, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church and how to live. It provides us training in how to understand its contents and how to pray to the Heavenly Father to receive further guidance. It provides some historical information, a lot of wisdom for understanding and describes the near future to us in revealing prophecies.
The Bible is not a magical talisman or documentation of pagan incantations. Such things would be an abomination to God. It is a tool, a communications and teaching tool, that the Lord has provided for His purposes to us.
We teach God’s Word in-depth. Our pastor preaches the Word of God and that only. We offer both online and in-person studies that will enrich your knowledge of the Bible and help you to grow in the mercies and grace of God. As the congregation grows and we are able to move into our new facilities we hope to expand what we offer.
To find out more about the Bible, read its contents, start a regular reading plan and more, click here.
The Apostle’s Creed, though not documented until about the 5th Century A.D., is an historic statement that encapsulates the primary teachings found in the Scriptures that were given by the preachers and teachers of the Apostle’s era. While not an official statement of doctrines and teachings; it does bring together key understandings we share in common with one another and our sister congregations. While we present the following post of that Creed for your information, please remember it is only a condensed statement.
The Apostle’s Creed, though not documented until about the 5th Century A.D., is an historic statement that encapsulates the primary teachings found in the Scriptures that were given by the preachers and teachers of the Apostle’s era. While not an official statement of doctrines and teachings; it does bring together key understandings we share in common with one another and our sister congregations. While we present the following post of that Creed for your information, please remember it is only a condensed statement.
Watch for a study on the Apostles’ Creed to be posted in days to come.
An official statement of our congregation and sister congregations may be found at the website of the Association of Independent Methodists. We are members of that organization, participate in its missions programs and join in spiritual fellowship for the cause of Christ.
The AIM website documents the formation and structure of the association and its place in the methodist movement and the Wesleyan heritage of faith and practice. It provides additional resources for researching our wider national and international ministry and beliefs. You should see there that even though we, as many in the methodist world look to early Bible scholars such as John Wesley, we do not hold him up as a special prophet nor his prolific writing as a replacement for or supplementary to the Holy Bible.
Also at that site you will find that each of our congregations in the association are independent of any denomination or hierarchical control. For instance, we each own our own property and call our own pastors. Our congregations each send delegates to an annual meeting hosted by one of our sister Church’s. All of our organizational leaders are elected by those who meet annually. Instead of funding a vast hierarchy of administrators and ruling functionaries (we only have a small office in a home with a part-time secretary); funds contributed to AIM go directly into missions either with a struggling or newly planted local congregation; foreign mission needs; or educational ministry such as Wesley Seminary in Jackson, MS.
As such, the association, known as AIM for short, is a growing, vibrant fellowship of like-minded believers, pastor’s, congregations and other ministry organizations that exist to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The official association statement of What We Believe is an easy to read version of the historic Articles of Faith and Doctrine that are directly connected with traditional, Bible-believing methodists since the inception of the movement. That official statement may be found here for your convenience.
Watch for a full study on the Articles of Faith and Religion to be posted in the near future.