The mission of Eastside Christian Church is to build fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Our Strategy for accomplishing our mission is through GPS connections: We connect people to God, we connect people to people, and we connect people to service.
Our Core Values
Word of God
We believe the Bible to be the actual words of God, written through men inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is the final authority of absolute truth, the guide of all we believe and practice. We understand the Bible to be inerrant, perfectly describing the Will of God in all it teaches. The Bible is our primary source of curriculum and we strive to teach it in a manner that is relevant and applicable to modern life.
Prayer
We believe that God offers assistance, empowerment, and anointing upon Kingdom work when asked by His children. Therefore, it is our goal that every activity of the church is first bathed in prayer prior to its activity, as well as throughout its ongoing function. Human effort alone is insufficient to fulfill the ministry to which God has called us, and intentional prayer fills that gap.
Ministry
We believe that God equips each of His children through a variety of gifts, passions, abilities, personalities, and life experiences. This equipping is for the purpose to serve other people, both inside and outside the church. Our members are expected to participate in service opportunities where they have been gifted.
Worship
We believe that a corporate worship experience is our primary means of glorifying God. We create this atmosphere of worship through live and energetic music, predominantly modern worship songs, innovative technology, various aspects of creative arts, weekly participation of communion by believers and thematic teaching that focuses on living a Christ-centered life in today’s culture.
Excellence
We believe God has always given His best and expects His Church to reflect that nature in all her ministries and resources. This value of excellence is attained through prayer, desire, preparation and diligence.
Youth Ministry
We believe that all youth need to come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and learn to live out that commitment in their daily lives. We accomplish these objectives through age-relevant worship services, relevant Bible studies, authentic relationships, community activities and ministry opportunities.
Small Groups
We believe one of the best ways for Christians to mature in their faith is through a connection with a small group of other believers. These groups allow friendships to develop, foster the application of Bible truths into everyday living and support each other through various life experiences. Our members are strongly encouraged to participate in some sort of group life.
Leadership
We believe the Bible instructs a team of elders affirmed by the congregation to see that our doctrine is pure, our activities are aligned with our mission and that our members are shepherded according to their needs. The daily operation of the church is entrusted to paid staff members who work in designated departments along with the help of members who assist in the ministries of the church.
Finances
We believe that God owns everything. Members are expected to contribute a portion of their financial resources in order to assist in accomplishing the mission of the church. Specific steps of integrity and caution are implemented to insure that all funds are received and expended toward the meeting of that mission.
Community Outreach
We believe that God calls His church to be proactive in and connected to the community. We accomplish this value by sharing His love with all people, standing for truth and meeting the needs of the impoverished and abused. We are obedient to this calling as far as resources allow and our ability to perform ministry with excellence is maintained.
The Bible
The Bible is the infallible Word of God. It is always correct and always relevant. Even though the standards of society change through time, the standards of scripture do not. Where the Bible clearly speaks we clearly stand.
God
He is the Creator and Sustainer of the world. He is the only true God, all others are false and non-existent. He is the author of all history – nothing occurs without His knowledge and approval. He is the Father of Jesus Christ.
Jesus
He is the perfect Son of God, born of the virgin Mary. He lived a life of holy example, died on a cross as punishment for the sins of the world, was buried in a sealed tomb, and three days later rose from that grave and came to life again. He is the ultimate head of the church. He sits at the right of his Father in heaven right now and awaits His return to earth where He will escort His church to heaven for all of eternity.
Holy Spirit
He is by nature equal to God and sent to the lives of all believers to assist them in their Christian walk. He indwells a believer at the point of their baptism and provides them with specific gifts to serve God and His People. He comforts, convicts, guards, and equips all those who love the Father and the Son.
Mankind
All people are sinful; no one is perfect. Therefore, all people need to be saved from impending punishment due to sin. When saved by the grace of God, people can make an incredible impact on society for the cause of good.
Heaven
Heaven is a real place reserved for those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. It is a place where sin does not exist, and consequently, the residents of heaven will not have to deal with the effects of sin, pain, tears, death, etc. Heaven will last forever.
Hell
Hell is a real place reserved for those who do not surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. Because of their unforgiven sin they will exist in a place of terrible torment and agony for all of eternity.
Salvation
Salvation is the act of being rescued from our impending eternal punishment and given instead the gift of eternal life in heaven. This gift is the result of two factors, the grace of God and the faith of the individual.
The grace of God is revealed in the cross of Jesus Christ, as He died to pay our penalty of sin. It is unmerited favor. We did not do anything to deserve this gift. God gave it to us because He loves us and wants to spend eternity with us in heaven.
The faith of the individual is revealed in specific steps.
- Believing in Jesus Christ - John 3:16
- Repenting of sin – turning away from a life of sin - Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19
- Professing your belief about Jesus - Romans 10:9-10
- Being baptized by immersion - Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16
- Earnestly seeking to persevere - Colossians 1:21-23, 2 Peter 2:21-22
When the grace of God and the faith of the individual come together the result is the forgiveness of sins, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the promise of eternal life in heaven.
This conversion process is often called the “plan of salvation.” This plan can be summed up in that we are saved by grace, through faith, in baptism, and for good works.
Baptism
According to Romans 6:3-4, baptism is a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we are baptized we first of all die to our sin, we are buried as the finality of a previous life, and we are raised out of the water to begin a new life. This is why baptism is only done by immersion.
Baptism signifies the point in time when the Bible tells us that we have the assurance that the guilt and penalty of sin are removed and the sinner becomes a forgiven person. The very act of immersion, not a work but a submission, portrays symbolically the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. It is the step of the salvation process when a person surrenders his/her life to God. It is not an option to ignore, nor a mere formality to join the church.
Baptism is entered into only by people who make their own choice to do so, understanding the significance of the event and having a proper motive. There is no record anywhere in the New Testament of infants being baptized.
Baptism reflects a personal acknowledgment of sin and a conscious choice to accept God’s generous forgiveness. The Greek noun portrays a complete immersion, making the symbolism of baptism more vivid. Since there is no record of sprinkling as a form of baptism anywhere in the New Testament we baptize by immersion only.
The Church
The church is a collection of people who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. These people regularly worship God, serve Him and each other, live their lives as examples of God’s standards, and seek to reach out and draw others into this life. The church is the light of the world and the salt of the earth, commissioned by Christ to impact all of society with the goodness of the gospel.