The Bible
We believe the Holy Bible is the inspired, authoritative, and trustworthy Word of God. It was given by God through the Holy Spirit and is the final authority for our faith, doctrine, conduct, and daily life. We believe the Bible reveals God’s character, His plan of redemption, and His will for humanity.
God
We believe in one true and living God, eternally existing in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God is Creator of heaven and earth, holy, loving, just, all-powerful, all-knowing, and worthy of all worship and honor.
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, willingly died on the cross for the sins of humanity, was physically raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. We believe Jesus Christ is the only way to God and will return personally and visibly to establish His kingdom in fullness.
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, fully God and active in the world and in the life of every believer. The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin, leads us to Christ, regenerates and sanctifies believers, empowers us to live holy lives, and equips the Church for ministry.
We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit, distinct from and subsequent to conversion, as an empowering experience for Christian witness and service. We believe the spiritual gifts described in Scripture are available to believers today and are given by the Holy Spirit for the strengthening and mission of the Church. We believe speaking in tongues is a biblical manifestation associated with the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Salvation
We believe every person is a sinner in need of salvation and that salvation is made possible solely through the grace of God and the finished work of Jesus Christ.
We believe a person is saved through repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, resulting in the forgiveness of sins and spiritual regeneration. Salvation is a gift of God, not something earned through human works. Those who believe in Christ are justified, adopted into God’s family, and given the promise of eternal life.
We believe believers are called to continue in faith, obedience, holiness, and fellowship with Christ.
Water Baptism
We believe water baptism is an act of obedience and an outward testimony of a believer’s faith in Jesus Christ. We practice baptism by immersion as a biblical expression of identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Baptism does not earn salvation; rather, it publicly declares that a person has placed his or her faith in Jesus Christ and desires to follow Him.
Communion
We believe the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, was instituted by Jesus Christ as a continuing ordinance of the Church. Through the bread and cup, believers remember and proclaim the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and celebrate the new covenant established through His blood.
Communion is a sacred act of worship, remembrance, thanksgiving, and fellowship with Christ and His people.
Prayer
We believe prayer is the privilege and responsibility of every believer and is an essential part of our relationship with God. Through prayer we communicate with God, worship Him, confess our sins, give thanks, seek His guidance, intercede for others, and bring our needs before Him.
We believe God hears and answers prayer according to His wisdom, will, and purposes. We therefore commit ourselves to being a praying church.
Worship
We believe God alone is worthy of worship. Worship is both the corporate expression of the Church and the lifestyle of every believer.
We worship God through prayer, singing, praise, preaching and teaching of His Word, giving, service, obedience, and the dedication of our entire lives to Him. We welcome the active presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit in our gatherings and seek to worship God in spirit and in truth.
The Church
We believe the Church is the Body of Christ, consisting of all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, and every believer has a significant place and purpose within His Body.
We believe the local church exists to glorify God, proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, equip believers for ministry, care for those in need, and bring the hope of Jesus Christ to the world.
We believe the Church is called to live in unity, love, holiness, humility, and mutual submission while faithfully carrying out the Great Commission.
Christian Discipleship
We believe every follower of Jesus Christ is called to be a disciple and to make disciples. Christian discipleship involves growing continually in our relationship with Jesus through prayer, the study and application of Scripture, worship, fellowship, obedience, service, generosity, spiritual growth, and the work of the Holy Spirit.
We believe disciples of Jesus are called to live transformed lives, demonstrate Christ’s love, use their spiritual gifts, share the Gospel, serve others, and help others become faithful followers of Christ.
Our Mission
As Hope City, we seek to love God, love people, proclaim Jesus, make disciples, and serve our community and the world through the power of the Holy Spirit.
We believe the Church is called to be a place of hope, healing, transformation, and belonging, where people can encounter Jesus Christ, grow in faith, discover their God-given purpose, and become empowered to make a difference in the world.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…” — Acts 1:8