Valley Creek Baptist Church

OUR MISSION

Three key passages in the Bible summarize Jesus’ purpose for the church:

THE GREAT COMMANDMENT

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” - Matthew 22:36-40, ESV

THE NEW COMMANDMENT

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34-35, ESV

THE GREAT COMMISSION

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20, ESV

Our mission statement based on these biblical passages keeps us moving forward with the gospel at the center.

As we minister both locally and globally...

We exist to LOVE God as He desires and others as He commands

in order to LIVE out our faith in practical ways

so that we might LEAD others to the life-changing presence and power of Jesus.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

In essential beliefs – we have unity.

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. - Ephesians 4:4-6, ESV

In non-essential beliefs – we have liberty.

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions... Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand... So then each of us will give an account of himself to God...The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. - Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22, ESV

In all our beliefs – we show love.

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. - 1 Corinthians 13:2, ESV

THE ESSENTIALS

1. ABOUT GOD

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; John 14:1-14; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7

2. ABOUT THE FATHER

He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and all-wise. He reigns with providential care over the universe, and the flow of human history goes according to His purposes and plan. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Matthew 23:9; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; Romans 8:14-15; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17

3. ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13

4. ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.

2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18; Galatians 5:25

5. ABOUT THE BIBLE

The Bible is God’s Word to us. Human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote it. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because God inspired it, it is the truth without any mixture of error.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:105, 160; 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

6. ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. However, all of us are marred by a “sin nature” which separates us from God and causes many problems in our lives.

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; 59:1-2; Romans 3:10-12, 23

7. ABOUT SALVATION

Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sins by ourselves but only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith and repentance of their sins.

Romans 5:1; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26

8. ABOUT BAPTISM

Following salvation, as an act of obedience and as an outward sign of our faith, we practice baptism by immersion. Baptism by immersion follows Jesus’ example, the Bible’s commands, and visibly points to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Matthew 3:13-17, 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; Acts 2:41, 8:35-39, 16:30-33; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12

9. ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.

John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

10. ABOUT ETERNITY

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

John 3:16; 2:25; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15

11. ABOUT CHRISTIAN UNITY

To live in harmony with other believers is clearly the teaching of the New Testament. It is the responsibility of each believer to endeavor to live in fellowship with each member of the congregation. It is further the responsibility of each member to bring all gossiping and backbiting to an end.

John 13:34-35; Ephesians 4:1-3; 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 13:1-13; 1 John 3:14-18; 4:11; James 3:1-18

For a more extensive explanation of our beliefs, please see the Baptist Faith and Message, 2000.