WHAT WE BELIEVE

The Bible
The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that scripture in its entirety originated with God, and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men. Scripture speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of the human authors at the same time. We hold that the scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.

God
We believe that there is one true Holy God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - each of whom possess equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristic of personality. In the beginning God created, out of nothing, the world and all the things therein, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.

Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the eternal second person in the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though now glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to Earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.

The Holy Spirit
Essential to a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of the need for a Savior, and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the building up of the body. The Holy Spirit guides believers into understanding and applying the Scripture. His power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father.

Salvation
The central purpose of God’s revelation in scripture is to call people into fellowship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God, choosing to go his own independent way, and was alienated from God and suffered to corruption of his nature, rendering him unable to please God. The fall took place at the beginning of human history and all individuals suffer the consequences and are thus in need of the saving grace of God. The salvation of mankind is wholly a work of God’s free grace not the result in whole or in part of human works or goodness and must be personally appropriated by repentance of faith. When God has begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He gives assurance in His Word that He will continue performing it until the day of its full consummation.

Human Destiny
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation. God’s judgment will reveal His justice in consigning them to perpetuate in eternal retribution by their rejection of God. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life.

Faith and Practice
Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible.

The Church
The benefit of union with Jesus Christ is that all believers become members of His body, the Church. There is one true Church universally comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism, communion, fellowship, service to the body through development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world as the sacramentarian ordinances established by Jesus Christ. Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the Church. Under the watchful care of elders and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.

Marriage and Family
We believe God created marriage to uphold and sustain His creation. The union between one man and one woman is the God ordained institution which God recognizes, sanctions and blesses. Therefore we do not condone or recognize same sex relationships as God ordained or God sanctioned. As the Bible is our guide to our faith and our practice, we do not uphold or sanction any practice that contradicts the teachings and instructions of the Word of God. This includes any kind of pornography or illicit sexual relationships, addictions, or deception; such conduct is contrary to the direct teachings of the Bible and many are a contributing factor to the demise and destruction of a marriage and the family.

OUR THEME

Connect - H.U.G.G. - Serve
Connect
Every member of Ecclesia is expected to CONNECT with God through regular worship and attendance and CONNECT with Ecclesia through "My Connection" process.
H.U.G.G. (Home Unity Growth Groups)
Every member of Ecclesia is expected to connect and grow in the Word of God through regular involvement in a H.U.G.G.
Serve
Every member of Ecclesia is expected to SERVE in at least one ministry in Ecclesia using thier spiritual gifts and talents.

OUR MISSION

(Matthew 28:18-20)
"Picking Up The Broken Pieces In The Lives Of People" by:
- Evangelizing the lost
- Disciplining the saved

OUR VISION

(Matthew 28:18-20)
To Create Authentic Christian Implies:
- Fulfilling the Great Commission
- Abiding in the Word
- Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit

OUR CORE VALUES

Character (God’s)
Individuals who reflect the Character of God through integrity and by being dependable. Integrity means honest and trustworthy. It should be a given in a Christian environment that individuals would be honest. Dependable means faithful, to do what you have volunteered.

Competency (Spiritual Gifts)
Individuals who operate in their Spiritual Gifts and develop their individual skills; those who do their task with excellence. Someone who studies to show themselves approved as scripture teaches, seeking to learn and increase in knowledge to best serve the congregation and the Kingdom we are called to build.

Chemistry (Like Each Other)
Individuals who blend in with the spirit and personality of our church family; individuals who like being around people and creating relationships and working together as a team to fulfill the Mission and Vision of ECF. Those who have taken the Myers-Briggs Personality test and understand how to work with their fellow believers.

Calling (Lifestyle)
Individuals who understand God’s calling to live for Him. This calling links us together, recognizing that we are also called together to build what God has given us, that it may Glorify Him, Bless those whom we serve and benefit us and our families. Like the Children of Israel we understand that our lifestyles effect one another. (Joshua 7)

Commitment (Obedience)
Individuals who are committed to the fulfillment of our Mission and Vision, and the display of our core values (5 C’s), through their spiritual gifts and abilities and walk in obedience to Christ in following His commands of the Great Commission, in walking holy in their personal lives and growing consistently in their passion for others by seeking to serve and not just be served.