The Bible
We have the highest regard for God’s inspired word. We stress the importance of opening the Bible and applying the truths that will transform our lives.
We’re glad to tell you more about who we are! If you have more questions about our beliefs after looking this page over, or just want to chat, reach out to us!
We have the highest regard for God’s inspired word. We stress the importance of opening the Bible and applying the truths that will transform our lives.
We encourage all generations to come alongside and equip families to grow in faith and maturity in Christ.
We go beyond surface-level interactions to devoted relationships by treating everyone as Jesus Christ did, with respect, dignity and love.
We intentionally commit our hearts, resources and time as we interact with people in our church, homes, neighborhoods, communities and world resulting in everyone we come in contact with, knowing more about Jesus Christ.
Our Mission
The Statement of Faith of this organization shall be the same as that of the Evangelical Free Church of America, which reads as follows:
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Genesis 1:1; 1 John 5:7; Matthew 3:16, 17; II Corinthians 13:14)
We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21)
We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed. (Hebrews 2:7-9; Genesis 6:5)
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel’s promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate. (John 1:14; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 9:28; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 9:10-12)
We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation. (Hebrews 9:22; I Peter 1:18-19; II Timothy 1:12)
We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service. (John 6:13-14; John 16:11; Matthew 18:3; I Corinthians 14)
We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer. (I Corinthians 11; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 41)
We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed. (Matthew 7:17-18; Deuteronomy 6:5; Romans 12:10)
We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission. (Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16-18)
“In our celebration of The Lord’s Supper, our communion with Christ in whatever manner is by God’s grace and spiritual benefit can only come as we subjectively appropriate the meaning of this meal (that is, the gospel) through faith” (“Evangelical Convictions p 180). The Lord's Supper shall be practiced regularly. It shall be open to all believers who profess saving faith in Jesus Christ and who are walking in fellowship with Him. This shall be practiced in the spirit of 1 Corinthians 11:23-30 and in line with the teachings of the Evangelical Free Church of America (“Evangelical Convictions” pp 176-181).
We deny that baptism in water is the instrumental cause of regeneration and that the grace of God is effectually conveyed through the administration of the ordinance itself. We affirm that one must come to personal faith in Christ to benefit from his saving work” (“Evangelical Convictions” p 175). We believe that baptism “is the biblically prescribed public action that corresponds to a personal response of faith to the gospel” (“Evangelical Convictions” p 171). Although baptism by immersion is not a requirement for membership in this church, nor salvation, believers' baptism as an action following a personal commitment of faith in Christ by immersion shall be the mode practiced by this congregation. Exceptions may be considered by the Elder Board where extreme physical disability is apparent.
Our desire for Bethany Church