OUR BELIEFS
God
We believe there is one true God who eternally exists in three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each Person is fully God, equal in nature and glory, yet there is only one God. This is known as the Trinity.
Scripture References:
Genesis 1:26
Matthew 3:16–17
Matthew 28:19
Luke 1:35
Isaiah 9:6
2 Corinthians 13:14
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity. He is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a completely sinless life, performed miracles, and willingly died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins.
Through the shedding of His blood, Jesus made forgiveness and reconciliation with God possible. He was buried, rose bodily from the dead on the third day, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory.
Scripture References:
Isaiah 9:6
John 1:1–14
John 20:28
Philippians 2:5–11
1 Timothy 2:5
1 Timothy 3:16
1 Corinthians 15:3–4
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is fully God and is active in the world today.
The Holy Spirit convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. He brings new life to those who place their faith in Christ, indwells every believer, seals believers for the day of redemption, and unites them as the body of Christ.
The Holy Spirit comforts, teaches, guides, empowers, gives spiritual gifts, reminds us of the words of Jesus, and leads us into truth. We believe followers of Jesus should continually surrender to and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Scripture References:
John 14:16–17, 26
John 16:7–15
Acts 1:8
Romans 8:9–16
1 Corinthians 12:4–14
Ephesians 1:13–14
Ephesians 5:18
The Bible
We believe the Holy Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God. It is the final authority for what we believe and how we live.
The Scriptures were written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In their original writings, they are without error and completely trustworthy.
Scripture References:
Psalm 119:105
Proverbs 30:5
2 Timothy 3:16–17
2 Peter 1:20–21
Humanity
We believe every person was created by God in His image and has value, dignity, and purpose.
Humanity was created to know God, worship Him, and live in relationship with Him. Through Adam’s disobedience, sin entered the world and brought separation from God, spiritual death, and brokenness into all creation.
Every person has sinned and is unable to save themselves. Our only hope of forgiveness, restoration, and eternal life is found in Jesus Christ.
Scripture References:
Genesis 1:26–31
Genesis 3:1–24
Psalm 139:13–16
Romans 3:23
Romans 5:12–21
Salvation
We believe salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone.
Because of sin, humanity is separated from God and unable to earn salvation through good works, religious activity, or personal effort. God, in His love and mercy, sent Jesus to die in our place and rise from the dead.
Salvation is a gift of God’s grace received through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Those who trust in His death and resurrection are forgiven, made new, reconciled to God, and given eternal life.
Good works do not earn salvation. They are the fruit of a life that has been saved and transformed by Jesus.
Scripture References:
John 3:16–17
Acts 4:12
Acts 16:31
Romans 3:23–26
Romans 10:9–10
Ephesians 2:8–10
Titus 3:4–7
Hebrews 9:22
Water Baptism
We believe water baptism is an act of obedience for those who have repented of their sins and placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
Baptism publicly identifies a believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It represents the believer’s old life being buried and their new life in Christ beginning.
We baptize believers in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Scripture References:
Matthew 28:19–20
Acts 2:38
Acts 8:12
Acts 8:36–38
Acts 10:47–48
Romans 6:3–4
The Lord’s Supper
We believe the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion, was established by Jesus and is to be practiced by His Church.
Through the bread and the cup, believers remember the body of Jesus given for us and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. Communion is a time of remembrance, thanksgiving, self-examination, worship, and fellowship with Christ and His Church.
Scripture References:
Matthew 26:26–29
Luke 22:14–20
1 Corinthians 10:16–17
1 Corinthians 11:23–29
The Church
We believe the Church is the body of Christ, made up of all those who have been born again through faith in Jesus.
The Church is more than a building, organization, or weekly gathering. It is a people called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and sent into the world to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, serve others, and demonstrate the love and truth of Jesus.
The local church gathers regularly to worship, pray, receive biblical teaching, practice Communion, encourage one another, use spiritual gifts, and serve the community.
Scripture References:
Matthew 16:13–18
Matthew 28:18–20
Acts 2:42–47
1 Corinthians 12:12–27
Ephesians 1:22–23
Ephesians 2:19–22
Hebrews 10:24–25
The Mission of the Church
We believe every follower of Jesus is called to participate in His mission.
The Church has been commissioned to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples of all nations, baptize believers, teach obedience to Jesus, care for those in need, and live as witnesses of His Kingdom.
At Encounter, our mission is simple:
Encounter Jesus. Make Disciples. Ignite Revival.
Scripture References:
Matthew 5:13–16
Matthew 28:18–20
Mark 16:15
Acts 1:8
2 Corinthians 5:18–20
The Return of Jesus and Eternity
We believe Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to the earth in power and glory. The exact time of His return has not been revealed, so believers are called to live faithfully, watchfully, and expectantly.
We believe every person will stand before God. Those who have rejected Christ will face judgment and eternal separation from God. Those who belong to Jesus will receive eternal life and live forever in the presence of God in the new heaven and new earth.
Our eternal hope is not based on human effort, but on the victory of Jesus Christ over sin, death, and the grave.
Scripture References:
Matthew 24:30–44
Matthew 25:31–46
Acts 1:9–11
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
2 Thessalonians 1:7–10
Hebrews 9:27–28
Revelation 20:11–15
Revelation 21:1–5
Grace and Truth
Encounter is committed to faithfully teaching the whole counsel of God’s Word. We believe the Church must hold firmly to biblical truth while extending the grace, compassion, and love of Jesus to every person.
We maintain a historically Christian and theologically conservative understanding of Scripture, marriage, sexuality, the sanctity of human life, salvation, and the identity and mission of the Church.
We believe grace and truth are never enemies. Jesus was full of both, and His Church is called to reflect both.
Scripture References:
John 1:14–17
John 8:31–32
Ephesians 4:14–15
2 Timothy 4:1–5
Jude 3
We believe there is one true God who eternally exists in three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each Person is fully God, equal in nature and glory, yet there is only one God. This is known as the Trinity.
Scripture References:
Genesis 1:26
Matthew 3:16–17
Matthew 28:19
Luke 1:35
Isaiah 9:6
2 Corinthians 13:14
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity. He is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a completely sinless life, performed miracles, and willingly died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins.
Through the shedding of His blood, Jesus made forgiveness and reconciliation with God possible. He was buried, rose bodily from the dead on the third day, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory.
Scripture References:
Isaiah 9:6
John 1:1–14
John 20:28
Philippians 2:5–11
1 Timothy 2:5
1 Timothy 3:16
1 Corinthians 15:3–4
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is fully God and is active in the world today.
The Holy Spirit convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. He brings new life to those who place their faith in Christ, indwells every believer, seals believers for the day of redemption, and unites them as the body of Christ.
The Holy Spirit comforts, teaches, guides, empowers, gives spiritual gifts, reminds us of the words of Jesus, and leads us into truth. We believe followers of Jesus should continually surrender to and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Scripture References:
John 14:16–17, 26
John 16:7–15
Acts 1:8
Romans 8:9–16
1 Corinthians 12:4–14
Ephesians 1:13–14
Ephesians 5:18
The Bible
We believe the Holy Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God. It is the final authority for what we believe and how we live.
The Scriptures were written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In their original writings, they are without error and completely trustworthy.
Scripture References:
Psalm 119:105
Proverbs 30:5
2 Timothy 3:16–17
2 Peter 1:20–21
Humanity
We believe every person was created by God in His image and has value, dignity, and purpose.
Humanity was created to know God, worship Him, and live in relationship with Him. Through Adam’s disobedience, sin entered the world and brought separation from God, spiritual death, and brokenness into all creation.
Every person has sinned and is unable to save themselves. Our only hope of forgiveness, restoration, and eternal life is found in Jesus Christ.
Scripture References:
Genesis 1:26–31
Genesis 3:1–24
Psalm 139:13–16
Romans 3:23
Romans 5:12–21
Salvation
We believe salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone.
Because of sin, humanity is separated from God and unable to earn salvation through good works, religious activity, or personal effort. God, in His love and mercy, sent Jesus to die in our place and rise from the dead.
Salvation is a gift of God’s grace received through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Those who trust in His death and resurrection are forgiven, made new, reconciled to God, and given eternal life.
Good works do not earn salvation. They are the fruit of a life that has been saved and transformed by Jesus.
Scripture References:
John 3:16–17
Acts 4:12
Acts 16:31
Romans 3:23–26
Romans 10:9–10
Ephesians 2:8–10
Titus 3:4–7
Hebrews 9:22
Water Baptism
We believe water baptism is an act of obedience for those who have repented of their sins and placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
Baptism publicly identifies a believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It represents the believer’s old life being buried and their new life in Christ beginning.
We baptize believers in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Scripture References:
Matthew 28:19–20
Acts 2:38
Acts 8:12
Acts 8:36–38
Acts 10:47–48
Romans 6:3–4
The Lord’s Supper
We believe the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion, was established by Jesus and is to be practiced by His Church.
Through the bread and the cup, believers remember the body of Jesus given for us and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. Communion is a time of remembrance, thanksgiving, self-examination, worship, and fellowship with Christ and His Church.
Scripture References:
Matthew 26:26–29
Luke 22:14–20
1 Corinthians 10:16–17
1 Corinthians 11:23–29
The Church
We believe the Church is the body of Christ, made up of all those who have been born again through faith in Jesus.
The Church is more than a building, organization, or weekly gathering. It is a people called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and sent into the world to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, serve others, and demonstrate the love and truth of Jesus.
The local church gathers regularly to worship, pray, receive biblical teaching, practice Communion, encourage one another, use spiritual gifts, and serve the community.
Scripture References:
Matthew 16:13–18
Matthew 28:18–20
Acts 2:42–47
1 Corinthians 12:12–27
Ephesians 1:22–23
Ephesians 2:19–22
Hebrews 10:24–25
The Mission of the Church
We believe every follower of Jesus is called to participate in His mission.
The Church has been commissioned to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples of all nations, baptize believers, teach obedience to Jesus, care for those in need, and live as witnesses of His Kingdom.
At Encounter, our mission is simple:
Encounter Jesus. Make Disciples. Ignite Revival.
Scripture References:
Matthew 5:13–16
Matthew 28:18–20
Mark 16:15
Acts 1:8
2 Corinthians 5:18–20
The Return of Jesus and Eternity
We believe Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to the earth in power and glory. The exact time of His return has not been revealed, so believers are called to live faithfully, watchfully, and expectantly.
We believe every person will stand before God. Those who have rejected Christ will face judgment and eternal separation from God. Those who belong to Jesus will receive eternal life and live forever in the presence of God in the new heaven and new earth.
Our eternal hope is not based on human effort, but on the victory of Jesus Christ over sin, death, and the grave.
Scripture References:
Matthew 24:30–44
Matthew 25:31–46
Acts 1:9–11
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
2 Thessalonians 1:7–10
Hebrews 9:27–28
Revelation 20:11–15
Revelation 21:1–5
Grace and Truth
Encounter is committed to faithfully teaching the whole counsel of God’s Word. We believe the Church must hold firmly to biblical truth while extending the grace, compassion, and love of Jesus to every person.
We maintain a historically Christian and theologically conservative understanding of Scripture, marriage, sexuality, the sanctity of human life, salvation, and the identity and mission of the Church.
We believe grace and truth are never enemies. Jesus was full of both, and His Church is called to reflect both.
Scripture References:
John 1:14–17
John 8:31–32
Ephesians 4:14–15
2 Timothy 4:1–5
Jude 3