First Baptist Church
1500 East Melgaard Rd
Aberdeen, SD 57401-7714
Phone: 605-225-9581
Email: fbc@nvc.net

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Aberdeen Christian School Christian Worship Hour

PURPOSE STATEMENT & STRATEGIC GOALS

"Glorifying God through winning the lost, nurturing the saved, and serving the flock."

We accomplish our purpose through:

WORSHIP:	Provide an atmosphere for corporate involvement in bringing glory to God Psalm 34:3 and observing his ordinances I Cor. 11:2.
EVANGELISM:	Share the gospel and seek the salvation of those in community, country, and throughout the world Matt. 28:9 & Acts 13:47.
INSTRUCTION:	Instruction in the Word of God and its application to life Matt. 28:10 & II Tim. 2:15.
FELLOWSHIP:	Encourage one another and build each other up Heb. 10:25 & I Thess. 5:11.
SERVICE:	To meet the needs of others in the name of Jesus Christ Rom. 12:6-8 & Rom. 12:12-13.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

We accept the Bible to be our only authority in faith and practice and make the following declaration of belief:

1. THE WORD OF GOD
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, fully inspired, infallible, and inerrant II Peter 1:21 in the original manuscripts, and has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct II Tim. 3:16.

2. THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons Matt. 28:19, II Cor. 13:14-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-and that these three are one God; that these are equal in every divine perfection; and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.

3. GOD THE FATHER
We believe in God the Father, an infinite personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayers, and that He saves from sin and eternal death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ I Tim. 1:17, John 14:6.

4. GOD THE SON (Jesus Christ)
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth Matt. 1:21-23, sinless life II Cor. 5:21, miracles John 20:30, 31, and teachings Mark 1:22. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death Heb. 9:26, bodily resurrection I Cor. 15:3, 4, ascension into heaven Acts 1:9, perpetual intercession for His people Heb. 7:25, and personal visible return to earth Acts 1:11.

5. GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father John 14:16 and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment John 16:8 and to regenerate Titus 3:5, sanctify I Thess. 5:23, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ Rom. 8:9. We further believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide John 14:26.

6. REGENERATION
We believe that all men are sinners by nature Rom. 5:12 and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation Rom. 6:23. We believe that those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and believe Him to be their Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit Titus 3:5.

7. SALVATION FOR SINNERS
We believe that salvation sufficient for all was provided through Jesus Christ by His substitutionary and sacrificial death on the cross Heb. 9:28 and that salvation is freely given to all who repent and, by faith, accept Christ as personal Lord and Savior John 3:16.

8. THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church is the body of Christ Eph. 4:11, 12. All persons whom the Holy Spirit has enabled to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord I Cor. 12:3 are members of this body. A local church is an assembly of persons who so confess Christ and who join together for worship, for service, and the mutual encouragement of their faith. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost world.

9. ONE COMMISSION
We believe that the continuing obligation of the church is to fulfill the admonition of Jesus Christ to make disciples among all nations Genesis 1:28,29, to teach what He has commanded, and to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Matt. 28:19,20.

10. TWO ORDINANCES
We believe that Baptism of believers by immersion Matt.3:16 is open confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and is public identification with the Church; that Communion is worship in which believers remember the Lord's death until He comes I Cor. 11:26. These are done in obedience to Christ's command.

11. TWO DESTINIES
We believe that the destiny of each person is unalterable after he leaves the body at the time of physical death. The destiny of all believers is to be at home with the Lord John 14:2,3. The destiny of all unbelievers is separation from the presence of the Lord Luke 16:26-28. We believe in a literal heaven and a literal hell Matt. 25:46.

12. ETERNAL LIFE
We believe that eternal life is the sovereign work of God's grace Eph. 2:8,9 given to sinners when they believe in, and receive, Christ as Lord and Savior.

13. THE LAST THINGS
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth Acts 1:9-11 and the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the rapture of the saints, in the resurrection of the body Mark 12:25, 26, the final judgement John 5:28, 29, the eternal happiness and joy of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked Matt. 25:46.