Next Steps (belonging to Refuge City Church)

OUR MISSION

Refuge City Church exists to know Jesus and make Him known.

Our Church Covenant is expressed in our mission:

1. Know Jesus - Growing Deep in Our Faith (Discipleship)

  • Committing to be a disciple of Jesus.

  • Committing to be a student of the Bible.

  • Join a small group.

  • Committing to sitting under the preaching of God’s Word.

  • Serving on a ministry team.

2. Make Him Known - Putting Faith into Action (Evangelism & Compassion)

  • Loving and serving people.

  • Sharing your faith.

  • Bringing truth in love.

  • Bringing people to the Sunday gathering.

  • Creating a gospel-centered worship gathering.

  • Being a church for everyone (welcoming all people while calling all of us to follow Jesus faithfully).

DOCTRINE (What We Believe)

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16

While we hold firm convictions in many areas of doctrine and practice (see “Our Core Convictions” below), we gladly grant Christian freedom where Scripture itself allows faithful believers to differ.

What Do We Mean by “The Essentials”?

We affirm with Scripture that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Nothing else - no works, no sacrament, no perfect understanding - earns or adds to this free gift of God.

However, the Bible also makes clear that saving faith must be placed in the true Jesus as He is revealed in Scripture - not a Jesus of our own imagination or preference (John 8:24; 1 Corinthians 15:14-17; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Corinthians 11:4). The essential beliefs listed below are those core biblical truths that define who God is, who Christ is, what sin is, and how we are saved. Persistent, unrepentant denial of these truths reveals that a person is trusting in a false gospel and a different “Christ,” and is therefore not yet reconciled to God.

These are not “hoops to jump through” for salvation - many new believers come to full understanding over time - but they are the non-negotiable content of the faith that saves.

The Essentials We Unite Around

  1. We believe the Bible is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

    • We believe the Bible is God’s written revelation to humanity - the 66 books inspired by the Holy Spirit, verbally plenary (every word), inerrant in the original documents, infallible, God-breathed, and fully authoritative in all matters it addresses (1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

  2. We believe there is one God, eternally existing in three Persons

    • There is only one living and true God, the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three distinct yet co-equal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - one God in three Persons (the Trinity).

    • (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 Timothy 1:17; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

  3. We believe in God the Father

    • The Father is an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He is the principle initiator in the Godhead, planning the work of salvation and sending the Son to accomplish it. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of people, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (John 14:8-9; Luke 23:34,46; Ephesians 4:6; John 3:16; et al.).

  4. We believe in Jesus Christ

    • Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, He lived a sinless life, died on the cross as the substitute for our sins, rose bodily from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven, and will return in power and glory.

    • He is the only Savior and the only way to the Father - no one comes to God except through Him (John 1:1-14; 14:6; Colossians 1:15-20; 2:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Acts 4:12).

  5. We believe in the Holy Spirit

    • The Holy Spirit is a divine Person, co-equal with the Father and the Son (not a mere “force”). He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; regenerates believers; indwells, guides, instructs, empowers, and gifts them for godly living and service; and seals them for the day of redemption (Acts 1:8; John 16:7-15; Ephesians 1:13).

  6. We believe in human sin and its consequences

    • Humanity, though originally created in God’s image and innocent, fell into sin through Adam’s disobedience. Every person is now born with a sinful nature, commits individual sins, and stands guilty before a holy God, separated from Him and unable to save themselves (Genesis 3; Romans 3:23; 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1-3).

  7. We believe in salvation by grace through faith

    • Jesus’ death and resurrection provide the only grounds for forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

    • When we repent of our sin and trust in Christ alone as Savior and Lord, God forgives us completely, declares us righteous (justification), and gives us new spiritual life (regeneration).

    • Salvation is a gift from God and cannot be obtained through works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

    • Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

    • We bring nothing to the table for our salvation (John 14:6).

  8. We believe in eternity - heaven and hell

    • Every person will exist forever. Those who are saved by grace through faith in Christ will enjoy eternal life in God’s presence in the new heavens and new earth. Those who reject Christ will experience eternal, conscious punishment separated from God in hell.

    • There are no multiple levels of heaven. There is no purgatory or second chance after death (John 14:1-3; Revelation 20:11-15; 21-22; Matthew 25:46; Hebrews 9:27).

OUR CORE CONVICTIONS

Beyond the gospel essentials, Scripture also speaks with clarity and authority on several areas of life and ethics. As a local church family, we joyfully unite around the following convictions:

  • The Sanctity of Human Life - Every person is created in the image of God and possesses inherent dignity and worth from the moment of conception until natural death. We therefore celebrate life, protect the unborn, care for the vulnerable, and oppose all forms of abortion, euthanasia, and the devaluing of any human life (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-16; Exodus 20:13).

  • God’s Design for Marriage and Sexuality - God’s good design is that sexual intimacy belongs exclusively within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman for life. All sexual activity outside of this covenant (including fornication, adultery, pornography, and homosexual practice) is contrary to God’s will (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

  • God’s Design for Gender - God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image of God, and we affirm them as part of His good creation. We reject efforts to alter one’s biological sex or live contrary to it (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-14).

  • Care for the Vulnerable and Love of Neighbor - Genuine faith always produces active love and mercy. We are called to care for orphans, widows, the poor, the oppressed, and all who suffer (defending the cause of the weak and extending practical help in Jesus’ name), because whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him (James 1:27; Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8; Matthew 25:35-40; Luke 10:25-37).

We joyfully welcome every person who walks through our doors, regardless of their background or struggles. At the same time, we lovingly call all people (ourselves included) to repentance and faith where our lives do not yet align with God’s revealed will, trusting that His grace is sufficient to transform us into the image of Christ.

COVENANT

Covenant Members at Refuge City Church partner with us in belonging to this local church. Practically, that means:

  • Join a small group - Our small groups facilitate new relationships and spiritual growth.

  • Give financially - Giving is a spiritual practice that breeds generosity and provides resources for ministry.

  • Serve in ministry - Our ministry teams create and lead all of our ministries. Every member is a minister. Every task is important.

  • Belong faithfully - Sustained life-change happens best in the context of community.

  • Pursue continued unity in the church - Unity includes affectionate love, not just sacrifice for those you don’t get along with. Unity is a major factor in our witness to the world. A unified church that is on mission cannot be stopped.

Leadership Approach & Expectations

The character and effectiveness of any church is directly related to the quality of its leadership. That’s why Scripture stresses the importance of qualified overseers and delineates specific standards for evaluating those who would serve in that role.

Refuge City Church is led by a team of three lead pastors. We believe that a plurality of leadership is biblical. In the New Testament we don’t see Christian leaders working alone. Jesus sent disciples out in pairs. Paul, for the most part, worked with a team. Even our God expresses Himself in a triune nature - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God has made us to function best within a community of believers. From this we conclude that having multiple lead pastors is biblical.

We are in the process of creating a path to eldership within our church. These elders will not necessarily be lead pastors, but they will share in pastoral responsibilities, especially in caring for the church body.

We realize that ours is not the typical American model for church leadership. Nevertheless, we remain committed to pursuing the biblical model of church leadership at Refuge City. We will always strive to be the church God has called us to be.

What can you expect from the leadership of Refuge City Church?

  1. Commitment to God above all.

  2. Commitment to our families.

  3. Prayerful seeking of God’s will for our church community and faithful stewardship of her resources according to Scripture.

  4. Keeping first things first.

  5. Keeping Refuge City Church on mission.

  6. Always maintaining open lines of communication (we have nothing to hide).

  7. Leading with truth and love.

  8. Caring for you and seeking your growth as a disciple of Christ (equipping you for service (Ephesians 4:11-13) and praying for you regularly, especially in sickness (James 5:14)).

  9. Providing teaching and counsel from the whole of Scripture.

  10. Being on guard against false teachers and false teaching.

Ready to take the next step? If everything above resonates with you and you sense God calling you to partner with us, we’d love to have you join our family!