We believe in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ,

His only begotten Son, our Lord.

We believe in the Holy Spirit who endows the believer with spiritual gifts, the infallible word of God, forgiveness of sin, salvation through grace and faith in Jesus Christ.

We believe in the rapture of the Church.

We believe God responds to our needs progressively,

through proclamation, preparation, prayer, praise, perspective and prosperity.

We believe we are called to change lives

in the O' Fallon community in our lifetime.

With the help of Christ:

We are LIFE CHANGERS !

Doctrinal Statement

We believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in the blessed hope of His personal visible future return to this earth to receive to Himself His blood bought church, that it may be with Him forever. We believe that the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Christ. We believe that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation. We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing of the human body in answer to believing prayer. We believe that the baptism with the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it. We believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling enables the Christian to live a Holy life. We believe in the resurrection of the saved and the lost, the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting damnation.

Authority of Scripture - 2 Timothy 3:16

We believe in the infallible word of God. We believe that God's word is both true and inerrant. The Bible is God's inspired word. "All Scriptures is given by inspiration of God..." God's word is for the perfecting of the saints, "and it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." God has revealed His will and ways to man through scripture. The word is the primary source of authority in living the Christian life.

Trinity - Matthew 28:19, Matthew 3:16-17, Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 John 5:7

We affirm the existence of a triune God; one God in three eternally distinct persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is self-existent, eternal, unchanging, omnipotent, omnipresent, holy, righteous, and loving. God created the universe from nothing and He rules over His creation sovereignly including both human and angelic beings.

Jesus - John 1:14 and 3:16-18, John 1:1, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:5, John 1:14, Romans 5:18-20

We believe that Jesus was born of a virgin and is the Son of God. Jesus is the second person of the trinity. Jesus is the Word (logos) incarnated. Jesus is both 100% divine and 100 % human (without sin). Jesus' divine nature comes from not being born of the blood of man, but of God. He who knew no sin became sin for the whole world reconciling us back to Himself. The human nature also underwent that which we endure now, from temptations to being put to death. Jesus' life, death, burial, and resurrection, and in both His Divine and human nature, Jesus reconciled God's people back to God. Jesus' life on earth reflected the perfect human being and the way in which we should live as we relate to the world. Jesus is the "last Adam." As by Adam we were made sinners, by Christ we are made righteous. "By one man's (Adam) disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One (Christ) shall many be made righteous."

Holy Spirit/Pneumatology - John 16:13, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30

We believe in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. Jesus promised that He would send the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit. "Howbiet when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." Having believed, we've been sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. He indwells us. He convicts us of sin. He teaches us. The Holy Spirit regenerates us. He comforts us in difficult times. He confirms in our hearts that we are children of God.

Salvation/Soteriology - John 14:6 and 10:9, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:9, 1 Tim 2:5

We believe that we are saved through Jesus Christ-alone. According to God's infallible Word, the way in which we are reconciled back to God is through His Son Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18). "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life, no man gets to the Father but by me." Jesus also said, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and go in and find pasture." We also believe that if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead we shall be saved. The way to salvation is to A. admit that we are sinners, B. believe that God has raised Christ from the dead, and C. confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ. Trusting the Lord for salvation is more than simply having a "belief." Biblical faith is similar to trusting a parachute. You simply don't "believe" in the parachute, as an act of your belief you put the parachute on. Similarly, saving faith is the "putting on of Christ"(Romans 13:14); more than simply believing.

Forgiveness/Atonement/Reconciliation/Justification - Romans 3:22-25, 6:22, & 1 Cor. 5:17-18

We believe in the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ. God is holy and just. He cannot ignore sin. As a righteous judge God must punish sin. Jesus Christ took the punishment that we rightly deserved. Jesus' payment of our sins on the cross is the basis upon which we are forgiven and reconciled to God. Justification is the declaring of a person to be just or righteous. It is a legal term signifying acquittal. Our sin debt is paid in full and satisfied by Christ death on the cross. Thus, allowing us to be acquitted and set free.

Humanity/Anthropology - Genesis 2 & 3, Romans 5:19

All humanity fell in Adam. Original Sin (derived from Adam) and personal sin separate us from God. Humanity experiences guilt because it is indeed responsible for breaking God's law and indeed deserving of punishment. Humanity does not have the capacity or capability to restore the relationship with God. Only God can restore the relationship. He does so through divine grace by allowing for a means for the relationship to be restored. Additionally, God becomes the means of restoration through the cross. Instead of giving humanity what it justly deserves God exercises grace by taking our punishment upon Himself on the cross, thereby providing a means of our pardon.

We believe that God desires for His people to live a righteous life. In the beginning, God has set forth his plan for the world. He made male and female to be fruitful and multiply and to subdue the earth. God intended for male and female to be as one as he said man is to leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh. We believe that God also gave instruction on how family are to interact. God tells children to obey their father and mother for it is right in the Lord and continues on to say, "Fathers do not provoke you children to anger, but bring them up on the admonitions of the Lord." In essence, we believe in the biblical family structure where only male and female are to be married, be fruitful and multiply and to subdue the earth.

Spiritual Gifts - 1 Cor. 12:1-31

We believe in Spiritual Gift endowed to us from God for the building of His kingdom and the edifying of the His people. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. We believe that all spiritual gifts are in operation today and will continue to operate in earth until Christ's triumphant return.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit - John 3:5 , Acts 2:4

We believe in Baptism in the Holy Spirit. When a person believes in his heart and confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, he receives the gift of salvation or eternal life. At this point, a person is born of the Spirit and is made a new creation in Christ. He receives the Spirit within. Second, the experience subsequent to salvation is known in the Scriptures as being filled with the Holy Spirit or being baptized with the Holy Spirit. John 1:33 says "And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." When this happens, the believer is endued with power for service. Below are verses of individuals/groups of believers that scripture records of first being born of the Spirit then being baptized of the Spirit.

Jesus

Matthew 1:18-20 - born of the Spirit / indwelling of the Spirit

Matthew 3:16 - filled with Spirit / baptism of the Spirit

Disciple

John 20:21,22 - born of the Spirit / indwelling of the Spirit

Acts 2:2-5 - filled with the Spirit / baptism of the Spirit

Samaritans

Acts 8:5,12 - born of the Spirit / indwelling of the Spirit

Acts 8:14-17 - filled with the Spirit / baptism of the Spirit

Ephesians

Acts 19:1-5 - born of the Spirit / indwelling of the Spirit

Acts 19:6 - filled with Spirit / baptism of the Spirit

Speaking in Tongues - Acts 2:4, 1 Cor. 14

We believe in Speaking in Tongues, which is given by the Holy Spirit. In Acts we are told that in the upper room "all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified."

Baptism by Emersion - John 3:23, Matthew 3:16, Romans 6:3

Baptism is an ordinance of the church. It is the symbol of initiation into church. We baptize by emersion. Jesus was baptized by emersion. We read that John baptized at the Jordan because there was "much water" there. Additionally, baptism is the outward sign of being buried and resurrected with Christ. Emersion is in the likeness of being buried (fully emersed) and raised (raised from the water) with Christ.

Feet Washing - John 13:5-9

Feet washing is an ordinance of the church. It demonstrates servitude, our covenant relationship with one another, and spiritual cleansing."After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand. No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.""Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

Church/Ecclesiology - Matthew 16:18

The term ekklesia in the NT can refer to the "church of God" meeting in a home (Rom. 16:5), in a particular city (1 Cor 1:2; 1 Thess 1:1), in a region (Acts 9:31) or a larger area such as Asia itself (1 Cor. 16:19). The church is a universal body composed of all true believers in Christ, united in Him by the Spirit. Thus, though there are many local "churches," there is really only one church (Eph. 4:4; Heb. 12:23).

New Life has seven principles of ministry that build on one another which provide the foundation for our vision.

Progressive: New Life believes God is not static, but relates to his people within the context (time and place) of their life situation.

Proclamation: Luke 4: 18 - New Life believes the Gospel/Word is essential and central for salvation.

Preparation: 2 Tim 2: 15 - New Life believes Christian Education in all forms (Bible School, Sunday School, Parochial Education, etc.) is vital for Christian maturation.

Prayer: 1 Thes. 5: 17 - New Life believes continuous communication with God is essential for the church to hear God's will for the church.

Praise: Psalms 150: 6 - New Life believes in a vibrant worship experience that is under the leadership of the Holy Spirit which allows all other aspects of worship (scripture reading, singing, prayer, proclamation, etc.) to meet the wholistic needs of the congregation.

Perspective: Genesis 10: 1 - New Life believes identifying, discovering and being affirmed by the multiracial scripture is an absolute must to understand how we are made in the image of God.

Prosperity: 3 John 1: 2 - New Life believes in economic development, overcoming systematic poverty, oppression and political apathy are apart of wholistic living, along with eating a diet that is conducive for healthy living.

New Life Crest

• The Sword is for the word
• The Dove is the Holy Spirit wrapped in the shape of a Heart
• The Heart symbolizes The Holy Spirit controlled by Love
• The Green Leaf represents the people who are controlled by the Spirit
• The Ribbons reflect the elevation and enhance the crest
• The colors Purple and Gold are for Royalty and green is for life and growth