Statement of Faith

The Word of God

We believe the sixty-six canonical books of the Old and New Testaments are the divinely inspired, infallible Word of God, without error in the original manuscripts, and God's complete, written revelation to humankind. The Bible is sufficient and trustworthy for life, faith, conduct, and practice, and is the supreme and final authority in all matters to which it speaks. We further believe there is but one true interpretation of Scripture, although there may be several applications. The true meaning lies in the text and is that which the divinely-guided author willed to convey. It is recoverable through careful application of a literal (grammatical, historical, contextual) method of interpretation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and in the community of Christ. The Holy Spirit illumines the text, enabling the reader to embrace the significance of what God has communicated, and to see the glory of Christ in the Word of God.

The Trinity

We believe in one God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, eternally divine existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; we believe that these are equal in every distinct perfection and they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.

God the Father

We believe in one God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, eternally divine existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; we believe that these are equal in every distinct perfection and they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God's eternal Son. God the Son has precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. We believe further that He is not only true God, but true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We also believe in His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, His priestly intercession on behalf of His people, and His personal, visible, premillennial return from heaven.

Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, His personality and His work in regeneration, sanctification, and preservation. His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, to implement Christ's work of redeeming the lost, and to empower the believer for godly living and service. We believe the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to believers as He wills for the common good. No gift signifies His baptism or filling, nor does any gift provide authoritative revelation beyond what has already been revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Life in the Spirit includes trials and does not guarantee physical health, material wealth, nor confirming outward signs.

Mankind

We believe God originally created persons, male and female, in the image of God and free from sin. We believe all people are sinners by nature and choice and are spiritually dead. We also believe that those who repent of sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe God established marriage to be a lifelong covenant relationship between one man and one woman. Marriage so defined is the only permissible context for intimate sexual expression and is the foundation for human family. We further believe that human life is precious and should be protected from beginning, at fertilization, until death.

Salvation

We believe in salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We further believe that this salvation is based upon the sovereign grace of God, was purchased by Jesus Christ on the cross, is eternally secured by the Holy Spirit, and is received by faith, apart from any human merit, works, or ritual. We further believe salvation results in righteous living, good works, and proper social concern.

The Church

We believe that the Church is the spiritual body of which Christ is the head. We believe that the true Church is composed of all persons who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe that this body expresses itself in local assemblies whose members have been immersed upon a credible confession of faith and have associated themselves for worship, for instruction, for evangelism, and for service. We believe the ordinances of the local church are believer's baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper. We also believe in the interdependence of local churches and the mutual submission of believers to each other in love.

Separation of Church and State

We believe that each local church is self-governing in function and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority. We further believe that every human being is directly responsible to God in matters of faith and life and that each one should be free to worship God according to the dictates of conscience.

Christian Conduct

We believe that the supreme task of believers is to glorify God in their life and that their conduct should be blameless before the world. We further believe that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions and that they should seek to realize for themselves the full stature of maturity in Christ.

The Last Things

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved and lost, the eternal existence of all people either in heaven or hell, in divine judgment, rewards, and punishments.

NINE CORE VALUES of AFCC

A CORE VALUE IS THE CONSTANT, PASSIONATE BIBLICAL CORE BELIEF THAT DRIVES OUR MINISTRY. IT DISCRIBES WHAT IS THE SHAPING FORCE AND WHAT IS ESSENTIAL IN THE WAY WE DO MINISTRY. THEY ARE THE INFLUENCE BEHIND EVERYTHING WE DO.

  • GRACE…We are committed to treating people with grace no matter what their background, what they have or where they have come from.
    (I Cor. 15:10)

  • AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY…We are committed to developing accountable, honest, loving, biblical, family style relationships with each other and with God.
    (Acts 2:44-47)

  • SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION…We expect each person to grow and make progress as a real life disciple, in their faith walk with God.
    (Phil. 2:12-13)

  • PRAYER…We are committed to fresh encounters with God through prayer and praise.(Eph. 6:18)

  • SERVANTHOOD…We desire each disciple to be on mission for Christ, to meet real needs, and to make a difference in our community one person and one opportunity at a time.
    (Mark 10:45)

  • WORSHIP…We are committed to expressing and celebrating God’s goodness to us and lifting up his name in song and deeds.
    (Heb. 13:15-16)

  • BELONGING…We are dedicated to including people from multiple cultures and backgrounds in the family of God and in our church family.
    (Eph. 3:14-19)

  • GENEROSITY…We desire to be generous with our time, talent, treasure and tenderness as God gives us the ability and opportunity.
    (I Tim. 6:17-19)

  • TOGETHERNESS…We are dedicated to partner together in Jesus name, to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, to speak truth in love, and correct mistakes.
    (Eph. 4:3)

OUR VISION:

To be a church that focuses on the development of real life disciples who are empowered by God to seize the moments where faith and life meet to serve others and meet real needs.

OUR MISSION:

We exist to glorify God by loving people where they are and growing them to make a difference for Christ in the lives of others.

OUR TARGET:

THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY THE DAVID DOUGLAS NEIGHBORHOOD A WORLD VISION



FOUR FOCUSES of our CHURCH


LOVE FOR GOD THROUGH… (MARK 12 :30)

  • Worship and Prayer (Col. 3:16-17) (Eph. 6:18)

  • Spiritual Transformation (Col. 4:2-6) (Eph. 4:12-13) (I Peter 3:15) 

LOVE FOR OTHERS THROUGH…(MARK 12: 31)

  • Authentic Community (Heb. 10:23-25) (Gal. 6:10)

  • Missional Servant hood (Ministry I Pe. 4:10-11) (Community James 2:14-18, Gal.5:9-10)

GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR EVERY PERSON. Focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose. It only is revealed when we focus on following God and see life from his perspective. When we do we see life as a test, a trust and a temporary assignment. God has one divine purpose for each of us with multiple parts (assignments) and includes making a difference by faith, in the lives of many people, one person and one opportunity at a time.

GOD’S PLAN FOR EVERY DISCIPLE includes guiding each person to maturity in Christ through a relational process of connected relationships. This includes involvement in small groups where we get to know, become transparent, and become accountable to other Christians. Growing in Christ means relationships with other mature Christians. It takes time to build a relationship, especially one that allows others to know us well enough to speak truth into our hearts. Only in relationship can we accept the encouragement, advice, counsel, and admonishment as real from a loving heart. Only in that kind of relationship can we discover that church is a safe place of grace to be real and become a real disciple. Discipleship is life change that is often inconvenient or even uncomfortable for us but in the end we look more like Jesus.