The Gathering Place Church

God

We believe in the one triune God revealed in the Bible; God, the Father Jesus Christ, the Son; and the Holy Spirit. God is creator, redeemer, and the sovereign ruler of creation. He is the author of truth, love and faith.

Jesus

We believe Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God - God who came in the flesh. He was in the beginning with God: yet, He was God. Apart from Him, nothing came into being that has come into being. He is eternal with the Father undiminished in His diety and perfect in His humanity. We further believe that through His death, bodily resurrection, and ascension to the right had of the Father, man can be saved from his sinfulness. Jesus Christ will return to this earth in his full splendor and majesty for those who eagerly await Him. Further more, every knee will some day bow and every toungue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement. The Holy Spirit also regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers the believer for ministry. He graces believers with Christ-like character and gifts His church for loving service.

Bible

We believe the Holy Bible is the inspirired Word of God and a believer's standard for faith and practice.

Sin

We believe man was created in the image of God. Mankind is separated from God through disobedience, and without God, he is without hope.

Salvation

We believe the salvation of man is through renouncing his self-determination, taking responsibility for his disobedience, turning from his sin, and seeking forgiveness from God.

Further, we believe such a pentiten person must put his faith in Jesus Christ, whom we believer is the incarnate Son of God; Jesus died substitutionally for the transgressions of man, was raised from the dead on the third day, and ascended back to the Father in Heaven.

Priesthood of the Believer

We believe in the priesthood of the believer, Jesus has become the High Priest of the believer, by the shedding of His blood, and has made it possible for each Christian to have free access to the presence of the Father. In His presense, each one can come to know the Father in confidence and faith.

Church

We believe the very nature and purpose of God is revealed in His church. Jesus came and established the church as His Body in the earth. We believer the Church Universal consists of all who liver under the Lordship of Jesus, while the Church Local is a body of believing people, baptized and experiencng the love of Christ. Since the Church is one as God is one, the Church Local must seek to walk in harmony with the Church Universal.

Church's Atmosphere

We believe the atmosphere of the church should be mercy, forgiveness, acceptance, and love. No other climate will allow the people of God to be free to grow. Furthermore, we believe that the church of God is a family that should foster care, mutual edification, and constant forgiveness without sacrificing righteousness as our base.

Evangelism

We believe in world evangelism. We accept the commission of Jesus Christ, who is Lord, to make disciples of all nations, to baptize them, and to teach them to observe His commandments. We join with all those believing in Him to accomplish this urgent task. We accept this as a personal commission as well as a commission of the entire Church.

Freedom of Conscience

We believe in freedom of conscience. One is responsible for his own choice and behavior. While God has ordained both civil and spiritual government, we believe each person is still directly accountable to Him. Therefore, pastors and churches can give spiritual guidance, but all service must be rendered voluntarily, joyfully, and from a free conscience.

Thithes and Offerings

We believe the Church should be supported by the tithes and offerings of those committed to its mission (Matthew 23:33). We further believe that when people serve God with a free spirit there is financial abunance to accomplish the purpose of God. We further believe that since the tithe belongs to the Lord, everyone should be led by the Holy Spirit in his giving.

Civil Authority

We believe God is the authority. He has ordained civil government in His Church to bring it to righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. We believer in mutual respect between civil and spiritual authority is separated from church government, it should not be separated from God and His law.

Christ's Return

We believe Jesus Christ will return to earth in a viable way. His purposes will be to manifest His government in the earth. Christians are exhorted to watchfulness and obedience until His appearing. While there are many viewpoints concerning His second coming, we believer Christians should lovingly look for his appearing, givin full attention to obedience while he tarries. We believer His appearing will occasion the resurrection of the rightous who have died and who is now with Him.

Judgement

We believe in a final judgement at the end of the age. The righteous and the wicked will stand before God and be judged. Those who have righteousness produced by faith will be awarded with the privilege of ruling and enjoying his eternal blessings. Those who are wicked will be eternally punished.

The Gifts of the Spirit

In a day when extremes abound, the Church believes and values all of the gifts of God as found in 1 Corinthians 12-14, Romans 12:1-8, and 1 Peter 4:10-11. Each gift should be operated in love, under Lordship, in faith, and under biblical and local authority. The gifts are a humble serving of one another by the Spirit. As God governs us in love, we will desire both the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 1 Corinthians 14:1).

The Apostles' Creed

As a church, we gladly embrace the Apostle's Creed:

"I believer in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virign Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; he ascended inot heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believer in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting."