Our church FAMILY
`fam·i·ly: n.
a group of people who genuinely love, trust, care about, and look out for each other.
Our BELIEFS
GOD THE FATHER
Our God is a relational God who exists in three persons (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) God the Father created humanity for relationship His desire has always been for mankind to exist in perfect union with Him.
Scripture: Eph 4:6; 1 John 4:14
JESUS THE SON
Jesus was born as the incarnate God (God in the flesh). He lived his life to glorify the Father. Through his life, he brought heaven (God’s space) to Earth (our space) He was crucified as the ultimate sacrifice for ALL sin His resurrection conquered death in the grave bringing new life (life as God intends) for all humanity.
Scripture: Luke 4:18-19
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Jesus sent us the holy spirit as a helper (an advocate) for mankind. The holy spirit resides within believers and enables us to live a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. The holy spirit is essential in equipping us with gifts to be used to advance the Kingdom of God.
Scripture: John 14:26; 1 Cor 6:19-20; Rom 5:5
KOINONIA
Koinonia is a Greek term for fellowship or community. Being in community with one another is made possible through our union with God through Christ. We exist as relational beings and living in community with one another enables us to be Kingdom agents. We share this New Life together to encourage one another toward love and good deeds.
Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 2
NEW LIFE
In our New Life we are no longer slaves to sin. Sin has no power over us and can no longer be held against us. We are free to live in union with God and live a life as God intends. In this new life, our selfish desires are gone and instead we live sacrificially for others and ultimately showing God’s love.
Scripture: 2 Cor 5
Our VISION
At South Parkersburg Baptist Church, we are a people who… PURSUE and PROCLAIM the kingdom of God and PARTICIPATE in what God is doing in the world.
PURSUE
Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33)
We believe that in order to effectively pursue the kingdom of God, we need to take a HOLISTIC APPROACH TO DISCIPLESHIP that focuses on Biblical Engagement, Mentoring, and Contextual Application.
Biblical Engagement
is the process of reading and studying Scripture in a way that brings clarity to who God is so that we might see His love, grace, and compassion for all of humanity.
Mentoring
is the process of teaching and modeling what it means to live and love according to the ways of Christ (Kingdom Living). Paul sums this up when he said, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Contextual Application
is where we allow our identity as a follower of Christ to influence how we see and interact with the world around us. Learning and following the ways of Christ enables us to engage the world we live in and the people around - to live what we know wherever we are.
PROCLAIM
As Kingdom Agents, we are to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God! We do this through Kingdom-Centered Worship, acting as Intercessors and sharing the message of New Life found in Christ.
Kingdom-Centered Worship
is where we gather together and celebrate what God has done, and is doing, as He works through and around us to bring His kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven.
As Intercessors,
we proclaim the good news of the kingdom by coming alongside the poor and vulnerable. We believe that we have been called to speak for those who have no voice and to stand in the gap for others and show them that there is a better way of life.
Proclaiming the good news of the kingdom means to share the message of New Life in Christ.
This New Life is not just a hope for tomorrow it is a promise for today. The transforming love of Jesus offers us freedom from whatever binds us and gives us a purpose as our lives become less about our will and more about sharing what God has done for us with the world.
Jesus stated, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
PARTICIPATE
Participating in what God is doing in the world
is a call to serve God and others, and we are most effective when we serve together - for and with each other.
Koinonia
is the Greek word for fellowship - fellowship of believers, and living in fellowship means that we are to come alongside one another for support, encouragement, and edification. We believe that kingdom participation in the world requires missional living - sacrificial living in order to meet people where they are and serving and ministering to them. (1 John 3:16-18)
Ministry partnerships
enable us to have a broader influence on our communities and world. We are to be a people who serve with others, partnering in mission and ministry to serve the lost and the least.
Being kingdom agents / ambassadors for Christ is a call to action.
Our MISSION
“Our mission is to help people discover and experience new life in Jesus Christ, and to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.”
Whether you enter the doors of our church or not, it is our mission to help you discover and experience new life in Christ - the Son of God who gave his life so that we could have new life. Kingdom-centered living is living out the message of Christ in every area of our lives - at home, work, school, and in our community. Surrounded by believers, non-believers, the lost and the least, we walk this life TOGETHER. JOIN US!
