Kaison's Mission Statement
1. Preach เทศนา
- God has called me to preach. I have experience preaching in 7 countries. I understand that it is difficult to preach in Thai, so I consider this time a time to listen more than speak, but also, when given the opportunity, an time to practice. พระเจ้าได้ทรงเรียกผมให้เทศนา ผมมีประสบการณ์เทศนาใน 7 ประเทศ ผมเข้าใจว่า ฝรั่งเทศนาเป็นภาษาไทยก็ยาก ดังนั้นผมคิดว่า นี้เป็นเวลาที่จะฟังมากกว่าพูด อย่างไรก็ตาม ถ้าผมมีโอกาสที่จะเทศนา ผมต้องฝึกฝน
- I believe that it is important for me to help the Thai church by setting an example of how to preach, warn when ha. We know that those who teach will be judged more harshly, preaching should not be taken lightly. Doctrine is important. I have studied different teachings and know their origin, I believe I can help in this area too. But I also know I must be careful. ผมเชื่อว่า เป็นสิ่งสำคัญสำหรับผมที่จะช่วยคริสตจักรไทยโดยการยกตัวอย่างเช่นเราต้องเทศนาอย่างไร และเตือนเมื่อมีคำสอนที่ผิดพลาด เรารู้ว่า “พี่น้องของข้าพเจ้า อย่าเป็นอาจารย์กันมากนักเลย เพราะท่านทั้งหลายก็รู้ว่าเราที่เป็นคนสอนนั้น จะต้องถูกพิพากษาที่เข้มงวดยิ่งขึ้น” (ยากอบ 3:1) ศาสนศาสตร์เป็นสิ่งที่สำคัญ ผมได้ศึกษาเกี่ยวกับคำสอนต่างๆ ผมเชื่อว่าผมสามารถช่วยในเรื่องนี้ได้ แต่ผมรู้ว่าผมจะต้องระมัดระวังด้วย และฟังมากกว่าพูดเสมอ
- Part of my goal is to network Christians who have Faith the same as early Protestants, who we call “reformed”. I believe that the Christian reformed church will bring revival to Thailand, another Reformation. ส่วนหนึ่งในเป้าหมายของผมคือ เครือข่ายคริสเตียนที่มีความเชื่อเดียวกับโปรเตสแตนต์ในช่วงเวลาของการปฏิรูปใหญ่ (Great Reformation) ก็คือคริสเตียนรีฟอร์ม ผมเชื่อว่า คริสตจักรรีฟอร์มจะนำไปสู่การฟื้นฟูในประเทศไทย เราจะ้เห็นการปฏิรูปใหญ่อีกครั้ง
- God has called me to network christian businessmen in Nakhon Si Thammarat as well. There should be activities and meeting to discuss what it means to be a christian businessmen, and what our goal should be. As well as a website to network and provide resources, and a blog to continue discussions. พระเจ้าทรงเรียกผมช่วยในการเครือข่ายนักธุรกิจคริสเตียนในจังหวัดนครศรีธรรมราช เราควรจะมีสามัคคีธรรม จัดกิจกรรมกัน และพูดคุยเกี่ยวกับความหมายของการเป็นนักธุรกิจคริสเตียน เราควรจะมีเว็บไซต์เพื่อเครือข่าย และให้ทรัพยากร่างๆ ต้องมีบล็อกด้วยเพื่อให้โอกาสคุยต่อ
- God has called me to evangelize and share the Gospel in Thailand. Again, this is something not easy, and I must take time to learn. Teachers will be judged more harshly. I have experience with evangelism in 7 countries. In 5 of these countries unbiblical methods were not used by my team, therefore there was unity in my team, and we had much success in seeing lives changed, not just meaningless decisions พระเจ้าทรงเรียกผมออกประกาศข่าวประเสริฐในประเทศไทย ผมจะบอกอีกครั้งหนึ่งว่า การสอนนั้นไม่ใช่เรื่องง่าย เราจะต้องระมัดระวัง ผมต้องใช้เวลาในการเรียนรู้วิธีเพื่อประเทศไทย เพราะว่าอาจารย์ “จะต้องถูกพิพากษาที่เข้มงวดยิ่งขึ้น” ผมมีประสบการณ์แบ่งข่าวประเสริฐใน 7 ประเทศ. ใน 5 ประเทศเหล่านี้ทีมของเราไม่ได้ใช้วิธีที่ไม่ตรงกับพระคัมภีร์ ดังนั้นทีมของเราเป็นเอกภาพ และเราได้ประสบความสำเร็จมากในการช่วยคนพบกับชีวิตใหม่ในพระเยซู
- My goal is to teach Thai people how to evangelize and how not to. A good example of a perfect outreach in my opinion was when pastor Surian preached at the Christmas event. I believe we should preach the Gospel, and nothing else, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to do the work, not pushing people to be false Christians so that our numbers increase temporarily เป้าหมายของผมคือสอนคนไทยวิธีการที่เหมาะสมและวิธีการที่ไม่ถูกต้องในการประกาศข่าวประเสริฐ ตัวอย่างที่ดีคือเมื่ออาจารย์เทศน์ที่เทศกาลคริสมาสต์ ผมเชื่อว่าเราควรจะประกาศข่าวประเสริฐเท่านั้น ไม่ต้องเพิ่มอะไร ให้พระวิญญาณทำงาน เราไม่ควรบังคับใครตัดสินใจที่จะทำอะไร ถ้าเราทำอย่างนั้นเราจะมีคริสเตียนปลอมเยอะ บางคนใช้วิธีการเหล่านี้เพื่อว่าจำนวนจะเพิ่มขึ้น แต่นี้เป็นเพียงชั่วคราว และจะทำลายคุณภาพของคริสตจักรของเรา
- God has called me to give in 2 areas, offering, and evangelism materials (Books, cd’s and pamphlets) พระเจ้าเรียกผมถวาย 2 ที่: ถวายที่โบสถ์ และ ให้หนังสือ, ซีดี, และใบปลิวฟรี เมื่อเราออกประกาศ
- God has called me to give everything for Kingdom of God. My money and time should not be spent on meaningless things. However, I am not perfect, I am sorry. พระเจ้าเรียกผมสละสิ่งสารพัดที่มีอยู่ (ให้ทุกอย่าง) “เช่นนั้นแหละ ทุกคนในพวกท่านที่ไม่ได้สละสิ่งสารพัดที่มีอยู่จะเป็นสาวกของเราไม่ได้” ลูกา 14:33 แต่ว่าผมไม่ใช่สมบูรณ์แบบ ขออภัย
- God has called me to give to the church on Sunday, as a way of supporting the Church. When the opportunity arises I will also help explain why “tithing” is the same as offering a burnt sacrifice and how Christians are called to give everything not just 22% (as there were 3 tithes not just 1) พระเจ้าเรียกผมถวายที่โบสถ์วันอาทิตย์เป็นวิธีช่วยคริสตจักร เมื่อผมได้มีโอกาสผมจะอธิบายว่า การถวายทรัพย์เป็นเช่นเดียวกับถวายเครื่องบูชาเผา พระเจ้าทรงเรียกคริสตชนสละสิ่งสารพัดที่มีอยู่ (ให้ทุกอย่าง) ไม่ใช่เพียง 22% (ถวายทรัพย10 เปอร์เซ็นต์ 3 ครั้งตาม พระสัญญาเก่า)
- My goal is to provide good pamphlets, good books, and christian music free. ให้หนังสือที่ดฟรีี (คือหนังสือรีฟอร์ม), ซีดีเพลงคริสเตียนฟรี (นมัสการ, ฮิปฮอป, ร็อค, และอีสาน ทั้ง 2 ภาษา ภาษาอังกฤษและภาษาไทย) และใบปลิวที่ดีฟรี (ที่ไม่ได้ใช้วิธีการที่ไม่ถูกต้อง)
- God has called me to teach english to have the opportunity to share the gospel, and to support myself and my ministry, and the church here. พระเจ้าเรียกผมสอนภาษาอังกฤษที่จะได้มีโอกาสแบ่งข่าวประเสริฐกับผู้นำของอนาคตของจังหวัดนครศรีธรรมราช และ สอนเพื่อเป็นสนับสนุนสำหรับพันธกิจของผมและค่าใช้จ่ายในการดำรงชีวิต และเพื่อช่วยคริสตจักรที่นคร
- God has called me to teach english for mission using the Bible, in order to draw Nakhons smartest kids to hear the Gospel. I believe that reaching these kids is important for Nakhon to experience revival. พระเจ้าเรียกผมสอนด้วยใช้พระคัมภีร์ที่จะเรียกเด็กฉลาดมาฟังข่าวประเสริฐ จะมีเวลาเรียนฟรี น่าจะช่วงเย็นที่โบสถ์ใหม่ ผมเชื่อว่าเด็กเหล่านี้มีความสำคัญต่อนครศรีธรรมราช ที่จะมีการฟื้นฟูที่นี่
- God has called me to serve the church here by teaching and working.
- พระเจ้าเรียกผมรับใช้ที่โบสถ์ด้วยสอนฟรี และการทำงานรอบโบสถ์
- I will make try to help the elderly in our church. ผมจะพยายามที่จะช่วยให้ผู้สูงอายุในโบสถ์ของเราเมื่อผมมีโอกาส
- I will welcome guests and provide them with a gift such as a cd or a bible. ผมจะรับแขกที่บ้านของเราและให้ของขวัญ (พระคัมภีร์หรือซีดี)
Kaison's Testimony
In America I was raised in a Christian family, and like everyone else, I prayed a prayer, and made a decision to be saved. I was not converted after my decision, I eventually realized after many ordeals that I was not saved because i made a decision, or because i got baptised, but God was going to have to come and make me into a new person, something I could not do. I began to seek him, caring a bible in my back pocket, and reading it every chance I got, and eventually developed a habbit of long hours of prayer in the forest behind our home. When I was 15 years old, God called me to be a missionary while I was praying there, and He gave me a new Spirit, and began to change me into a new person. The old has gone, the new has come.
Canada soon became my plan for missions because it was close, and I was tired of living like all the other people who were wasting their life. I wanted to make a difference, and in fact, more than that, I wanted to seclude myself from people to be with God alone, after all, the forest was a special place for me. I went too soon, and left without saying good bye. After sneaking across the border, and camping with melting snow seeping into my sleeping bag, and all this after a 35 hour drive, I could not sleep. God told me to go back, something I had not even though briefly along the way. I arrived back home 2 days later to see my whole school praying for me in the gymnasium. I was invited to a church that was more radical, after this incident, and the worship leader told me to do a dts with YWAM. I prayed about it, and God said do it.
YWAM in New Zealand was a special time. I was greeted by a girl with dreadlocks, and other crazy cool people, and showed to my living quarter commonly referred to as the "ghetto", and old army dorm, moved onto our property and filled with bunk beds. Community. I knew this was what the Church was supposed to be. I would wake up, go up the mountain, pray, and be down by morning worship, where we would stack the chairs to have freedom to dance (amazing parties were also help in this room). I still feel my YWAM family is my real family, but I needed this to last forever, for every Church to be this. Then, after lecture phase I went to India and Nepal with a smaller team.
Outreach in India, and Nepal was amazing. I learned about God's providence, because we had no plan, but trusted God to take us where He wanted us to go. We accidentally stocked on guy from city to city, and in every city, we shared the gospel with him. We were walking down the ghats in india, and we saw a group of hippies walk by, and one of them asked us, "are you YWAM?" very randomly, and of course their was no way they could have known, and we fellowshipped with another ywam team who just happened to be in the same place at the same time. My passport was stolen, and with that, my visa. I was not allowed to leave the country, and was given a 1% chance of confirmation of visa, which soon turned into a 0%, and the office was closing for the whole next week for a festival, so I needed it. At the end of our day of prayer and fasting a man walks up in a suit, signs a paper, and stamps my passport, and lets us go. I truly believed in miracles then, nothing is impossible. I experienced so much in India, even bad things, like sleeping in the street, but I learned that all things work together so we can enjoy God's goodness in the end.
My long term commitment to Thailand happened after I went back to America, being shocked by the state of the Church in America, unconcerned. I was very concerned that some of the world had never heard the Gospel. I had very little money, and no plan, but God is good, and He guided my step to the South, the most unreached region of Thailand. I finally arrived in Nakhon Si Thammarat. God said it was time to stop. I was greeted by a man of peace at the shop I would commonly check WiFi at. Just like Luke 10, he gave me a house to stay in, a motorbike, and helped me find a Job. I gained experience sharing my faith with Thai's, and speaking the Thai language. One day I was sitting in my office, and one of the staff at the school walked in, and says "I'm a Christian", of course I am very shocked, I said "really? I am a missionary with YWAM". I think it was shocking to all the people around when they heard me say that. I later found out that She had a dream prior to this, and in the dream she saw a foreigner teaching Thais in the Church, and they dont understand, so when she saw me, she recognized me, and introduced herself.
I continued to work with this family for about 6 months. Then for reasons I don't understand, I was rejected and not allowed to come back. I was greatly distressed, but God made a way, and I realize it is better this way. I now rent a building in in the city where I teach private lessons, study thai, create business opportunities for thai Christians, as well as calling thai Christians to missions. Also feeling a call to the power of the word, I have begun to write, and many articles and sermons lay ready to be translated and practiced by me and my team of Christian friends and converts who have stuck close to me. My closest of these friends is my girlfriend Fang who is a new believer. How we met is yet another wonderful testimony to Gods work here in this ancient city.
Dont think too much of me, I am just a real Christian who is living in Thailand. Don't support me cause i am someone great, support me cause I am a Christian in a place where resources are few.
Please pray for me.
Canada soon became my plan for missions because it was close, and I was tired of living like all the other people who were wasting their life. I wanted to make a difference, and in fact, more than that, I wanted to seclude myself from people to be with God alone, after all, the forest was a special place for me. I went too soon, and left without saying good bye. After sneaking across the border, and camping with melting snow seeping into my sleeping bag, and all this after a 35 hour drive, I could not sleep. God told me to go back, something I had not even though briefly along the way. I arrived back home 2 days later to see my whole school praying for me in the gymnasium. I was invited to a church that was more radical, after this incident, and the worship leader told me to do a dts with YWAM. I prayed about it, and God said do it.
YWAM in New Zealand was a special time. I was greeted by a girl with dreadlocks, and other crazy cool people, and showed to my living quarter commonly referred to as the "ghetto", and old army dorm, moved onto our property and filled with bunk beds. Community. I knew this was what the Church was supposed to be. I would wake up, go up the mountain, pray, and be down by morning worship, where we would stack the chairs to have freedom to dance (amazing parties were also help in this room). I still feel my YWAM family is my real family, but I needed this to last forever, for every Church to be this. Then, after lecture phase I went to India and Nepal with a smaller team.
Outreach in India, and Nepal was amazing. I learned about God's providence, because we had no plan, but trusted God to take us where He wanted us to go. We accidentally stocked on guy from city to city, and in every city, we shared the gospel with him. We were walking down the ghats in india, and we saw a group of hippies walk by, and one of them asked us, "are you YWAM?" very randomly, and of course their was no way they could have known, and we fellowshipped with another ywam team who just happened to be in the same place at the same time. My passport was stolen, and with that, my visa. I was not allowed to leave the country, and was given a 1% chance of confirmation of visa, which soon turned into a 0%, and the office was closing for the whole next week for a festival, so I needed it. At the end of our day of prayer and fasting a man walks up in a suit, signs a paper, and stamps my passport, and lets us go. I truly believed in miracles then, nothing is impossible. I experienced so much in India, even bad things, like sleeping in the street, but I learned that all things work together so we can enjoy God's goodness in the end.
My long term commitment to Thailand happened after I went back to America, being shocked by the state of the Church in America, unconcerned. I was very concerned that some of the world had never heard the Gospel. I had very little money, and no plan, but God is good, and He guided my step to the South, the most unreached region of Thailand. I finally arrived in Nakhon Si Thammarat. God said it was time to stop. I was greeted by a man of peace at the shop I would commonly check WiFi at. Just like Luke 10, he gave me a house to stay in, a motorbike, and helped me find a Job. I gained experience sharing my faith with Thai's, and speaking the Thai language. One day I was sitting in my office, and one of the staff at the school walked in, and says "I'm a Christian", of course I am very shocked, I said "really? I am a missionary with YWAM". I think it was shocking to all the people around when they heard me say that. I later found out that She had a dream prior to this, and in the dream she saw a foreigner teaching Thais in the Church, and they dont understand, so when she saw me, she recognized me, and introduced herself.
I continued to work with this family for about 6 months. Then for reasons I don't understand, I was rejected and not allowed to come back. I was greatly distressed, but God made a way, and I realize it is better this way. I now rent a building in in the city where I teach private lessons, study thai, create business opportunities for thai Christians, as well as calling thai Christians to missions. Also feeling a call to the power of the word, I have begun to write, and many articles and sermons lay ready to be translated and practiced by me and my team of Christian friends and converts who have stuck close to me. My closest of these friends is my girlfriend Fang who is a new believer. How we met is yet another wonderful testimony to Gods work here in this ancient city.
Dont think too much of me, I am just a real Christian who is living in Thailand. Don't support me cause i am someone great, support me cause I am a Christian in a place where resources are few.
Please pray for me.
Statement of Faith
THE SCRIPTURES. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.
GOD. There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience.
THE TRINITY. God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
PROVIDENCE. God, from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events; yet not in any way as to be the author or approver of sin.
ELECTION. Election is God's eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life-- not because of foreseen merit in them, but of his mere mercy in Christ-- in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified.
THE FALL OF MAN. God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity [i.e. descendants] inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.
THE MEDIATOR. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He lives forever to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest, and King of the church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
REGENERATION. Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who makes alive those who are dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone.
REPENTANCE. Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein the Holy Spirit makes a person aware of the manifold evil of his sin, so that he humbles himself with godly sorrow, detesting sin, and abhorring [i.e., hating] self, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.
FAITH. Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving grace, and leads to a life of holiness.
JUSTIFICATION. Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made. It is given not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.
SANCTIFICATION. Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial [i.e., willing] obedience to all Christ’s commands.
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS. Those whom God has accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
THE CHURCH. The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. As is the example laid by the early Church and the Lord's disciples, the Church is to organize by lead of His calling and by location, into spiritual families called churches. Each church should count nothing as their own, holding everything in common. These churches should meet together regularly for meals, worship, business, and study. To each of these churches He has given needful authority for administering the order, discipline and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a church are Bishops (or Elders) and Deacons.
PROPERTY. As is the command of Christ, the Church should sell their possessions, give to the poor, and share. We recognize that it is the responsibility of the individual to pray and study as to how much to sell, give, and share. However, it remains clear in scripture that we must give up everything. This giving must be to support the Church, feed the poor, and to maintain a simple and humble life. We agree that money is not evil, but only the love of money which is immoral. We believe there are 2 proper ways to use money, give it away, or use it to help others.
BAPTISM. Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life.
THE LORD’S SUPPER. The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with bread and wine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS. The New Testament indicates the importance of an ongoing, empowering work of the Spirit subsequent to conversion as well. Being indwelt by the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit are theologically distinct experiences. The Holy Spirit desires to fill each believer continually with increased power for Christian life and witness, and imparts his supernatural gifts for the edification of the Body and for various works of ministry in the world. All the gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in the church of the first century are available today, are vital for the mission of the church, and are to be earnestly desired and practiced.
LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE. God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
THE RESURRECTION. The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God - the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.
THE JUDGMENT. God has appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to his deeds: the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.
GOD. There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience.
THE TRINITY. God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
PROVIDENCE. God, from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events; yet not in any way as to be the author or approver of sin.
ELECTION. Election is God's eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life-- not because of foreseen merit in them, but of his mere mercy in Christ-- in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified.
THE FALL OF MAN. God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity [i.e. descendants] inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.
THE MEDIATOR. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He lives forever to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest, and King of the church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
REGENERATION. Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who makes alive those who are dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone.
REPENTANCE. Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein the Holy Spirit makes a person aware of the manifold evil of his sin, so that he humbles himself with godly sorrow, detesting sin, and abhorring [i.e., hating] self, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.
FAITH. Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving grace, and leads to a life of holiness.
JUSTIFICATION. Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made. It is given not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.
SANCTIFICATION. Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial [i.e., willing] obedience to all Christ’s commands.
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS. Those whom God has accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
THE CHURCH. The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. As is the example laid by the early Church and the Lord's disciples, the Church is to organize by lead of His calling and by location, into spiritual families called churches. Each church should count nothing as their own, holding everything in common. These churches should meet together regularly for meals, worship, business, and study. To each of these churches He has given needful authority for administering the order, discipline and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a church are Bishops (or Elders) and Deacons.
PROPERTY. As is the command of Christ, the Church should sell their possessions, give to the poor, and share. We recognize that it is the responsibility of the individual to pray and study as to how much to sell, give, and share. However, it remains clear in scripture that we must give up everything. This giving must be to support the Church, feed the poor, and to maintain a simple and humble life. We agree that money is not evil, but only the love of money which is immoral. We believe there are 2 proper ways to use money, give it away, or use it to help others.
BAPTISM. Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life.
THE LORD’S SUPPER. The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with bread and wine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS. The New Testament indicates the importance of an ongoing, empowering work of the Spirit subsequent to conversion as well. Being indwelt by the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit are theologically distinct experiences. The Holy Spirit desires to fill each believer continually with increased power for Christian life and witness, and imparts his supernatural gifts for the edification of the Body and for various works of ministry in the world. All the gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in the church of the first century are available today, are vital for the mission of the church, and are to be earnestly desired and practiced.
LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE. God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
THE RESURRECTION. The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God - the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.
THE JUDGMENT. God has appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to his deeds: the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.
* Acknowledgements: This statement of faith was borrowed in part from Heartcry missionary society, and Sovereign Grace ministries