David Ferris

Dear Church,

I have been praying for some about God's direction for my wife Diane, and I in regard to ministry. For some reason Michigan has a certain appeal to me, but I do understand that appeal does not necessarily constitute God's will for our lives.

Your area in particular is definitely a place where I could see us busy for the Lord. After talking to your pastor, it was a blessing to hear about the faithfulness of the people that are in the church and their willingness to reach out to the community to reach others.

My desire is to be able to take good care of the sheep for our Lord, and to be busy working in his fields. I have done some research about the church and I believe that your current pastor and his wife have done a tremendous job over the last 12 years. It is with a great sense of thankfulness that you would take time to even consider our interest in serving there with you all.

Whatever happens as a result of this process, you all will be in my prayers as you seek for your next pastor.

Keep looking up,

Dave Ferris

In November 1981 evangelist came to our church in New York and preached on the subject of hell. I realized I was not saved and that evening I went home and asked my parents about the message that had been preached and that evening my dad led me to the Lord.

My wife grew up Catholic, and at the age of 28 she was led to the Lord by her future brother-in-law Larry.

My wife, Diane and I have three children:

Matthew 09/28/03

Jenna  08/28/06

Jeffrey 02/16/09

Doctrinal Statement :

THE WORD OF GOD

We believe in the inspiration of the Bible as canonized in its 66 Books. The Bible does not simply contain, but is in fact, the Word of God. It is the only complete and final revelation of God’s specific will to man. The Holy Scriptures, spoken by men inspired by the Holy Spirit, are inerrant and preserved by God for the English-speaking people in the Authorized King James Bible. It is our final authority for all matters of faith and practice.

Psalm 19:7-11; 119:89, 105, 130, 160; Proverbs 30:5,6
; Isaiah 8:20
; Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:31; 24:25-27, 44-45; John 5:39, 45-47; 12:48; 17:17; Acts 1:16; Romans 15:4; Ephesians 6:17; II Timothy 3:16-17; I Peter 1:23; II Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:19

THE GODHEAD

We believe that there is only one living and true God existing eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are equal in eternally divine perfection while performing distinct but harmonious functions in thgreat work of redemption and perfection. God is the absolute and sole Creator of the universe and due to His inexpressible glory, power, and holiness is worthy of all possible honor, praise, confidence, worship, loyalty, and love.

Genesis 1:1, 26
; Exodus 20:2,3; 15:11; I Chronicles 29:11
; Psalm 83:18; 90:2; 96:4,5; 145:17; 147:5; Isaiah 6:3
; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19
; Mark 12:30
; John 4:24; 10:30; 15:26; 17:5; Acts 5:3-4
; Romans 11:33
; I Corinthians 2:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6; II Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:6; Philippians 2:5-6; I Timothy 1:17; I John 5:17; Revelation 4:8,11

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person equal to and of the same nature as the Father and the Son. To the unbelieving world, the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth of the Gospel, and convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment. For all believers, the Holy Spirit indwells, baptizes, seals, and sanctifies from the moment of their new birth. He also endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, and fills all believers in response to confession of sin and yieldedness. We further believe that the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance) and permanent spiritual gifts are evidences of His indwelling rather than sign gifts, such as speaking in tongues, healings, prophesyings, or any other emotional and spectacular physical manifestations and/or demonstrations.

Genesis 1:1-3; 6:3
; Psalm 139:7
; Matthew 3:11; 28:19
; Luke 1:35; 3:22; 12:12
; John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16,17,26; John 15:26-27; 16:7-15
; Acts 5:30-32; 11:16
; Romans 8:9-16, 26, 27; I Corinthians 2:1-11; 13:8-10; II Corinthians 3:16; 6:11,19; Galatians 5:22-23
; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; Hebrews 9:14
; I Peter 1:2

THE SON

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous conception; born in the womb of the prepared vessel Mary, a virgin, and that He is both God and man. Thus, Jesus Christ was just as much God as if he were not man ,and just as much man as if He were not God. Or, more simply put, He is both God the Son and the Son of God. As both God and man, Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, taught with authority, wrought many mighty works and wonders, was crucified, bled, and died as a penalty for our sins, and was raised from the dead bodily on the third day. Upon His ascension, He took His rightful place at the right hand of the Father, where He is currently seated as the Head of the Church. As such, He is interceding for all believers, is preparing a home for His children, and will soon come in the clouds to rapture His Church immediately prior to the pouring out of His wrath on earth in a period of time referred to in the Bible as the Great Tribulation. After which, He is coming again personally, bodily, and visibly to this earth to be seated on the Throne of David for His millennial Kingdom.

Genesis 3:15
; Psalm 2:7
; Isaiah 7:14; 52:13-15; 53:1-9; Matthew 1:18-25; 28:5-6; Mark 1:1
; Luke 1:31,35; John 1:1,2,14,18; 14:2-3; 19:16-18,30,33; Acts 1:9,11
; Romans 3:24-26; 4:25; I Corinthians 15:3,4,12-19,47,51-53; II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 4:4
; I Thessalonians 4:14-17
; Titus 2:13
; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:23-25; 9:24; I John 2:1,2; 3:2; 5:20

THE DEVIL

We believe that Satan was once perfect and enjoyed a tremendous honor as the covering cherub under the name of Lucifer (light-bearer). His pride and ambition to be as God, however, caused him to fall from God’s presence, taking with him one-third of the heavenly host. As the result of his fall, he is now the deceptive prince and power of the air and the unholy god of this world. Satan is man’s great tempter, the enemy of Christ, the accuser of saints, the father of lies, the author of all false religions, and chancellor of all powers of darkness. He is, however, destined for defeat at the hands of God’s Son and will be sentenced by God’s judgment to an eternal hell and subsequent lake of fire – a place prepared for the Devil and his angels.

Genesis 3:14,15; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Zechariah 3:1; Matthew 4:1,3,6,9; 13:25,37-39; 25:41; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4
; John 8:44; 14:30
; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 2:2
; I Thessalonians 3:5
; II Thessalonians 2:8-11; I Peter 5:8

II Peter 2:4
; I John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3
; II John 7
; Jude 6
; Revelation 12:7-12; 13:13,14; 19:11,16,20; 20:1-3,10

THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN

We believe that man was created in complete innocence and in a perfect environment; but because of his own free will he transgressed God. The result of Adam’s sin is not only physical and spiritual death for all mankind but is also the endowment of a sin nature at conception; therefore, all people are sinners, not only by constraint, but by choice, and are unable to regain their former position of innocence, abiding under just condemnation without defense or excuse before God. The Bible teaches that people are not sinners because they sin but sin because they are sinners.

Genesis 3:1-6; Psalm 51:5; 53:1,3; Isaiah 64:6; Ezekiel 18:19,20
; John 3:18
; Romans 1:18,20,28,32; 3:10-19,23; 5:12, 19; 6:23

Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1,3,12; Hebrews 2:3

SALVATION

We believe that salvation is a gift of God given to man by grace through faith alone in Paul’s Gospel. This faith, being more than intellectual ascent, involves complete trust in the blood of Jesus Christ and total confidence in the finished of the cross. Salvation is possible only through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ who made a full, vicarious, and substitutionary atonement for our sin, redeeming us from the curse of the law and justifying us through His death, burial, and resurrection. The essence of biblical salvation is birth. The new birth (regeneration) results in a new creature (transformation) in Jesus Christ that is instantaneous and not processional. In the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and sins is imparted a new nature and a spiritual life not previously possessed, is forgiven of sin, and is given eternal life by the power of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is totally apart from any effort of man such as good works, baptism, or church membership. Proper evidences of salvation are a walk in newness of life, resultant of the aforementioned fruit of the Spirit. Although sin in his life may interrupt the joy of his fellowship with God and bring the loving discipline of his heavenly father, a child of God is eternally secure – unable to lose his salvation.

Genesis 15:6
; Psalm 37:24; 51:1-4,7,10,12; Isaiah 53:4-7,11,12; 55:6-7; Matthew 4:17; 16:24,25; 18:11
; Mark 1:15
; Luke 12:8; 18:13,14
; John 1:12,13; 3:3,5-8,16,17; 5:24; 6:37; 10:18,27-30; Acts 2:37,28; 13:38,39; 15:11; 16:30,31; 20:21; Romans 1:17; 3:24,25,28; 4:1-8; 5:1,8,9,15,20; 6:1,2,10-13,23; 8:1,16,17,29-39; 9:11; 10:9-13; I Corinthians 3:12-15; 15:3,4,20; II Corinthians 5:17-19,21; Galatians 1:4; 3:11; 5:22-25; Ephesians 1:7; 2:1,8-10; 4:30; 5:9; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:13
Titus 3:3-7
; Hebrews 2:14; 7:25; 8:12; 10:38; 12:2,5-8; 13:5; James 2:14-26
; I Peter 1:23; 2:24; 3:18
; II Peter 1:4
; I John 2:1,2; 4:10,15; 5:1,11-13; Revelation 3:20

SANCTIFICATION

We believe in immediate positional sanctification at the moment of salvation when God imputes the righteousness of His Son to the believer, setting him apart and placing him into the family of God as a child and joint heir with Christ. The believer becomes a partaker of God’s holiness, through the process of progressive sanctification that begins at the new birth. This process is carried on in the believer’s heart and mind through yieldedness to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, prayer, watchfulness, worship, meditation, and self-examination. Ultimate sanctification will be the portion of every believer when finally in the presence of the Lord. The soul and spirit will be united with the resurrected body complete and free from every trace or effect of sin and rebellion

John 1:12; 17:17
; Acts 20:32; 26:18
; Romans 8:4-17; 5:16
; I Corinthians 1:2; 6:11,20; II Corinthians 6:18; 13:5; Galatians 3:29; 4:7; Ephesians 5:26; 6:18; Philippians 2:12,13; 3:20,21; I Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23
; II Timothy 2:21; Titus 3:7
; Hebrews 2:10; 10:10-14; 11:7; James 2:5
; I Peter 3:7
; I John 3:1-2

SEPARATION

We believe in the three-fold doctrine of separation encompassing:

• The separation of the believer from all worldly practices that may dishonor Jesus Christ, that contradict biblical instruction or that might damage either the individual believer or his local assembly;
• The separation of the local church from all affiliation and fellowship with any individual, church, or other organizations which deny in word or deed the Word of God; and
• The separation of church and state which we believe is more accurately stated as the separation of state from church.

Matthew 2:21
; Romans 12:1,2; 14:13, 21; I Corinthians 8:9
; II Corinthians 6:11-7:1; II Timothy 3:1-5; James 4:4
; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11

AFTERLIFE (THE ETERNAL STATE)

We believe that the souls of believers do, upon death, immediately pass into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at the Rapture of the Church, when the body and soul will be reunited and dwell in Glory forever with Him. Upon death, the souls of unbelievers immediately pass into conscious torment in hell until the final judgment of the Great White Throne when the body and soul will be reunited and cast into the lake of fire – not to be annihilated but to be punished with an everlasting pain of fire and separation from the holiness, glory, power, and love of God.

Psalm 9:17
; Isaiah 14:9-11
; Ezekiel 32:21; Matthew 7:21-23; 25:46; Luke 16:9-26; 23:43; John 3:14-18
; I Corinthians 15:51-54; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:20; I Thessalonians 4:16,17; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Hebrews 9:27
; II Peter 2:9
; Revelation 14:13; 20:11-15; 21:2,4,27; 22:14

THE CHURCH

We believe that the Church is a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the head and in which all regenerated people in this dispensation (Church Age) are members. Those who are born again are baptized by the Holy Spirit with a spiritual baptism into a vital union with Christ and into the Church which is His beloved Body and Bride. The local church is the visible expression of the Body of Christ and as such is a congregation of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who have been scripturally baptized and are associated for worship, teaching, evangelism, edification, observance of the ordinances, and fellowship. The mission of the local church is to glorify God through discipleship which is accomplished by winning the lost through evangelism, baptizing them, and teaching them. The local church has the absolute right of self-government and is autonomous from the interference of extra- biblical, para-church, or any other earthly hierarchy of individuals or organizations. The officers of the local church are pastors (also called elders, bishops, pastor-teachers) and deacons. The local church is the center of God’s program for this age.

Matthew 16:16-18; 28:19-20
; Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-37; 6:1-6; 14:23,27; 15:22; 20:17-28
; I Corinthians 3:9-11; 5:1-5,11-13; 6:1-3; 11:2;12:12-27; 16:1-2; II Corinthians 8:23-24; Galatians 3:27
; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-16; 5:23-27; Colossians 1:18,24; I Timothy 3

Titus 1:5-11
; I Peter 5:1-5; Revelation 2, 3

CHURCH ORDINANCES

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances to be observed by all believers until His return: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is a part of the believer’s obedience to Christ after salvation and involves a one-time immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Spirit). This act shows forth a solemn and beautiful emblem of the believer’s faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior and identification with Christ in death to sin and resurrection of new life. The immersion of the body follows a public confession of the believer’s salvation and is a prerequisite to church membership. The Lord’s Supper (communion) is a memorial service in which the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine symbolize the body and blood of Christ, reminding the believer of the love of God and His passion. Participation in the Lord’s supper is only for those who are members of the local assembly administering the ordinance or members of a church of like faith and practice. Going to the Lord’s table is a matter which should always be proceeded by careful self- examination.

Matthew 26:26-28; 28:19; John 3:23
; Acts 2:28-42,47; 8:12,36-39; 9:17, 18; 10:44-48; 16:14,15,32,33; 18:8; 19:4,5; Romans 6:3-6
; I Corinthians 11:23-30; Colossians 2:12

STANDARDS

Our church family and I have one standard: the King James Bible.

Values

1. Because Jesus Christ is the LOVE of God, we value charity – love perfected in man (John 13:34,35; I John 4; I Corinthians 13).

2. Because Jesus Christ is the LIGHT of God, we value Christ-like holiness (I John 1:5; John 1:1-9).

3. Because Jesus Christ is the WORD of God, we value expository preaching (John 1:1; I Corinthians 2:13,14).

4. Because Jesus Christ is the GLORY of God, we value praise characterized by reverence and excitement (John 1:14).

5. Because Jesus Christ is the POWER of God, we value world missions (Romans 1:16; Matthew 28:19,20).

6. Because Jesus Christ is the IMAGE of God, we value personal evangelism and biblical discipleship (Colossians 1:15; Matthew 22:35-40; Romans 1:16).

7. Because Jesus Christ is the LIFE of God, we value fellowship (John 1:4; 15:4,5; Colossians 3:4; II Timothy 2:2).

8. Because Jesus Christ is the SACRIFICE of God, we value worship as presenting to God our lives as living sacrifices (I Corinthians 5:7; I John 3:16; Romans 12:1,2).

9. Because Jesus Christ is the MEDIATOR of God, we value corporate prayer ( I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:15; 7:25; 4:16; I Thessalonians 5:17).

10. Because Jesus Christ is the LAMB of God, we value salvation by grace through faith alone, in the shed blood of Jesus Christ (John 1:29; Revelation 12:10,11; Colossians 1:20-22).