Mission Statement
Beliefs
- We are orthodox;
- We are evangelical;
- We are empowered evangelicals
In order to distinguish the truth from error, to proclaim our faith to the world and to build up God’s people in faith, the members of Alive Vineyard affirm the following statements of faith:
A. CREEDS
We affirm the Nicene and Apostle’s creeds. These are historic creeds which help preserve the integrity of the church’s witness and which proclaim the basic elements of the enduring Christian message.
B. GOD
We believe in the one living and true God revealed in the Bible, the creator, redeemer, and sovereign ruler of all creation. In the unity of this Godhead, these are three persons, of one substance, equal in power, glory, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
C. JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man who was sent into the world to fulfill the prophetic promises of salvation. Jesus Christ is one Messiah, the only mediator between God and man. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. We believe that Jesus came down from heaven, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life in perfect obedience to the Father and was crucified for our sins. He suffered, died, and was buried, and He rose bodily from the dead on the third day. As the God-man, Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father interceding for His people. At His first coming, Jesus inaugurated the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God.
D. HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He also regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers for ministry every believer in Jesus Christ. We believe that we have been born again by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit and He is also our comforter. He is the abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. He graces us with Christ-like character, producing fruit in our lives, and He gifts His church for loving service. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the Spirit.
E. BIBLE
We believe in the divine inspiration, truthfulness, and authority of both the Old and New Testament Scriptures in their entirety, without error, in all they affirm. The Bible is the final, absolute authority of all doctrinal matters, the only infallible rule for our faith and practice.
F. SIN AND SALVATION
We believe that all men and women are sinners by nature and choice and therefore are under condemnation and God’s just judgment. While we were yet sinners, Jesus Christ died for us. We are counted as righteous before God only by the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, through faith alone in Him, and not by our own works of righteousness. For the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
G. THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is intended by God to be a worshipping community of believers, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His law, exercising the gifts, privileges, and discipline invested in the Church by His Word and His Holy Spirit, and seeking to extend the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the end of the earth. We believe it is the mission of the Church to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) in the spirit of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40) by the power of the Holy Spirit.
H. THE SACRAMENTS
A sacrament is a sacred moment: a moment when we choose to personalize the message of the Gospel. We believe that Jesus gave the Church ordinances to follow including water baptism and The Lord’s Supper. We believe that once believers accept Christ as their personal Savior, they should be baptized in obedience to the Lord’s command in Scripture. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is open to all believers and is a memorial to the price that Jesus Christ paid for our salvation. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, the Lord’s Supper nourishes our souls. It brings to our remembrance the sacrifice of Christ for our sins, our communion with Christ and the Church and our obligation to persevere in faith and holiness to the end of our lives.
I. RETURN OF CHRIST
We believe in the personal, visible, triumphant return of Christ to earth. His purpose will be to manifest His government on the earth. Christians are exhorted to be watchful and obedient until His appearing. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, in the final judgment, and in the eternal blessing of the righteous and endless suffering of the wicked.
J. 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 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.
K. TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We believe the church should be supported by the tithes and offerings of those committed to its mission. Further, we believe that when people serve God in willing obedience, there is financial abundance to accomplish God’s purpose.
Values
- CHRIST-CENTEREDNESS: We desire Jesus – His person, His love, His mercy and His power to shine through all we do.
- BEING SPIRIT-LED: We believe that Jesus is our Head and the Holy Spirit is our Counselor. We seek to be responsive to the Holy Spirit in life and ministry.
- PRAYER: We seek genuine intimacy with God the Father and growth in our communion with Him.
- INTEGRITY: We seek completely truthful, consistent and open relationships with God, with others, and with ourselves.
- EXCELLENCE: We desire to do all to the Glory of God which requires our very best.
- SIMPLICITY: We want every expression of ours whether speech, music, architecture, or manner – to be natural and reality-based.
- BEING CULTURALLY RELEVANT: We want to use music, terminology and outreach methods that are in touch with the needs of our community.
- SERVANT LEADERSHIP: We approach leadership as a team effort with the Senior Pastor, operating as a visionary and goal-setter.
- GENEROSITY: We are committed to freely give away all we have freely received from God.