To become a Mission Partner, agreement with the following 8 core beliefs is essential. These beliefs form the foundation of our faith community, and Mission Partners are expected to uphold them as part of their commitment to the church.
1. God - We believe in God. God has existed forever as one being, three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit; also known as the Trinity). God created all things and holds all things together. God is good and right. God is all-powerful (omnipotent) and all-knowing (omniscient). God is worthy of all glory and honor. God works in all things to redeem a people for Himself and restore creation.
2. Revelation - God invites people to know Him personally. Generally, God has revealed Himself in creation. Specifically, God has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, whose life we read about in the Bible. God supernaturally orchestrated the events of history and the words of biblical authors to invite people to peace with God through Jesus Christ.
3. Bible - The Bible is God's divinely inspired written word revealing the Living Word of God – Jesus Christ. The 66 books of the Bible were written by different people over 1500 years under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Bible was not intended to answer every question people pose, but it answers every critical question regarding God, the Gospel, and eternal life in Christ. The Bible is without error. Any perceived error reveals a need for a more thorough study or the limitations of the human mind.
4. The Fall - In the beginning, God created an orderly universe. Every created thing was set in place to work peacefully while glorifying God. The first humans, Adam and Eve, had a peaceful relationship with God until they disobeyed God. Adam and Eve forfeited a perfect relationship with God, bringing judgment on themselves and all created things. The peace that reigned in the beginning has been disrupted, leading to death, pain, poverty, hate, addiction, crime, injustice, etc. The supreme need of all things is to be restored to a peaceful, orderly relationship with God.
5. The Gospel - Since the beginning, God has planned to restore all things through the person and work of Jesus Christ. The good news is that even though a person can never earn God’s favor, God gives it freely through Jesus Christ. A person is saved from the wrath of God (i.e., forgiven) when he or she is led to repentance by the Holy Spirit and given faith in Jesus Christ as the way to peace with God. Jesus gave the message of the Gospel to humanity through word and deed. A gospel without mention of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is no gospel at all. Not only do Christians receive the credit of righteousness earned by Jesus Christ, but they also receive the Holy Spirit, whose primary purpose is to make them holy. As the Spirit makes us holy, he equips us to live into the Gospel call that Jesus has given us and empowers us to live more fully as people reconciled to God.
6. Church - The church is an organized group whose faith in Jesus Christ compels them to meet regularly for encouragement and worship. A church must regularly do at least two things: teach Scripture and practice ordinances of Communion and Baptism. Jesus commanded things in scripture and practiced in the early church meetings. Members of the church share a common mission and are equally responsible to God for accomplishing all that God wants. The role of the Pastors is to ensure theological clarity, to pray and preach, and to equip the people for works of ministry. The weekly all-church gathering is only a small percentage of what it means to be the church. The rest of one’s time is when the people live out their faith, being the church in everyday life.
7. Marriage - Marriage is a sacred covenant established by God between one man and one woman, designed to reflect the relationship between Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:25-32). It is intended to be a lifelong union characterized by love, commitment, and mutual respect. The Bible upholds marriage as the proper context for sexual intimacy and the foundation for family life. Marriage is not just a social contract but a divine institution that honors God and provides a stable environment for raising children according to biblical values.
8. Racism - Racism is a sin that contradicts the core teachings of Scripture about the inherent dignity and worth of every human being. The Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27); as such, there is no place for discrimination or hatred based on race, ethnicity, or nationality. Acts 17:26 says that God made "from one man every nation of mankind," emphasizing the unity of the human race. The gospel of Jesus Christ breaks down all racial and cultural barriers (Galatians 3:28), calling believers to love and treat others as they would themselves, regardless of background. Racism undermines the message of reconciliation, justice, and love that Christians are called to live out. Christians are encouraged to actively oppose it and pursue racial harmony in the church and society.
We do not require people to agree with or fully understand the following 4 beliefs. However, to become a Mission Partner, one must acknowledge that this is Neartown Church’s position. If you do not yet agree or still have questions, you can still become a Mission Partner, but you agree that differing beliefs on these issues will not be a source of division within the church.
1. Ordinances - Lord's Supper and Baptism: At Neartown Church, we practice two ordinances commanded by Jesus: the Lord's Supper and Baptism. The Lord's Supper is a regular remembrance of Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection, symbolized by bread and the cup, representing His body and blood given for us. Baptism at Neartown Church is Believer's Baptism, meaning it is for individuals who have made a personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ. We baptize by immersion, which symbolizes the believer’s identification with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. Both ordinances are vital expressions of obedience, community, and faith, reflecting the work of Jesus Christ in the life of the believer and the church.
2. Gender Identity - Gender is a gift from God, assigned at birth and rooted in the biological differences between men and women. According to Genesis 1:27, God created humanity "male and female," reflecting His divine image. From this perspective, gender identity should align with one's biological sex, and any deviation from this design is seen as a result of the Fall and humanity’s sin nature. Christians are called to love and respect all individuals, but the Bible is considered the ultimate authority in determining how gender roles and identity should be understood and expressed.
3. Sexuality - Sexuality is a God-given gift meant to be expressed within the boundaries of heterosexual marriage. According to Scripture, sexual relations outside of this framework—whether through premarital sex, adultery, or homosexual behavior—are viewed as sinful (1 Corinthians 6:18-20, Romans 1:26-27). Christians hold that sexuality should reflect God's design for purity, faithfulness, and procreation and that sexual ethics are integral to living a life that honors God. At the same time, the Christian message emphasizes forgiveness and redemption for all who repent and seek to live according to biblical principles.
4. Abortion - Abortion is viewed as the taking of innocent life and is considered a violation of the sanctity of life, a principle deeply rooted in Scripture. The Bible teaches that human life begins at conception, and God makes each person fearfully and wonderfully (Psalm 139:13-16). From the moment of conception, all human life bears God's image (Genesis 1:27) and therefore holds inherent value and dignity. Abortion, in this view, is seen as the unjust termination of a life that God has uniquely created and ordained. While recognizing the complexities and challenges surrounding unplanned pregnancies, the Christian response emphasizes compassion, support for women in crisis, and the pursuit of life-affirming alternatives. Christians are called to defend the unborn while also extending grace and forgiveness to those affected by abortion.