1. The Bible: We believe the Bible is Truth: the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and preserved by the Holy Spirit so as to be infallible in its existing form such that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct and is a complete revelation of God's will for all people.

2. God:  We believe there exists one true and living God, eternally existing in three Persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - co‑eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections; these execute distinct but harmonious offices.

3. The Father:  We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, goodness, wisdom, power, and love.  We believe that He concerns Himself with individual human affairs, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

4. Jesus Christ the Son:  We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternally existing Son of God, became a man, without ceasing to be God; that He accomplished our complete redemption through His atoning death on the cross, a redemption made sure to us by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead; that He ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of God the Father interceding on our behalf and acting as our advocate in Heaven.

5. The Holy Spirit:  We believe that the Holy Spirit, who comes from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, is the Supernatural Agent who regenerates the believer's spirit, sets the believer apart for God, and baptizes all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling each equally and permanently, and preserving each one forever; that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth; that He sovereignly bestows spiritual gifts upon each believer for the glory of God and the benefit of the church.

6. Salvation:  We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation to spend eternity separated from the presence and consequence of God.  We believe that salvation is the free gift of God offered by Him, and on the basis of His grace, to sinners which must be received solely by personal faith in, and only in, the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

7. The Church:  We believe that the universal church, which is the body (of which He is the Head) and bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all believers of this present age; that the establishment and continuance of the local church is clearly defined in the New Testament, being composed solely of believers, baptized by immersion on a credible profession of faith in Christ as Savior; that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of making unbelievers, disciples of Jesus Christ and has laid upon the leaders of the local church the primary task of shepherding and so equipping the members; that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and communion; that Christian baptism involves the complete immersion of a believer in water into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and that communion was instituted by Christ for the remembrance and celebration of His death.

8. Worship:  We believe that worship of the Most High God is the fundamental response of all creation; that true worship of God must emanate from our spirit and be built upon the foundation of spiritual and personal truth, that service to the Kingdom of God and to others is an integral part of the worship experience, and that true worship of God must be personal even in the context of corporate worship.

9. Christian Conduct:  We believe that the Christian life consists of a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit; a life which becomes a reality in our experience as we make a moment by moment decision to yield our life to the Spirit's control; that all believers should live in such a manner as to not dishonor God; and that every believer should be a faithful steward of all that God has entrusted for the expansion of Christ's Kingdom throughout the world.
   1. Human Sexuality:
   Legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage.  Hence, sexual activities, such as, but not limited to, adultery, fornication, incest, homosexuality, pedophilia and bestiality are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church.  Further, lascivious behavior, the creation and/or distribution and/or viewing of pornography, and efforts to alter one’s gender, are incompatible with the biblical witness.

   Marriage has been ordained by God.  Life Spring Community Church recognizes marriage as exclusively the legal union of one man and one woman.
    

10. Last Things:  We believe that the next great event in the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy will be the beginning of Israel’s “seventieth week”—seven years of tribulation on the Earth; Towards the end of this seven year period as God begins to pour out His wrath upon the nations of the world, Jesus Christ will return imminently, personally, and bodily to rapture His Church; the final period of great tribulation will be climaxed by the visible, physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth to introduce the millennial age.  We believe in the bodily resurrection of all people, believers to eternal life, and unbelievers to judgment and everlasting punishment.

1. Every member shall affirm their agreement with the Statement of Faith and behave in a manner that is consistent therewith.

1.  Chair.  The chair shall preside at all business meetings of the church and of the board.  The chair shall confer with the senior pastor in preparing the agenda for such meetings, and shall utilize the counsel that the pastor can give by virtue of his or her training, experience, and calling.  The chair shall be responsible for leadership of the church services in the absence of the pastor. 

2.  Vice-chair.  The vice-chair shall assume the duties of the chair in the chair’s absence, and assist in the Chair’s duties. 

3.  Secretary.  The secretary shall keep and preserve the minutes of all business meetings of the church and of the delegation and shall conduct and preserve all official correspondence as shall be delegated and shall be responsible for the official seal and documents of the church. 

1.  Annual appraisal of the ministry of the senior pastor and the ministry of the other staff, and provide godly counsel or discipline as required. 

2.  Annual review and approval of staff compensation and approval of compensation for new staff; approval of other personnel expenses for any staff member or activity, all subject to overall budget approval. 

3.  Establishment of personnel policies.

4.  Approval of changes in staff job descriptions and approval of job descriptions for new staff positions. 

5.  Maintenance of current job descriptions for all staff members.

1.  Develop and annually review its charter for submission to the Board of Elders.

2.  Recruit and train ministry personnel. 

3.  Define and provide the necessary materials required for ministry. 

4.  Submit annually to the Board of Elders proposed budgets and objectives for the forthcoming year and manage consistent with approved budgets. 

5.  Meet as required to plan and execute specific ministry objectives.

6.  Review and provide a written report, at least semiannually, of progress against objectives to the Ministry Staff and Board of Elders. 

We believe there exists one true and living God, eternally existing in three Persons—the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit—co‑eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections; these execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption (Genesis 1:1-2, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16; 28:18-19; John 1:1-3; 13:31-32; 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; 7:55; Ephesians 2:18-22; Colossians 1:16, 17; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 20-21).

Because God is an infinite Spirit, His attributes are likewise infinite.  The following incomplete list of His attributes forms the foundation of our belief in God.  He is …

a)  Self-Existent—As the primary cause of all of creation, He is Himself uncaused by anything external to Himself:  Exodus 3:14; John 5:26; Hebrews 7:3.

b)  Eternal—As the Creator of time, He exists independently of any chronology; He has always existed and always will:  Genesis 21:33; Deuteronomy 32:27; Psalm 41:13; 90:2; 93:2; Isaiah 40:28; 46:10; John 1:1-3; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelations 4:8.

c)  Self-Sufficient—God possesses no need He is unable to satisfy within Himself: Luke 1:37; Acts 17:24; Colossians 1:16-17.

d)  Infinite—He transcends the physical and metaphysical (e.g. angelic) dimensions of existence:  1 Kings 8:27; 1 Chronicles 6:18; Jeremiah 23:24.

e)  Transcendence—God is different from all created things not in degree but in kind; the gulf which separates the highest order created being and God is infinite: Job 11:7,8; Psalm 113:4-5; Isaiah 55:9.

f)   Immutable—He never was other than He now is and He never will be otherwise; He is never changing:  1 Samuel 15:29; Psalm 102:27; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 6:17; James 1:17.

g)  Omniscient—He is infinite in knowledge and wisdom; the source of and possessor of all universal knowledge and wisdom:  Psalm 147:5; Romans 11:33; 1 Corinthians 1:25; Hebrews 4:13; 1 John 3:20.

h)  Omnipotent—He is infinite in power; the source of and possessor of all universal power:  Genesis 1:1; Job 42:2; Luke 1:37; Revelation 4:11.

i)   Omnipresent—He exists completely, independently, and consistently at every point of His creation (i.e. in both the physical and metaphysical dimensions):  Psalm 139:7-10; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Acts 17:28.

j)   The essence of faithfulness:  Psalm 82:2; 100:5; 117:2; 146:6; Lamentations 3:23.

k)  The essence of universal goodness:  Psalm 25:8; 136:1; Mark 10:18.

l)   The essence of righteousness, being completely and totally just and righteous:   Ezra 9:15; Job 36:3; Psalm 50:6; 71:19; 97:2; Daniel 9:7.

m)  The essence of mercy and grace, not treating us according to what we deserve but granting us unmerited favor:   Exodus 34:6-7; 2 Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 9:17, 31; Jeremiah 3:12.

A.     We believe in God, the Father, a perfect and personal Spirit who concerns Himself with individual human affairs; that He hears and answers prayer, and that He offers forgiveness, saving from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ, offering them an eternal relationship with Himself (Psalm 18:30; Matthew 5:45, 48; John 3:16; 4:24; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:3-14; 4:6; 1 John 5:14-15).

A.     We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternally existing Son of God, became a man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, He lived a perfect and sinless human life that He might reveal God and redeem His people (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-38; 19:10; John 1:1-2, 14; 14:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:6-8; Colossians 1:15, 19; Hebrews 1:3).

B.     We believe that Jesus Christ accomplished our complete redemption through His atoning death on the cross, when acting as our representative, He substituted His life to pay the penalty for our sins and thus simultaneously satisfied both God's love and righteousness; a redemption made sure to us by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead on the third day (Psalm 130:7; Mark 10:45; Romans 3:24-26; 5:8; 6:4; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:12; Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 2:24).

A.     We believe that the Holy Spirit, who comes from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, is the Supernatural Agent who regenerates the believer's spirit, sets the believer apart for God, and baptizes all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling each equally and permanently, and preserving each one forever (John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 6:11, 19; 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2).

B.     We believe that every person, at the moment of exercising faith in Christ as Savior, immediately possesses the full measure of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 5:5; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14).

C.     We believe that although all believers are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, not all believers are filled, and that it is the privilege and duty of all believers to be controlled and empowered (i.e. filled) by the Spirit giving evidences of His abiding presence (e.g. the “fruits of the Spirit; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:18).

We believe that humans were created in the image of God: meaning that humans, via their original creation, resemble God in certain characteristics and capacities which are prerequisite for genuine relationships between themselves and God, and between themselves and each other, and also for the exercise of dominion over the animal kingdom that God originally ordained (e.g. capabilities for rational thought, emotional expression, and spiritual perspective) (Genesis 1:26-27).

A.     Positional (i.e. Justification): Every believer, at the moment of salvation, has a complete, acquitted, and, therefore, righteous standing before God (Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 6:11; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

B.     Progressive (i.e. Sanctification): We believe that sanctification is the setting apart of a believer unto God (Acts 26:18) and that at the moment of salvation, God sets each believer apart with the ability to progressively recover from the corruption of the divine image within them.  Even after salvation, every believer retains a sin nature which cannot be completely eradicated in this life and therefore lives in a present state that is imperfect to the extent of failing to appropriate the power of the Holy Spirit by which to live the Christian life, and is therefore, in need of a progressive sanctification by submitting to the control of the Holy Spirit in ever increasing areas of our life—which is spiritual maturity (Romans 7:15, 19-20, 25; 8:9-11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; 1 Peter 1:14-161 John 1:8).

A.     We believe, because of the eternal purposes of God, because of the complete accuracy of the Word of God, and because of the unchangeable nature of the promises of God, that once saved, all believers are kept by the power of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and interceded for by Christ; therefore their salvation is secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; 17:11; Romans 8:1, 34; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 6:19; Ephesians 2:22; 2 Timothy 1:12).

B.     We believe that God, as a Holy and Righteous Father of all believers, cannot overlook the sin of His children, and, when they persistently sin, will chasten and correct them in infinite love (Isaiah 5:16; 1 Corinthians 11:27-32; Hebrews 12:5-11; 1 Peter 1:16).

C.     We believe that this assurance of our salvation should manifest within the children of God, filial love, gratitude and obedience to God and that these are the results not the requirements of salvation (Romans 13:13; Colossians 3:16; 1 John 3:13; 4:19-20)

A.     We believe that the universal church, which is the body—of which Christ is the Head—and bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all believers of this present age which began at Pentecost and is terminated at the rapture [cf. Section 1.16] (Acts 2:41-47; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23; Colossians 1:24; Revelation 21:9).

B.     We believe that the establishment and continuance of the local church is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Bible, being composed solely of believers, baptized by immersion on a credible profession of faith in Christ as Savior, and united for worship, service and fellowship (Acts 2:41-42; 4:32; 14:27; 20:17, 28; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11; Hebrews 10:25; James 1:27).

C.     We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of utilizing their unique talents and spiritual gifts in seeking to transform unbelievers into disciples of Jesus Christ and has laid upon the leaders of the local church the primary task of shepherding and so equipping the members (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 5:2).

D.     Leadership of the spiritual development process in the local church is exercised through Elders appointed and ordained by God: an appointment confirmed by the existing Elders within the church.  God has also appointed and ordained Deacons for the oversight of the functional ministry areas of the church: an appointment confirmed by the membership of the church at large (Acts 6:1-6; 11:29-30; 14:23; 15:1-16:4; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 8-12; 4:14; 5:17; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1-3).

A.       I believe that the Christian life consists of a dynamic relationship—abiding—with Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit such that the fruit of the Spirit is produced in the believer’s life in contrast to our natural desires.  This life becomes a reality in our experience as we make a moment by moment decision to yield our life to the Spirit’s control (John 15:1-16; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:16-23; Ephesians 4:22-24).

B.        I believe that all believers should strive to live in harmony with other believers and actively seek reconciliation as necessary and as outlined in the Bible (Matthew 18:15-19).

C.       I believe that all believers should live in such a manner as to bring honor and not dishonor to their profession; seeking separation from all religious apostasy, and sinful pleasures, practices and associations as commanded by God (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11).

A.     We believe there are three dimensions of existence: the physical—of or pertaining to the physical universe of matter, energy, and space,—the metaphysical—those elements of creation which are not consisted of matter, energy, or space,—and the Divine—that which is not created, namely God.

B.     The metaphysical dimension includes both human and angelic spirits.  The angelic spirits are referred to in the Bible specifically as angels, Archangels, cherubs, and seraphs in reference to spirit beings loyal to God; and as dark powers, authorities, and demons, in reference to spirit beings fallen from righteousness in the rebellion of satan (Isaiah 6:2, 6; Ezekiel 10:1-20; Daniel 6:2; Matthew 8:28-31; 28:2-3; Ephesians 6:12; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:4).

C.     Angels, et al, are immortal spirits which can appear in human form though they are not composed of matter; they possess great knowledge, are active and powerful;  they existed before the creation of the Earth (Job 38:7; Psalm 103:20; Daniel 8:15-16; Luke 20:36; 24:39; 1 Timothy 5:21; Hebrews 1:7; 2 Peter 2:11).

A.     We believe in the bodily resurrection of all people, believers to eternal life, and unbelievers to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13).

B.     We believe that the souls of believers are, at death, absent from the body and present with God, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 6:9-10; 20:4-6).

C.     We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment (Matthew 25:41, 46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15).