What We Believe

What We Believe

Constitution & Organizational Guidelines

MISSION Statement

“We will reach the unchurched and develop committed Christ­ followers.” (Acts 1:8,Matthew 28:19-20)

Purpose Statement

“We will reach out to families and help them create God-Honoring Homes”(Ephesians 4-6)

article III: core values and statement of faith

Our core values and Statement of Faith and Doctrine express the basic theological beliefs and philosophy of ministry at New Providence Baptist Church. They represent the teaching position of this church and are the basis for the theological qualifications of our Lead Pastor, Pastoral staff, Deacons, other leaders in our church and missionaries supported by our church.

Section 1: Core Values

I. MAGNIFICATION: (Worship Ministries)

“We Are a Church Celebrating God’s Love; Satisfying God Together”

  1. Prayer
    • We are committed to supporting every ministry of our church with prayer.(James 5:16; Eph 6:18)
  2. Doctrinal Purity and Cultural Relevance
    • We are committed to remaining doctrinally pure yet culturally relevant. (1 Cor.9:19-23)

II. Membership: (Fellowship Ministries)

“We Are a Church Connecting with God’s People, Supporting One Another”

  1. Bible-based Preaching and Teaching
    • We are committed to providing God anointed teaching and preaching which transforms lives. (Rom.12;7; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; James 1:23-25)

III. Maturity: (Discipleship Ministries)

“We Are a Church Changing to become more Like Jesus, Spiritually Growing With One Another”

  1. Spiritual Growth
    • We are committed to supporting continuous spiritual growth to become mature Christ followers. (Eph. 4:25-26; 32; Heb. 12:1; Phil. 1:6)
  2. Family Ministry
    • We are committed to providing a Christ-centered ministry for children, youth, our church family, and community. (Matt 18:1-6; Mark 10:13-16)
  3. Group Life
    • We are committed to forming small group discipleship opportunities where life change happens best. (Luke 6:12-13; Acts 2:44-47; Acts 5:42)

IV. Ministry: (Service Ministries)

“We Are a Church Caring for God’s People, Serving One Another”

  1. Spiritual Gifts Based Ministry Involvement
    • We are committed to enlisting and training every member for ministry based upon the individuals spiritual gifts. (1 Cor. 12 & 14; Rom. 12; 1-8; Eph.4:7-12)
  2. Meeting Needs
    • We are committed to meeting the needs of those who are hurting and in need in our church and community. (Matt. 25:35-36)

V. Mission: (Evangelism Ministries)

“We Are a Church Communicating the Gospel; Sharing Christ With Others”

  1. Reaching Unchurched Peoples
    • We are committed to reaching the unchurched in our community. (Luke 5:30-32; Luke 15; Matt. 18:14)
  2. Cross-Cultural Missions Opportunities
    • We are committed to creating a world vision and providing cross-cultural opportunities for our members. (John 4:35; Acts 1:8; Matt.9:35-38)

Section 2: Statement of Faith and Doctrine

I. Inerrant Word of God- The Bible

We believe that all scriptures are the inspiration of God, that the Word of God is without error in the original manuscripts, and that it is the sole standard for our faith and practice.

(2 Tim. 3: 16-17; Peter 1:19-21)

II. The Trinity God in Three Persons

We believe that there is only one living and true God, and that He exists in three Persons as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each equal to the others in every divine perfection, while executing distinct offices in the work of redemption.

(Exod. 20:2-3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11)

III. The Holy Spirit & His Gifts

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the agent of the new birth, that He convicts of sin, that He heals, indwells, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps believers, and that He gives spiritual gifts for the edification of the church. We further believe that the age of temporary sign-gifts is past.

(John 14:16-17; Heb. 9:14; John 14:26; John16:8-11; Luke 1:35; John 3:5-6; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; 1 Cor. 13:8-10; Romans 12:4-8; Eph. 4:11-13)

IV. Satan

We believe in the reality of Satan, that he was created by God as an angel, that he rebelled against God, and that he is the unholy ruler of this age whose eternal destination is the lake of fire.

(Matt. 4:1-11; 2Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:10; Eph: 2:2)

V. Sin

We believe in the Biblical account of Creation, that man was created in the image and likeness of God. By voluntary transgression of God’s law, Adam sinned and caused all men to be born in sin, justly condemned by God.

(Gen. 1 & 2;Gen. 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:19; Romans 1:18&32)

VI. Jesus Christ, Son of God-God the Son

We believe that Jesus was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary, a virgin, that He is both the Son of God and God the Son.

(Gen. 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:14)

VII. Salvation

We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in the substitutionary (One put in place of another) sacrifice of Christ for our sins, apart from any human merit, works or ritual, that believers are eternally secure in Christ, and that salvation produces righteous living and good works. We also believe that repentance is an integral part of saving faith.

(Eph. 2:8; 1 John 5:13; John 10:27-29; Romans 8:35-39; Romans 8: 1; Acts 20:21)

VIII. End-Times

We believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ, His ascension into heaven, His continuing intercession for us at the righthand of the Father, and His pre-millennial return. The church shall be caught up to meet Him in the air before the seven years of tribulation on earth. We further believe that the tribulation will end with the revelation of Christ in power and glory to establish His millennial Kingdom.

(Matt. 28:6- 7; John 20:27; Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 12:1; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Car. 15:42-44; 51-54; Rev. 3:10; Dan. 9:25-27; Rev. 20:1-4, 6)

IX. The Church

We believe that the local church is an organized congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, and governed by His laws. We also believe that its officers are Pastors and Deacons whose qualifications and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We hold that the local church has the absolute right to self-­ government free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations that in all matters of membership, polity, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final.

(1 Car. 11:2; Acts 20:17-28; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Acts 2:41-42)

X. The Ordinances (Baptism &The Lord’s Supper)

We believe that Christian baptism is the single immersion of a believer in water to show identification with the crucified, buried and risen Savior, and that it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He returns and that participants have accepted Christ as their personal savior.

(Acts 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 3:16; 1 Car. 11:23-28; Acts 2:41-42)

XI. Separation

We further believe that the Bible commands us to separate ourselves unto God from worldliness and ecclesiastical apostasy (churches that don’t follow classical biblical teaching). We further believe that civil government is appointed by God for our interests; therefore, magistrates ought to be prayed for, honored and obeyed.

(2 Cor.6:14-7:1; 1 Thess. 1:9-10; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; Rom. 16:17; 2 John 9-11; Rom. 13:1-7)

XII. Eternity

We believe in eternal glory in heaven for the righteous and that only those who have been justified by faith are truly righteous in God’s sight. We believe in eternal torment in hell for the wicked and that those who continue in unbelief unto death face everlasting conscious suffering in the lake of fire. (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:15)

ARTICLE iV: Church COVENANT

As a member of New Providence Baptist Church, having made profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and been scripturally baptized, we do covenant before God as we are enabled by His Holy Spirit to this:

I. I will shield the unity of my church

  1. by acting in love toward other members
  2. by refusing to gossip
  3. by following the leaders as they follow Christ in obedience to His Holy Scriptures

(Rom. 15:5 & 19; 1Peter 2:2; Eph. 4:29; Heb. 13:17)

II. I will share the responsibility of my church

  1. by praying for its growth
  2. by inviting the un-churched
  3. by warmly welcoming those who visit

(1 Thess. 1:2; Luke 14:23; Rom. 15:7)

III. I will serve the ministry of my church

  1. by discovering my gifts and talents
  2. by being equipped by my pastors
  3. by developing a servant’s heart

(1 Pet. 4:10; Eph. 4:11-12; Phil. 2:3-4 & 7)

IV. I will support the testimony of my church

  1. by attending faithfully 2 by living aGodly life
  2. by giving regularly

(Heb. 10:25; Phil. 1:27; lCor.16:2; Lev. 27-30)

ARITlCLE V: ORGANIZATION & CHURCH GOVERNMENT

I. Autonomy

This church shall be self-governed by its voting members and shall be subject to no other ecclesiastical body, and has the right to cooperate and associate with other churches or Biblical groups whose Doctrinal Statement is in agreement with their Statement of Faith.

This Church shall establish and maintain an affiliation with the Conservative Baptist of America (CBA) and with the North Central Conservative Baptist of America (NCCBA) for as long as their Doctrinal Statement is in agreement with the Statement of Faith & Doctrine outlined in this constitution.

II. Administration

The government of this church is vested in its membership and shall be administered through an Administrative Board. The board will oversee the daily operations of the New Providence Baptist Church. The Pastors and Deacons shall manage the spiritual and physical needs of the church. Accountability for Tax Exempt Status: 501-C3

While the church is a spiritual organism, this church shall be constituted as an entity in the legal environment as a not-for-profit corporation incorporated under the Indiana Non-profit Corporation Act of 1991. The Administrative Board shall serve as the Directors of this corporation and shall be vested with authority pursuant to the Act.