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We are committed
to the following principles in order to fulfill our purpose: It's about Jesus.(1) As Christians, we are recipients
of God's grace. Grace is when God gives us that which we do not deserve. His grace provides forgiveness, transforms us, sustains
us, and enables our service. We are so dependant upon God's grace that we have no room to look down on others. Rather, we
are to minister grace to others. We want our church to be a haven of grace.(2) Jesus Christ is the
Head of the church and its only owner. Let no member think that long service or large gifts impart tenure in an office or
control over any part of the ministry.(3) While cultures and traditions may change,
God's Word is eternal and absolutely reliable in all that it affirms. Therefore, the Bible shall have the final say
in all that the church believes, teaches, and does.(4) God's Word
is God's tool in maturing disciples. We purpose to teach believers from the Bible in practical terms how to live the Christian
life. We will train them in Biblical doctrine and for Christian service.(5) Christianity is a relationship
with Jesus Christ. Thus, we want to be close to Him. We will nurture this relationship each day by spending time alone with
God in prayer and in His Word.(6)
No church rises above its prayer life; we will emphasize the practice of prayer.(7) In the planning process, our priority shall be to pray and make decisions at the leading of the Holy Spirit,
instead of making our plans and then asking God to bless them.(8) Evangelism is the main work
of the whole church until Christ returns. We commit ourselves to intentionally and winsomely sharing the gospel. We emphasize
evangelizing those outside the church as well as our own. We are here to reach the Tallassee area for Jesus Christ.(9) Because people are most effectively reached for Christ together with others of like interests, we shall identify
and concentrate on reaching out to "people groups" within our community.(10) Missions is evangelism
which crosses geographical and/or cultural boundaries. Our commitment to world evangelization includes participating in missions
and supporting those who give their lives to this work.(11) We see ourselves, in part,
as a support group for recovering sinners. We purpose to nurture each others' spiritual growth by encouraging one another
and holding each other accountable in his walk with Christ.(12) The Christian life is a quest for holiness.
We desire to align our actions, words, attitudes, and affections with the nature of God. We will "feed" our inner
life to be made strong in the Lord, refraining from anything that weakens our resolve for righteousness, such as pornography
or the abuse of drugs or alcohol.(13)
In its normal state, the church exists in a unity produced by the Holy Spirit.
Disunity results from our own selfish motives and actions. We purpose to preserve this unity by refraining from gossip, a
critical spirit, and disunifying behavior.(14) Change and flexibility being essential
to church growth, we will regularly evaluate church ministries and programs. We commit ourselves to excellence in the Lord's
work. It is better to do a few things well than many things poorly. Excellence is worth the price of time, money, and energy.(15) The church is the body of Christ. The whole church is the body, not just the pastor and staff. Thus, we commit
ourselves to helping members discover their spiritual gifts and mobilizing every member in service to Jesus
Christ. We view the pastor and staff like coaches who equip the church for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). (16)
It is every member's responsibility to promote the mission, protect the reputation,
and ensure the success of the church.(17) Worship involves both joyful celebration
and reverent contemplation. We will do both with the focus on Jesus Christ.(18) We purpose to support and
uphold the ideal of the Christian home. A Christian marriage involves a man and woman, both believers, living according to
Biblical principles, committed to each other exclusively for life, and seeking to rear godly children.(19) The Bible teaches that
everything in our lives - time, abilities, and finances - belongs to the Lord and that we are to manage His resources in His
way. As God has entrusted His message to us, believers are stewards of the gospel. In regard to financial giving, the tithe
is the starting place. We owe God a tithe; offerings are expressions of worship above the tithe. We believe in "storehouse
tithing," giving the first ten percent through the general church budget.(20)
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