Our Purpose Statement
We are a different church making a difference in a changing world!
The key purpose of our church is summarized in a single sentence based on two key scriptures:
The Great Commission: “Jesus said, ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” Matthew 28:19-20
The Great Commandment: “Jesus said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” Matthew 22:36-40
To “Love God with all your heart” is Worship.
To “Love your neighbor as yourself” is Ministry.
To “Go and make disciples” is Evangelism.
To “Teach them all things” is Discipleship.
Woodbine Church Exists:
To Celebrate God’s Presence (Worship)
To Demonstrate God’s Love (Ministry)
To Communicate God’s Word (Evangelism)
To Train God’s People (Discipleship)
To Nurture God’s Family (Fellowship)
Our Statement Of Faith
What We Believe
In Essential Beliefs - We Have Unity.
“There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6
In Non-Essential Beliefs - We Have Liberty.
“Accept into your group someone who is weak in faith, and do not argue about opinions. … You cannot judge another person’s servant. The master decides if the servant is doing well or not. And the Lord’s servant will do well because the Lord helps them do well. … So each of us will have to answer to God. … Your beliefs about these things should be kept secret between you and God. People are happy if they can do what they think is right without feeling guilty.” Romans 14:1, 4, 12, & 22
In All Our Beliefs - We Show Charity.
“If I had the gift of prophecy. and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody.” 1 Corinthians 13:2
The Essentials We Believe:
THE APOSTLE’S CREED
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (meaning universal) church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
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. Love constitutes the essential being of God.
(See Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
2. About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all the people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended into heaven and will come again to judge the living and the dead, and to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
(See Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-13; 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)
3. 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 people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christ Follower from the moment of salvation providing power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.
(See 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18)
Woodbine’s Foundational Documents:
Core Values
Acceptance
Because Christ came to earth so that we all might have eternal life; our doors and our hearts will be open to anyone regardless of how they are identified by others. Jesus saw the value of each person and offered forgiveness to all, we also will prepare our hearts to accept everyone, for we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We will work as servants of Christ to provide a nurturing community where each person’s value is recognized, maintained, and strengthened so that with God’s grace each person might develop to their fullest potential as a Christian disciple.
(See Philippians 2:3; Luke 15:7; Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:36-37; John 8:11; John 17:23)
Compassion
We are a church defined by compassion, the action of love, which is extended to people from all walks of life. We have a deep compassion for youth and we have a hope for a future generation driven by Christ-like actions. Compassion and respect shall be extended toward believers and non-believers as an extension of Christ’s love is done through actions as well as words. Therefore, we freely accept the mandate to care for those in need and in pain. Our service is to be characterized by empathy, respect, and a caring heart allowing Christ’s compassion to shine through us as we have been commanded.
(See Ephesians 4:32; James 1:27, 2:14-18; 1 John 3:16-18; Matthew 25:37-39)
Relationships
We value healthy relationships grounded in Christian love. Love is the foundation of healthy relationships between individuals, families, husbands and wives, church members and, indeed, all of society. These relationships provide a sense of safety, security, and belonging while enabling us to have fun and enjoy each other’s unique gifts, talents, and personalities. This creates a positive atmosphere where newcomers are welcomed and loved.
(See Ephesians 4:1-6; 1 Timothy 5:1-2)
Spirituality
We value spiritual growth for persons of all ages and walks of life to fulfill God’s purpose and plan for each of our lives as it is revealed. We desire for each of us to grow in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ, learn to submit to the Holy Spirit in our daily lives, and walk in God’s grace and in the power of the Holy Spirit. We commend the classic spiritual disciplines of personal prayer, the reading, studying and obeying of God’s Word, corporate worship, fasting and Christian fellowship as the tools God uses to help us grow
(See Ephesians 1:18; Colossians 1:9-12; Psalm 119; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 2 Peter 2:18; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Integrity
We value walking in integrity of heart and uprightness, to do according to all that God has commanded, demonstrated in truth, honesty, faithfulness, commitment, accountability, and Biblical morality. We value doing the right thing in God’s eyes, and developing in every member that internal compass of righteous integrity.
(See Micah 6:8; Psalm 25:21)
Vision of Woodbine
To be a community of welcoming believers that will:
Proclaim the Good News in word and deed through our relationships,
Reach Out in love to help people find healing and wholeness,
Serve others joyfully as the hands and feet of Jesus,
Surrender to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit,
Celebrate our opportunity to raise up the next generation of believers,
Worship God in every aspect of our lives — Living All For Jesus