Who We Are
And
What We Believe
Our Team:
Aaron
Bakos
Senior Pastor
Norman
O'Brien
Elder/Teacher
Steve
Grosvenor
Elder/Teacher
Stacie
Bakos
Director of Children's Ministry
Executive School Educator
Our Vision
Restoring the family nucleus while bridge communities through gospel reconciliation, spiritual maturity, and emotional health.
Our Mission
To teach and train men, women, and children to understand and function under God’s precepts, through His Word, for family while building relationships in their communities through commonalities and Christ. This can be accomplished through gospel reconciliation (the restoration of a broken relationship between God and humanity, achieved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ), spiritual maturity (being healed from demonic bondage and then living in the spiritual freedom that is afforded to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ), and emotional health (by taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and choosing to live by the fruits of the Spirit).
Our Beliefs
THE BIBLE •We believe the Holy Bible is the infallible Word of God—entirely without error based on the original handwritten documents. “Every word of God is pure.” (Proverbs 30:5). •We believe God divinely inspired human beings to write all the words in the Bible, the 66 books of the Old (39) and New Testaments (27), to express His authoritative revelation to the world. “For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (2 Peter 1:21). •We believe the Bible provides the principles for our faith and practice, revealing how to live our lives. It is the foundation upon which this church operates and is the basis for which this church is governed. “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). •We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures. “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” (Acts 5:29).
GOD •We believe there is only one living and true God, the all-powerful Creator, Supreme Ruler, and Sustainer of the Universe. (Deuteronomy 4:39; Psalm 90:2). “You alone are the Lord. You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their lights, the earth and everything that is on it, the seas and everything that is in them. You give life to all of them, and the heavenly lights bow down before You.” (Nehemiah 9:6). •We believe the eternally existing God is revealed in three persons as the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each equally and fully deity and each equally possessing all the attributes and characteristics of personality—mind, will, and emotion. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19). •We believe no God exists apart from the eternal God of the Bible. He alone possesses natural attributes unique to the nature of God (e.g., God is always omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent). At the same time, He possesses moral attributes revealing the character of God (e.g., God is always wise, just, merciful, gracious, loving, and faithful). (Jeremiah 9:24; 1 John 4:8). “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My plan will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a distant country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, I will certainly do it.” (Isaiah 46:9–11).
JESUS CHRIST •We believe Jesus Christ is God the Son and Savior of the World. He became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He is, therefore, perfect deity and perfect humanity, which are fully united and exhibited in one person. (Matthew 1:18; Luke 2:11; John 1:1–3, 14; 4:42). “No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him.” (John 1:18). •We believe He lived a sinless life and voluntarily paid the penalty for the sins of all people by His sacrificial death on the cross as our substitute. “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2). •We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His present ministry as High Priest and Mediator, and His future role as Judge of all humanity. (Mark 16:6; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 4:15). “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son.” (John 5:22).
THE HOLY SPIRIT •We believe the Holy Spirit is God, whose present ministry in the world is to reveal and glorify Christ and to convict and draw sinners to Christ. (John 16:14; Acts 5:3–4). “And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment.” (John 16:8). •We believe His present ministry within Christians is to regenerate, baptize, and seal them into the body of Christ and impart spiritual gifts to each of them. (1 Corinthians 12:4, 7–11; Titus 3:5). “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14). •We believe His permanent, indwelling presence within Christians empowers them to live godly lives. (Galatians 5:16). “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
CREATION •We believe God created all things by His almighty power. “By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3). •We believe the Genesis account of creation is to be understood historically and literally, not allegorically or figuratively. (Genesis chapters 1 and 2). •We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell and that all those who place their faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord, while those who reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord. (Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:3, 5:22, 18:9, and 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11 and 20:11-15) “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46). •We believe all three members of the triune God participated in the Creation. (Genesis 1:1–2; Revelation 4:11). “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16).
HUMANITY •We believe all people everywhere are created in the image of God. “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27). •We believe Adam, the first man, sinned and as a result, all people inherited a natural bent to sin and thus are spiritually dead. (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23). “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12). •We believe God offers salvation and the gift of eternal life to all people through the Lord Jesus Christ, and He desires that no one should perish. (2 Peter 3:9). “The wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).
SALVATION •We believe God saves people from the penalty of sin when they entrust their lives to Jesus Christ alone, receiving Him as their personal Lord and Savior. This salvation is a result not of good works, but of God’s grace—a gift no one deserves—when they put their faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:9; Acts 4:12). “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9). •We believe God saves people from the power of sin by giving them a new heart, a new spirit, and a new way of behaving. (Ezekiel 36:26–27; Romans 7:21–25). “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12–13). •We believe God saves people from the presence of sin, where in heaven Christians will be like Christ and where He will keep them eternally secure. (John 10:28; Hebrews 9:26). “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” (1 John 3:2).
THE CHRISTIAN WALK •We believe Christians sin and are, therefore, called to confess their sins to God—not for salvation, since they are already saved, but to regain a clear conscience before God and to not give Satan a foothold in their lives. (Psalm 32:3–5). “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8–9). •We believe God calls all Christians to live holy lives through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. (Galatians 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:7). “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16). •We believe Christians are called to love one another as Christ loves them so that everyone will know they are His disciples. (John 13:34–35). “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.” (Romans 13:8).
THE CHURCH •We believe the church, “the body of Christ,” is composed of all those who have put their faith in Christ. (Colossians 1:18). “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27). •We believe baptism is a symbol of identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. (Acts 10:47–48; 1 Corinthians 1:17). “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection.” (Romans 6:3–5). •We believe all Christians should assemble regularly in local churches for worship, for observing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, for mutual encouragement and discipline, and for carrying out God’s purpose in this world. (Matthew 18:15–17; 1 Corinthians 11:23–24). “And let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24–25).
THE FUTURE •We believe in the imminent, personal, visible return of Christ to inaugurate His kingdom in which He will reign in power and glory for 1,000 years. “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6). •We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, resulting in the everlasting, conscious, blessed state of the saved and the everlasting, conscious punishment of the unsaved. (Matthew 25:31–32, 34, 41, 46; Revelation 20:12–13, 15). “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” (Revelation 20:12). •We believe in the second coming of Christ, the pre-tribulation rapture of believers—both the living and the dead— and the establishment of a new order within a new heaven and new earth. (Isaiah 65:17; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:17). “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’” (Revelation 21:1–4).
SANCTITY OF LIFE •We believe that all matters of faith and conduct must be evaluated on the basis of the Holy Bible (the “Bible” and the “Scriptures”), which is our infallible guide. Since the Bible speaks directly to creation and human life, it is imperative that we correctly understand and articulate what the Bible teaches on these matters. “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). •We believe that God created humankind in His image, though currently flawed by sin, and designed humanity to be stewards of all creation. God, in His infinite sovereignty, uniquely formed human beings and gave them a special dignity, personal freedom, and individual accountability above all the works of creation. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.’” (Genesis 1:26). •We believe that human life begins at conception and human beings have been made to be in relationship with God, who created each person’s inmost being, knit together in the mother’s womb. As God’s individual, personal creation, each person is awesomely and wonderfully made. God has planned and ordained all the days of every person’s life—even before a single day began. “For You created my innermost parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. ... Your eyes have seen my formless substance; And in Your book were written all the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” (Psalm 139:13–14, 16). RELIGIOUS BELIEFS BASED ON BIBLICAL STATEMENTS Based on the truths recorded in the Bible that have been embraced and taught throughout the centuries, we believe in the following core truths: •Human life begins at conception. From the moment of conception until natural death, every human life is sacred because every human life has been created by God. “I, the Lord, am the Maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth alone.” (Isaiah 44:24). •Human life before conception is designed by God for a specific purpose. From the moment of conception, every human life must be recognized, respected, and protected as having the rights of a person and the irrevocable right to life. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). •Human life is created in the image of God. The right to life of every unborn human being is inherent by virtue of being created in the image of God. “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). •Human life is precious and deserves to be saved. All life is precious. Therefore, deliberately terminating human life after conception is a sin against God for which individuals are held accountable. Extremely rare situations exist where saving the life of the mother can result in losing the life of the baby. However, this is a matter of trying to save one life or two lives, as opposed to causing the death of one or both. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives” (Proverbs 11:30). •Human life must be protected and defended from conception to natural death. We are ethically bound to defend all human life from destruction, whether by surgical abortion or use of drugs, devices, or procedures with the intent of terminating human life. “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?’” (Proverbs 24:11–12). •Human life must be publicly and peacefully proclaimed as sacred. Those who make up the Christian church, including and led by Christian ministers and ministries, should be public witnesses regarding the intrinsic and irrevocable dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death. “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). •Human life at conception defies that a fetus is just a “mass of tissue.” According to the Bible, a fetus is not merely a mass of tissue. God’s Word does not distinguish between a “potential baby” and a “newborn baby.” In the Bible, the same Greek word brephos, which means “babe,” is used to describe both a fetus and a newborn baby. FETUS: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb” (Luke 1:41). BABIES: “People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them” (Luke 18:15). •Human life at conception negates that females have the right to choose abortion by asserting, “It’s her body!” A woman should have rights over her own body, but in pregnancy there are at least two different bodies, two different heartbeats, two different brain wave patterns, two different genetic codes (DNA), and often two different genders and blood types. Every woman has choices within her own life, but not the freedom to destroy the life of a developing human being within her. “Is this the way you repay the Lord, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?” (Deuteronomy 32:6). •Human life is unique from all other forms of life. A human being is defined as a member of the species Homo sapiens. All human beings have their own genetic codes (DNA), singularly unique and established at conception. The DNA of a human fetus is distinct not only from animals, fowls, and fish, but also from the mother’s DNA “Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another” (1 Corinthians 15:39).
MARRIAGE AND HUMAN SEXUALITY •We believe that all matters of faith and conduct must be evaluated on the basis of the Holy Bible (the “Bible” and the “Scriptures”), which is our infallible guide. Since the Bible does speak to the nature of human beings and their sexuality, it is imperative that the Board of Trustees, employees, and volunteers (the “Representatives”) of our ministry correctly understand and articulate what the Bible teaches on these matters. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). •We believe that God has ordained and created marriage to exist between one man and one woman, with absolute marital fidelity. We are committed to the home and family as set forth in the Scriptures. We believe the Bible sets forth specific home and family values, which include the distinct roles of husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, as well as children. It is our firm conviction that we uphold the dignity of each individual as we embrace the unchanging and longstanding principles of scriptural truth. The Bible says of God ... “You have ordained Your precepts, that we are to keep them diligently.” (Psalm 119:4). RELIGIOUS BELIEFS BASED ON BIBLICAL POSITIONS Based on the Bible and the traditional moral teaching of the universal Christian Church throughout the centuries, our ministry believes in the following core truths: •Marriage – We believe that God designed marriage to be the permanent, exclusive, complete, and conjugal “one flesh” union of one man and one woman. In this marriage union, the two are joined together with the unique potential of creating a biological family, which binds father, mother, and child together for the moral, spiritual, and public good. (Genesis 2:18, 24; Matthew 19:4–6; Mark 10:6–9; Ephesians 5:31; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6). “‘And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?”’” (Matthew 19:4–5). •Sexual Immorality – We believe that sexual acts outside marriage are prohibited and considered sinful. Consequently, our Representatives must resist and refrain from any and all sexual acts outside marriage between one man and one woman—including but not limited to adultery, fornication, incest, zoophilia, bestiality, pornography, prostitution, voyeurism, pedophilia, exhibitionism, sodomy, polygamy, polyamory, sologamy, or same-sex sexual acts. (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:7–23; 20:10–21; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 5:27–28; 15:19; Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–13; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:18–19; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3). “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” (Hebrews 13:4). •Gender Identity – We believe that God created humanity in His image: male (man) and female (woman) – collectively called “gender” – sexually different but with equal personal dignity. Consequently, our Representatives must affirm their own biological gender from birth and refrain from any and all attempts to physically alter or conflict with their predominant, biological gender identity as naturally born – including, but not limited to, elective sex reassignment, transvestite or transgender acts, or non binary (asexual or gender fluid) conduct. (Genesis 1:26–28; Romans 1:26–32). “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27). •Sexual Orientation – We believe that the Bible describes appropriate sexual orientation as sexual attraction and conduct only toward someone of the opposite gender. Therefore, our Representatives are to refrain from any and all same-sex sexual acts. (Genesis 19:4–7; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Judges 19:22–23; Romans 13:14; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11). “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. ... Therefore God gave them up to vile impurity in the lusts of their hearts, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. ... For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged natural relations for that which is contrary to nature, and likewise the men, too, abandoned natural relations with women and burned in their desire toward one another, males with males committing shameful acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.” (Romans 1:21, 24, 26–27). •Sexual Redemption – We believe that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and should seek redemption through confession, repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, and obedience to the principles of the Bible. Consequently, our Representatives should treat with respect, compassion, and sensitivity all who confess sexually immoral acts, including same-sex acts, and who are also refraining from sexual immorality and conforming their behavior to this Statement of Faith. (Romans 3:23–24; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Ephesians 2:1–5; 2:8–10; Hebrews 2:17–18; 4:14–16; James 1:25; 5:19–20). “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, ... Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9, 11). •Celibacy – We believe that the Bible grants only two options for human sexual behavior: (1) the conjugal “one flesh” marital union of one man and one woman, and (2) celibacy. Either is a gift from God, given as He wills for His glory and the good of those who receive and rejoice in His gift to them. Therefore, celibacy and faithful singleness is to be celebrated and affirmed. (Matthew 19:12; 1 Corinthians 7:1, 27, 32–35; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–7). “But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. ... I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:8, 35).