Who We Are...
Our core beliefs are similar to many mainline denominations, but how we apply those beliefs is what sets us apart.
Jesus the Perfect Example.
We believe first and foremost, that Jesus was the perfect example of human behavior, in both his life and death, and by following His words and ways we can live lives that are truly Christian. In order to do this we must live Mark 12:30&31. By loving God with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength, and by loving and caring for our neighbors as ourselves, and really doing it, not just talking about it, that only then can we become as God truly wants us to be. The result of this is that we look at how we can enrich others as much as ourselves, and often go without some of the “material extras” to give to others, which we do with great enthusiasm, because we truly love and care for them.
About Tithing.
We also believe that tithing, giving the required tenth, does not apply to the modern church. We follow 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. Those who sow generously, reaps much, and that we give not out of reluctance or pressure from others, but out of excitement in being able to contribute to the work of God. We also recognize that many need to spend their money to provide just the basics for their families, or are getting out of debt, so these people are encouraged to donate time, talent or other resources as their contribution.
Open and Accepting!
We welcome the kind of people that Jesus associated with. We are not concerned how you dress, your position in life or what sin you struggle with, but only that you come and accept the love and healing that God wants for you. For us, humility, acceptance and forgiveness bring great power and freedom through Jesus Christ. These are but a few of the things that we believe that often set us apart from other churches.
Relational and Interactive.
Our services allow for interaction, based on 1Cor.14:26, and are designed to edify and strengthen believers. The primary form of service is in a small group meeting, where each group is its own church, generally meeting in a home.
They pick the style of the service they will use, within apostolic guidelines. Church leaders are in place to guide and facilitate. This allows a person or family to join a group that fits them best. This system most closely follows the practices of the early New Testament believers.
Today, we use the term Ante-Nicene (some call it Apostolic) to describe churches that are going back to practicing Christianity the way it was in the time of the early church.
What does “Ante-Nicene” mean?
Ante-Nicene (pronounced “An te Ni Seen”) is the usual description given the early Christian Apostolic Church prior to the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. “Ante” is the Greek predicate for “before” much as “pre” is in English, i.e. Pre-Nicene and Ante-Nicene both mean “before the Council of Nicea”. Modern Church Problems. Pastors are under pressure to be all things to all people. Then too, many people have been disillusioned by what they perceive as fruitless and sometimes fraudulent spending of the money donated to Christian ministry. Many people are also frustrated with “church policies” which attempt to legislate behavior and authority, reducing or completely blocking the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit, often making them feeling unfulfilled, or worse, being made to feel that they are unloved outsiders.
A Better Response. We believe that many people in our community would respond to this system better than to a formal church setting. Services can be held on different days of the week so as to make it easier to allow people to connect to a group when they are most able, and to allow qualified leaders to test the waters to see if sheparding a group is right for them. Looking For Leadership. Toward this end, we are always seeking elders and deacons for home church leadership. We are also seeking those who could open up their home or meeting space to hold a church service but not necessarily lead the group. Training Provided. Elders and deacons are not required to have formal Bible college training, but those who have been eager seekers of the Word and are driven to reach and teach others for the cause of Christ, and are mature in their faith. Our programs for leadership development are exciting and amazingly eye-opening. We examine some of the ways that “church” can be made better by going back to the original ways that Christians conducted themselves and their meetings.