We Are Christian!

We are a part of the body of Christ - the Christian Church. We continue the witness of the early disciples and apostles who proclaimed the power of the crucified and risen Christ.

We Are Spirit-Filled!

We are a people who reflect the expressions, unity, and dynamics found in Acts 2. We express God through spiritual gifts, through our unity with one another and our ministry to ALL nations.

We Are Evangelical!

As a Christian community, we believe it is our task to proclaim The gospel, or evangel - the good news of God's love revealed through the power of Jesus Christ. We are committed to proclaim God's love through our words and deeds to the entire world.

We Are Inclusive!

We are unashamedly Christian and unapologetically inclusive! We are committed to preaching the "whosoever" portion of John 3:16; for this is a mandate for inclusion. Everyone is welcome to the table of the Lord and is to be a full participant in the life of the body of Christ regardless of race, gender, status, orientation or background.

Our Beliefs

Beliefs are not worth much unless they are translated into actions. We feel strongly about the following beliefs, for they lie at the core of our teachings.

God

There is one and only one eternal, living and true God. God is an intelligent spiritual and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver and Ruler of the universe. To God, we owe the highest love, worship and commitment. God reveals God-self to us as Father (Divine Parent), Son and Holy Spirit with distinct personal attributes but without division of nature, essence or being. Genesis 1:1; 2Corinthians 13:13-14

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the perfect representation of God in human form. He is fully human and fully divine. He is equal with God but took on the form of a servant and committed himself to die on the cross to redeem ALL humanity. Through the shedding of His blood, humanity would experience the security of forgiveness and remission of sins. He arose on the third day following his death as He declared authority over life and death. He lives in all believers as the living, ever-present Lord. 1Corinthians 15:3-4; Philippians 2:5-11

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit. A Spirit-led life - God's power within us - is the only way possible to live the Christian life. So we seek to practice a daily dependence on God's Spirit to enable us to do what is right. John 15:5, Philippians 2:13, Ephesians 5:18

The Priesthood of every Believer

We believe that every believer has direct access to God and is called to live with spiritual authority, power and grace. 1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:16

The Radically Inclusive Love of God

We Believe in the Radically Inclusive Love of God.   We believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ cuts across all barriers that fragment and divide us. We are called to love, affirm, and welcome ALL regardless of race, gender, sexual and/or affectional orientation, class, or life situation. We are to be known for our inclusiveness, reconciliation, and liberation for all who are oppressed. The church has too often allowed particular aspects of a person to place them out of the faith. Therefore, we emphasize the "whosoever" in John 3:16. We are also called to "love our neighbors as we love ourselves" (Mark 12:29-31), and "love our enemies" Luke 6:27; John 3:16-17; Romans 8:1

The Bible

The Bible is the inspired record of God's activity with humanity. It is truth provided for the believer as a tool to know the heart of God. It reveals the plan, purposes and will of God for all time. We believe the Bible should be interpreted through the loving lens of Jesus Christ, so that it is used as a tool to liberate, and not oppress, unite and not divide, affirm and not reject.   John 1:14; II Timothy 3:16, 1 John 2:5-6, Psalm 119:105; 2Timothy 3:16

Humanity

Humankind was created by a special work of God, in God's image and is the finest of all creation - God said, "It is very good!" and God created this diverse humanity with purpose and destiny. There are many variations expressed in the human creation, yet ALL equal in God's eyes. Regardless of our differences we are called to be of one "spirit". We believe that this diversity reflects the creative and unique possibility and power of our God. While we are all different on the outside, God does not judge the outside, but the "heart". Therefore, we celebrate, embrace, and affirm the diversity of God's human creation. Galatians 3:28; 1 Samuel 16:7

Giving Back To God

At the Vision Church we believe in the practice of tithing for the support of Christ's body, the Church. We believe in the spiritual principles of sowing and reaping. We recognize that giving 10% of our income is the Biblical standard given to us. Leviticus 27:30

The Church

The church is a group of believers brought together by the Spirit of God to carry out the Great Commandment by practicing the Great Commission. We are admonished to observe the two ordinances of the church; baptism and the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion) Matthew 22:37-40; Ephesians 5:23-27

Baptism

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward transformation that has occurred in the life of the believer. Baptism is identification with Christ by picturing his death, burial and resurrection. It is the first commandment a new Christian is given from the Lord Jesus. Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4

The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper is an opportunity for personal examination and reflection on Christ's love and sacrifice. The bread and cup are symbols of His body and blood which were broken and spilled out for us. These are done in "remembrance" of Him. Luke 22:19,20; 1Corinthians 11:23-32

Worship

We view worship from two sides: adoration and service. Worship could be defined as pure adoration, the redeemed person contemplating and praising God in His holy perfection. Reverential adoration and committed service are both prominent expressions of the biblical concept of worship. True worship involves a willingness to serve and genuine service to God must be accompanied by a sense of reverence and adoration. Psalm 95:6,7; Ephesians 2:10

Telling others about God's Love (Evangelism)

We believe it is the responsibility of every Christian to share the Good News with those God brings us into contact with. We practice sharing about God's love and purpose for our lives 1 Peter 3:15

The Power of Prayer

We believe that in prayer and prayerful meditation, we experience the manifestation of God's presence. God speaks to us, guides us, reveals spiritual things to us, refreshes us, and imparts revelation to us. We are promised all forms of healing, direction, guidance, strength, and power if we connect with God in prayer. Prayer is regenerative and enlightening to our spirit. Matt 21:22; Philippians 4:6-7; James 5:13-18

Spiritual Gifts

We believe that spiritual gifts are for the edification of the believer and the Body of Christ (the Church). We believe that God's spiritual purposes and the edification of God's people are manifested in and through these diverse gifts. The word of wisdom, word of knowledge, gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophesy, unknown and divers (different) tongues, gifts of helps, teaching, preaching and administration, are all useful for the edification of the individual, Body of Christ and entire world. 2 Corinthians 12

The Power of Love

Love, the "greatest force in the world", must motivate all we do. We must constantly be committed to love one another, work hard to promote unity and harmony within the church, and express this love from the church to the world. John 3:16-18, 1 Corinthians 12