WHAT WE BELIEVE

The Mission Collaborative community is part of the Foursquare Movement. We agree with and follow the Foursquare Catechism. Additionally, the Catechism of a faith community exists to respond to and minister to the needs of its society and age. May our extended Catechism of “what we believe” highlight the goodness of Yahweh for the questions we are facing. This statement is being continually developed as we interact with the heart of Yahweh in each of our communities.

THE CREATOR, YAHWEH

  • We believe there is a mighty and sovereign Creator who made the physical and spiritual realms. Our Creator is a triune being whose Name is Yahweh - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All of creation exists and is continually sustained by Yahweh. Yahweh is eternal, constant, all-powerful, and utterly good and loving. (Gen 1, Col 1:15-17, Matt 3:16-17, John 3:16-17, John 1:14 Col 1:15-17)

  • We believe Yahweh was, is, and will always be Love. Yahweh was Love before creating the world we know and Father, Son, and Spirit created humans to join in this Love relationship and culture. In this earth-life, we have a taste of relationship with Father, Son, and Spirit. In the forever-life, we will know Yahweh face to face. Life is about relationships with Yahweh and each other. (Matt 28:19, 2 Cor 1:21-22, 2 Cor 13:14, 1 Cor 12:4-6, 1 John 4:16)

  • THE HOLY BIBLE: We believe that the Bible is God’s Living Word that was, through Yahweh’s divine direction and inspiration, penned by humans. The Bible is the central means by which we get to know Yahweh. It is the guide and measure for all other communications with and revelations of Yahweh. The Bible’s records reveal who Yahweh is, who we are, and how Yahweh wants to be in relationship with us. The Bible shows us how to live as spiritual beings in earthly bodies and how to walk in the culture and ways of Yahweh. (2 Tim 3:16-17, 1 Thess 2:13, Col 3:16, Heb 4:12, Matt 4:4).

THE CREATION, HUMANS

  • We believe Yahweh created humans because Father, Son, and Holy Spirit wanted to share their Love. We are created to be the children of Yahweh. The meaning of life is to know and be known by Yahweh and to know and be known by others. We believe that, in relationship with Yahweh and His family of children, we will find the peace, fulfillment, and hope we are looking for. We believe humans are creative, loving, and communal because we are made in the image and likeness of Yahweh. We believe humans were made by Yahweh and it is Yahweh who defines and gives identity to us. All of creation has been created with beauty and purpose and discovering the identity and purpose Yahweh has placed in each of us is a wonderful journey. e believe humans are spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, relational, and sexual. For humans to be healthy and thrive, we need to know what Yahweh says about who we were created to be in all these facets of us. Each of us has a unique deposit of Yahweh. Together, we mirror Yahweh. (Psalm 139:13-16, Eph 2:10, Isaiah 64:8, John 15:16, Ps 100:3)

YAHWEH’S WAYS

  • We believe Yahweh has a culture that is life-giving and beautiful. We believe when humans live in Yahweh’s culture, ways, and practices that individuals and communities will flourish and thrive. When humans seek to connect with Yahweh and live in His culture, a real relationship with Him grows. (Colossians 2:6-10)

  • DAILY CHRISTIAN LIFE We believe that it is the will of God for believers to walk in progressive sanctification, growing continuously in the faith (Heb 6:1).

  • SABBATH: We believe that Yahweh established a weekly Day of Rest as a life-giving blessing. (Genesis 2:1-3, Mark 2:27)

  • BIBLE STUDY

  • PRAYER

  • DO GOOD: We believe that, as Yahweh’s people, we are to bring His Love and goodness to this world. We are to be generous people who love our literal neighbors, streets, communities, and spheres of influence. (Mark 12:29-31, Ps 37:3, James 1:27, Luke 6:27, Romans 13:8-10)

  • MODERATION: We believe that people who follow Christ should avoid the extremes of fanaticism and pursue lives of balance and moderation, demonstrating gentleness and patience (Phil 4:5, KJV; Col 3:12, 13).

  • BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that baptism with the Holy Spirit empowers believers, and that the Holy Spirit’s incoming follows the same pattern that is described in the New Testament (Acts 2:4).

  • WATER BAPTISM AND COMMUNION: We believe that baptism by immersion in water is an outward sign of an inward work (Matt 28:19; Rom 6:4). We believe in commemorating the Lord’s Supper by the symbolic use of bread and juice/wine (1 Cor 11:24-25).

  • CHURCH RELATIONSHIP We believe that followers of Christ have a sacred duty to identify with the visible church of Jesus Christ and should meet regularly with fellow believers, study the Bible, and contribute practically, spiritually, and financially. (Heb 10:24-25, Mal 3:10; 2 Cor 9:7).

  • CIVIL GOVERNMENT We believe that laws and ordinances come from God’s ultimate authority and should be upheld, except when they are in opposition to the revealed will of God (Rom 13:1-5).

  • THE GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: We believe that the Holy Spirit has gifts to bestow upon Christians (1 Cor 12:1-11) and that we should show spiritual fruit as evidence of a Spirit-filled life (Gal 5:22-25).

  • DIVINE HEALING: We believe that divine healing is the power of Christ to heal the sick in answer to prayer offered in faith (James 5:14-16).

  • EVANGELISM: We believe that the church’s primary responsibilities are taking the message of Yahweh to the entire world and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matt 28:19-20).

THE JOURNEY OF HUMANS

  • BEGINNINGS: We believe that, at the beginning of this world’s time, Yahweh created the earth and specifically a lush garden region where Yahweh and humans could share life.

  • SPIRITUAL REALM: We believe there is a spiritual realm that is eternal and that contains solely spiritual beings. We believe that humans are both physical and spiritual and that, one day, we will exist fully in the eternal spiritual realm.

  • CHOICE AND FREE WILL: We believe that Yahweh created humans with free will and, in order for full free to exist, Yahweh created the opportunity for choice. Humans were given the ability and opportunity to choose a relationship with Yahweh and also to choose not-Yahweh.

  • THE FALL OF HUMANS: We believe that man is created in the image of God but, by voluntary disobedience, fell from perfection—thereby imbuing humanity with sinfulness (Rom. 5:12).

  • THE SATAN AND EVIL BEINGS: We believe that spiritual beings were also created with free will and that some of them chose to turn away from Yahweh and became obsessed with evil. These beings are actively trying to trick creation away from relationship with Yahweh and to cause harm, pain, and eternal death. We believe that Yahweh, because of the plan to give humans the ability and opportunity to have free will, has allowed these spiritual beings to continue to exist for a season. There is a time of judgment coming for these beings and their access to humans will end.

  • REDEMPTION: We believe that, while we were sinners, Christ died for us—pardoning all who believe in Him (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8). We believe that, upon sincere repentance and a wholehearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God (Rom. 10:8-10; 1 John 1:9). We believe that we receive salvation when we come to God through faith in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Salvation is God’s gift to us (Eph. 2:8).

  • NEW BIRTH: We believe that a genuine change takes place in people who accept Christ as Savior; believers allow Christ’s life to be lived through them (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20, 1 Thess 5:23).

  • THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE We believe that it is the will of God that we daily walk in the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30-32).

  • JESUS’ RETURN, FINAL JUDGMENT, HEAVEN & HELL: We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Titus 2:11- 13). We believe every person will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive eternal life or death (Rev. 20:11-15; Heb. 9:27; 2 Cor. 5:10). We believe that heaven is the eternal home of Yahweh and His people (John 14:1-3; Rev. 7:15-17). We believe that hell is the place of eternal torment for the evil spirits who turned from Yahweh, and those who choose not to know Yahweh through Jesus. (Rev. 20:11-15).