Mission Statement... Explained

The Spring is dedicated to embracing Jesus Christ and one another through authentic loving relationships while building a Spirit-led culture of honor where all are valued, restored and empowered to serve. (Luke 10:27, John 4:14, Isaiah 41:17-20)

Embrace Jesus

Luke 10:27 -  He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’”

We fully embrace Jesus as "The" Way, "The" Truth and "The" Life. Not one of many options... He is it.

Embrace others

Luke 10:27- “‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

We embrace one another with an "actionable" love. A love that doesn't just say so... It does so. Compassion with hands and feet.

Authentic, loving relationships

1 John 4:7-21 - Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

We are committed to the policy of "no masks". Real, genuine relationships that may not be pretty at times. But they are real and committed to each other. That kind of real authentic love has only one source... Jesus Christ.

Spirit-led

Romans 8:14-17 - For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

We are committed to being led by the Holy Spirit. He is God we are not. He leads... We follow...

Culture of honor

John 8:1-11 - but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

We are committed to cultivating a culture of honor which very simply is: Accept and celebrate people for who they are without stumbling over who they are not.

Everyone is valued

1 Corinthians 12:12-31 - Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

We are committed to using God's measuring stick to determine value. Not what society or culture says, but what God says. Each human is unique above all other creation. Hand made originals. Beloved sons and daughters of the Most High God.

Everyone is given the opportunity for restoration

Isaiah 41:17-20 - “The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. 18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. 19 I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, 20 so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

 John 4:13-14 - Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Basically, your past does not equal your future. God is the master of taking what was once broken, restoring it and then using it for His glory. Scripture is full of restoration stories. Our God is a God of restoration. Of new life.

Everyone is empowered to serve

Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 - There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues.11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

We believe that everyone is useful. Everyone has something to contribute.

Statement of Faith

About Revelation and Scripture

We believe that it is the nature of God to make Himself known. God reveals Himself to humanity in various ways, most clearly in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. We accept these divinely inspired writings as the authoritative Word of God. (John 1:1-2, 18; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-2, Psalm 24:1-2; 11:6)

About God and Creation

The Bible opens with the words, “In the beginning, God created …” This dramatic statement declares God to be the eternal source and foundation of all that is. The Bible proceeds to reveal the person, nature, and character of the triune God who forever is – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1-2; Psalm 24:1-2; Hebrews 11:3)

About Humanity and Sin

God created man and woman in His image. Humans are distinct from all other forms of creation, having spiritual as well as physical characteristics. When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, their nature became sinful. This sinful nature has become an inherent part of the human experience and has separated man from God. (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7-9, 15-20; 9:1-6; Psalm 8:3-8; 90:11-6; 139:13-16; Ecclesiastes 12:1-7; Acts 17:26-28)

About Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, God the Son, is a distinct person of the Trinity, in perfect equality and unity with God the Father and god the Holy Spirit. He was God incarnate – God in the flesh – and lived on earth as a man, fully human yet without sin. By His suffering and sacrificial death for us, Jesus Christ provided complete atonement for sin. The bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead after three days testifies decisively of His deity and His victory over sin and death. The risen Christ ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for us. At the end of time, all things in heaven and earth will be brought under His rule. Every person will bow before Him and He will reign forever. (Ephesians 1:3-154; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 1:1-3)

About Salvation

Salvation is graciously provided by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The response of faith is a personal reliance on God’s grace and a turning from sin to righteousness. All who come to faith in Christ are born again, receive the Holy Spirit, become children of God, and receive the assurance of eternal life. (Luke 3:7-9; 5:31-32; 18:9-14; John 3:1-17, 16:5-15)

 About the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a divine person who eternally coexists with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit works in the world, convincing persons of sin and bringing them to repentance and faith, guiding them to fullness of life in Christ. He helps the children of God in their need, cleanses and sets them apart for holy living, and empowers them for service. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to all believers according to His sovereign will and purposes, given for the building up of the church and for ministry in the world. (Genesis 1:2; John 3:34; 14:16-17; 15:26; Acts 2; 10:38; Hebrews 9:14)

About the Church

Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ established the church to be God’s new community. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, the redeemed community. His word and will are authoritative among us. The church consists of all those who trust Jesus Christ as Savior and follow Him as Lord. The ordinances of the church are baptism and communion, which are to be observed in obedience to our Lord’s command. (Acts 2:41-47; 15; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Philippians 2:2-16)

About Eternal Hope and Judgment

The final destiny of all things lies in God’s hands. In God’s time, creation will be renewed in Christ. The kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord and He shall reign forever. God will judge righteously at the close of the age. Those who have trusted Him and obediently followed Jesus as Lord will live eternally in His presence in heaven. Those who have not trusted Him will be eternally shut out from the presence of God in hell. (Psalm 110:1; Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 1:19-20; Revelation 11:15)

 (Note: The above statements are excerpts taken from the Manual of Doctrine and Government of the Brethren in Christ Church.)

Doctrine

 - We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final authority for faith and practice.

- We believe that the Scriptures reveal the triune God whose person, nature, and character forever is God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the source and foundation of all that is. God has established order and relationships within creation.

- We believe that God created man and woman in His image. Because human beings chose to disobey God, their nature became sinful, resulting in alienation from God, from one another, from themselves, and from the rest of creation.

- We believe that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to earth to reveal the Father and to provide God’s only plan of salvation for sinful humanity. New life in Christ is given to all who turn from evil through faith in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

- The Holy Spirit enables the believer to make full surrender to the work of Christ and to walk in the fullness of the Spirit’s power.

- We believe that the Holy Spirit works in the world, intercedes for the believer, and is present in the life of the church, gifting persons for witness and service. The church is God’s primary means for worship, fellowship, evangelism, and discipleship. The final destiny of all things lies in God’s hands.

- We believe that the return of Christ in power and glory is certain and may occur at any time. God will judge righteously at the close of the age. All created things will be brought to their proper order in the eternal Kingdom.

(Note: The above statements are excerpts taken from the Manual of Doctrine and Government of the Brethren in Christ Church.)

The Spring Brethren in Christ Doctrinal Statement
Adopted 2012