We are an Independent Baptist Church in fellowship with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC) and the Freedom Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches (FFRBC), a West Virginia State fellowship.
We are a family of believers who have discovered that their need can only be met in the Lord Jesus Christ and His spiritual rescue.
Since we trust in Him, we are growing in our love for Him in obedience to His Word, the Bible. By His Spirit we live in such a way as to honor Jesus daily in our lives. We want others to know the meaningful and exciting life that is found through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Our Core Mission:
Our mission is to worship God by evangelizing the lost and disciplining all believers with His Word.
Our Core Methods:
- Sunday School for all ages
- Meaningful Bible study in Adult Bible Fellowships (ABF)
- Services of worship & prayer
- Children’s worship services
- Youth activities & Bible studies
- Men’s & Ladies Retreats
- Ladies Fellowship Groups
- Men’s Meetings
- And much more
The Covenant
Having been led, as we believe, by the Holy Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustains its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrine; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expense of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel throughout all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from all appearance of evil, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that, when we remove from this place, we will soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
Statement of Faith
Concerning the Scriptures
We believe that the bible, consisting of 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books as originally written, is inspired (2 Timothy 3:16) both verbally and plenary and the product of Spirit-controlled men (2 Peter 1:21). Therefore, it is truth (John 17:17) without admixture of error. The Word of God is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions (Proverbs 22:12) shall be tried and it is the only authoritative (Matthew 5:18; Psalm 119:59) standard for faith and practice. (1 Peter 1:25)
We believe the Bible is complete as it stands consisting of 66 books. The Word of God strictly warns against additions (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19) or deletions that may be exercised towards it.
Concerning the True God
We believe there is only one (Deuteronomy 6:4) living (1 Corinthians 8:4-6) and true God (James 2:19), the Creator (Revelation 4:11), and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. He is infinite, eternal (Psalm 90:2) omnipotent (Revelation 19:6), omniscient (Psalm 139:1-6), omnipresent (Jeremiah 23:24), inexpressively glorious in holiness (Exodus 15:11), and worthy of all possible honor (1 Timothy 1:17), confidence, obedience, and love.
We believe that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
We believe God created the heavens and the earth within six literal 24-hour days. Therefore, creation was a divine act and not left to an evolutionary process.
Concerning Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Godhead (John 10:30). He exists eternally (John 5:17-18; John 8:58; John 1:1) before He was physically born in Bethlehem. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:23). We believe that in Jesus Christ dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 1:9; 2:9). Christ is undiminished in deity and perfect humanity forever in one Person. (John 17:23). Being deity in the flesh, He was unable to sin although He was tempted in all points as we are (Hebrews 4:15).
We believe that Christ’s ministry was to do the will (John 6:40; Hebrews 10:17) of the Father. He, although not less than the Father, voluntarily placed Himself in subordination to the desires of the Father. Christ is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. (Colossians 1:16-17; Revelation 4:11). His death on the cross of Calvary (John 10:18) was voluntary, substitutionary (1 Peter 2:24), and propitiatory (1 John 2:2) for the sins of the whole world. We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:4) and His ascension (Acts 1:9) into heaven. His present ministry at the right hand of the Father is to intercede on behalf of the saints (Hebrews 7:25), to prepare an eternal dwelling place for the righteous (John 14:3), and to build the church (Matthew 16:18)
We believe in Christ’s pre-tribulational return in the air to receive unto Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) all believers, both dead and alive, from the Pentecost until that moment of His appearance in the clouds.
Concerning the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. He is co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and with Jesus Christ, God the Son (Psalm 139:7). He possesses all the attributes pertaining to personality and deity. (1 Corinthians 2:9-12)
We believe that there is a distinction between the ministry of the Holy Spirit prior to Pentecost and the ministry of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost. Prior to Pentecost, the work of the Spirit included creation (Genesis 1:2), indwelling certain men for specific ministries (Daniel 4:8), restraining sin (Genesis 6:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7), involvement in the birth (Luke 1:35), ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:14; Romans 1:4), and regeneration (Titus 3:5). Following Pentecost, the ministry of the Holy Spirit includes convicting the world of sin (John 16:11; Luke 4:18), regeneration (John 3:3-6), indwelling (1 Corinthians 6:19), filling (Ephesians 5:18), and guiding the believer (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit is responsible for the distribution of spiritual gifts (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:11), the teaching of truth (Psalm 33:4; 1 John 2:27), and the providing of assurance to believers (Romans 8:14, 16, 26). His ministry also includes the intercession on behalf of believers (Romans 8:27). We believe that at the moment of regeneration, the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), takes up permanent residence (1 Corinthians 6:19) within the believer, and seals the believer eternally (Ephesians 4:30; 1:13).
We believe that the sign of gifts as practiced in the modern day charismatic movement were rendered unnecessary and ceased to be given at the completion of the New Testament (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).
Concerning Man
We believe that God created man out of the dust of the ground in the image and likeness of Himself (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7, 21-22). Man was created in innocence under the law of His Creator, but by voluntary transgression fell from his state of innocence. In consequence, all mankind are now sinners by nature (Romans 5:12), conduct (Genesis 3:1-6), and choice, utterly devoid of the holiness required by law (1 Timothy 2:14), totally depraved (Romans 1:18, 32; 3:9-20) and totally unable to come to God on their own; therefore, man is under just condemnation (John 3:16-19) to eternal punishment and everlasting existence (Revelation 20:15), separated from God without defense or excuse (Romans 1:18, 32; 2:1-9).
Concerning Sin
We believe sin is any thought, word, or action that is contrary to the total character of God. Sin originated with and was introduced to the human race by Satan. However, it is through Adam (Romans 5:12) that sin and the effects (Romans 6:23) of sin have entered into the human race (Genesis 3:1-6).
We believe that both physical and spiritual death (Romans 6:23) are a direct result of sin – physical death being the separation of material and immaterial parts of man (Genesis 2:15-17) and spiritual death being the eternal separation between God and man. (Mark 3:29)
Concerning Salvation
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace (Ephesians 2:8-10) through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by appointment of the Father, freely, without sin, took upon Himself our nature, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and made full and vicarious atonement for our sins (Romans 3:24, 25; Philippians 2:7). Chris is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior (Isaiah 53:4-7; Jude 24). His death was a voluntary substation of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 19, 21; Matthew 18:11).
We believe that salvation for sinners is by grace wholly apart from the works or deeds (Ephesians 2:1,2,8). The sole condition for salvation is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His completed work on the cross of Calvary and never without genuine repentance (Acts 15:11). In order to be saved from everlasting Hell, the sinner must recognize his lost condition before the Holy God, be born again, being regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit in conviction with the Divine Truth (Romans 6:23; 1 John 4:10, 5:1). This birth is instantaneous and not a process upon regeneration. The believer is a recipient of the new nature and of the great gospel blessing of justification not by works of righteousness on our part, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood (1 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1,2). We believe the Scriptures clearly teach the eternal security of the believer and perseverance of the saints (John 10:27-30; Hebrews 2:14). All who are truly generated will not utterly fall away and finally perish but are kept by God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit for the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:3,8,16; 1 Peter 1:5)
Concerning Angels
We believe angels are personal, spirit beings (Psalm 148:2-5). Angels are classified either as holy and elect, or as unclean and evil (Isaiah 14:12-14). Elect angels were actively involved in Christ’s life and ministry and they have an active ministry in the life of the believers today. (Matthew 4:11)
We believe the unclean angels, which includes Satan, are active in opposing the ministry today (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan is the unholy god of all ages, and the author of all the powers of darkness, and he and all unclean angels are destined to the judgment of eternal justice in the lake of fire (Revelation 12:3,4; 20:10).
Concerning the Church
We believe the church was established by Jesus Christ and inaugurated at Pentecost by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 16:18). It is comprised of all believers in Christ from Pentecost until the Rapture (1 Corinthians 1:2).
We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel (Acts 2:41-47), observing the ordinances of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:2) governed by His laws; and to submit, honor, and obey the civil government (Romans13:1-7) except when it demands us to obey the Scriptures (Acts 5:29), exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. The church offices are that of Pastor (Ephesians 4:11) and deacon which qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13)
We believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. Christ is the one and only Superintendent and Head (Colossians 1:18) of the church through the Holy Spirit. We believe it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel. Each church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation and on all matters of membership, polity, government, discipline, and benevolence. The will of the local church, as it discerns the will of God, is final.
Concerning Last Things
We believe in the imminent, personal, pre-tribulational return of Jesus Christ in the air at the time known only to the Father to rapture His church, and at that moment the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-22; Philippians 3:20-21), in like manner also, the living in Christ shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
We believe that the tribulation which follows the rapture will be seven years in length and culminated by the revelation of Christ in power and great glory (Matthew 24:29-31), to sit upon the throne of David (Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:30-33) and to establish His literal, 1000 year, (Revelation 20:6) Millennial reign (Isaiah 11:1-9).
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked (Genesis 18:23; Malachi 3:18). Only those who are justified through faith (Romans 2:23; 3:6, 23; 5:1) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem (Romans 6:17-18). All such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse (Genesis 3:14-19), and this distinction holds among man both in and after death (Luke 16:25), in the everlasting bliss of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost (Hebrews 9:27) in an absolute, literal, eternal Hell (The Lake of Fire) (Rev. 20:14-15).
We believe the following to be an accurate interpretation of the prophetic calendar of God according to Scripture. 1) the Rapture of the Church-age believers and judgment of the believers works; 2) a seven year tribulation; 3) Christ’s second advent and the “Battle of Armageddon;” 4) the Millennial right of Jesus Christ from the throne of David (Daniel 2:44); 5) Satan’s final uprising (Rev. 20:1-4,7) and defeat (Rev. 7-10); 6) The Great White Throne Judgment of the wicked; and 7) the eternal state – New Heaven and New Earth. (Revelation 12-22)