Mission
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OUR MISSION

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

We purpose to be an expression of the body of Christ (the Church), submitted to the Lord Jesus Christ in all things, patterned after the elements of the New Testament Church that are reproducible in our particular context and dedicated to fulfill this by the power of the Holy Spirit.

  • TO WORSHIP, adore and glorify God in the liberty of the Holy Spirit through public and private worship and to minister the sacraments or ordinances of the Church
  • TO PREACH AND TEACH the Bible as the Word of God
  • TO DISCIPLE believers to be submitted to the Lordship of Christ through the local church
  • TO REPRODUCE the life and character of the risen Christ in an expanding expression of our union with Christ
  • TO TRAIN a body of praying believers who effectively call for the will of God through intercession
  • TO DEVELOP spiritual leaders who can multiply themselves and meet the needs of others

We are called to be an area-wide church body with an international outreach.  We are called to service to God and then to man as unto God.  The Holy Spirit has called us to be:

  • A house of prayer for all nations
  • A house of praise and worship
  • A house of obedience to the harvest
  • A house of faithfulness in tithes and offerings

We Believe

  • The Bible is the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).
  • There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost (2  Corinthians 13:14).
  • In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal future return to this earth in power and glory to rule a thousand years (Matthew 16:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4).
  • In the blessed hope, which is the rapture of the Church, at Christ's coming (Titus 2:13).
  • The only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18,19).
  • Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation (John 3:3-5).
  • The redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing of the human body in answer to believing prayer (1 Peter 2:24).
  • The baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it (Acts 2:39).
  • In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life (Galatians 5:16).
  • In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting damnation (John 5:28,29).

 

A CHURCH WITH A VISION

A Place of Prayer

For over 40 years The Christian Center has been meeting daily for prayer for the nations. Prayer is the heart and soul of this church, meeting Monday through Friday at 5:42 a.m., Saturdays at 7:00 a.m. and at the beginning of each service.

A Place of Praise and Worship

Praise and Worship touches the heart of God, releases, strengthens and encourages believers and stops the enemy (Ps. 2:8). The Christian Center pursues biblically vibrant praise in all it's ministries.

A Place of Care

Through a strong and thorough network of lay pastors and ministries the vision of The Christian Center is to provide consistent and ongoing nurture and care to every family and individual related to this church. There are discipleship and training classes for adults on Sunday and special seminars as well.

A Place for The Harvest

We are aggressively pursuing the command of Jesus to "go into all the world." The ongoing work of the Missions Commission mobilizes a strong constituency of this church toward reaching the objectives of Missions outreach and local evangelism, supporting over 30 missionaries and projects around the world, with teams being sent out regularly to support those works.

Understanding Our Worship

1. Why do we have this type of worship?

Our praise and worship is a reflection of deep reverence for God and great joyfulness for being redeemed:

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

Come before him with joyful songs." (Ps. 100:1,2)

"...Our mouths were filled with laughter,

Our tongues with songs of joy." (Ps. 126:2)

2. Why do we have audible praise to God?

"I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth." (Ps. 34:1)

"And when they heard this they raised their voices together in prayer to God." (Acts 4:24)

3. Why do we lift our hands?

Lifting the hands is a universal sign of surrender and submission:

"Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord." (Ps. 134:2)

"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer..." (I Tim. 2:8)

4. Why do we clap our hands?

Clapping or applause is a common expression of appreciation and thankfulness:

"Clap your hands, all you nations;

Shout to God with cries of joy." (Ps. 47:1)

5. Why do we stand when we sing?

Posture is not as important as inner attitude;

those who need to sit are welcome to do so:

"And the Levites stood up to praise God..." (II Chron. 20:19)

"I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord." (Hab. 3:2)

6. Why do we sing choruses and hymns?

All songs should be biblically-based and will serve as testimonials and exhortations horizontally to the congregation, or as worship and praise vertically to both:  "...teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." (Col. 3:16)

7. Why are musical instruments used in worship?

We are commanded to praise God with a variety of instruments (Ps. 150) and will enjoy musical instruments in heaven (Rev. 14:2):

"Praise him with the sound of trumpet...psaltry...harp...timbrel...dance...stringed instruments...organs...loud cymbals...high sounding cymbals." (Ps. 150:3-5)

8. Why does the whole church pray at once for specific needs?

The book of Acts demonstrates a pattern; when they came together they prayed, praised and preached:

"...They raised their voices together in prayer to God...(Acts 4:24)

Behold there are threatenings, and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness we may speak thy word; by stretching forth thine hand to heal, and that signs and wonders shall be done in the name of thy holy child Jesus..." (Acts 4:29,30 KJV)

9. Why do we anoint with oil and lay hands on the sick for healing?

"Is there any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil... and the Lord will raise him up..." (James 5:14,15)

10. Why do we sing and pray in both tongues and English?

Tongues of corporate prayer and praise are directed to God and not to be interpreted:

"For anyone who speaks in tongues does not speak to men but to God. Indeed no one understands him." (I Cor. 14:2)

"...I will pray with my spirit (tongues), but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind." (I Cor. 14:15)

"For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God." (Acts 10:46)

11. Why do we occasionally have a tongue and interpretation of that tongue?

The scriptures call this the 'manifestation of the Spirit' for the edification (encouragement and strengthening) of the church. This tongue is a message from the Spirit of God to the church and is accompanied with an interpretation in the common tongue, so everyone can understand and be blessed:

"But the manifestations of the Spirit is given to every man for the common good... to one speaking in different kinds of tongues...to another the interpretation of tongues..." (I Cor. 12:7,10)

We pray for every kind of manifestation and working of God's Spirit that He has promised in His word.

* All scripture references taken from New International Version unless otherwise specified.