ABOUT US
The Purpose of Epworth Baptist Church is to serve both the local and wider communities by:
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Explaining what the Christian faith is
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Demonstrating its relevance today
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Helping people to know Jesus
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Encouraging spiritual and emotional growth in an atmosphere of friendship, love, support, understanding and prayer
Objectives: -
In pursuing its mission, the Church's objectives are:
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Corporate prayer and worship
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Evangelism and social action at home and abroad
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Nurture and pastoral care
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Pursuing unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
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Encouraging and equipping the congregation for Christian service
OUR VISION
We exist to ensure that everyone has the opportunity of experiencing the miraculous life changing power of the gospel and to provide a church where they can grow and develop in ministry for the glory of God.
WHAT WE DO
We aim to:
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Motivate in preaching, in prayer, in giving and in serving
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Train people in leadership and gifting
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Be involved in the life of the community
OUR COMMUNITY
We aim to serve both the local and wider communities by:
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Explaining what the Christian faith is
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Demonstrating its relevance today
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Helping people to know Jesus
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Encouraging spiritual and emotional growth in an atmosphere of love, friendship, love, support, understanding and prayer
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN
As Christians, we have certain key beliefs, which can be summarised in various ways:
EPWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe:
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The Scriptures, comprising the 66 books of the Old and New Testament, are the divinely instituted and God-breathed word of revelation, without error in the original, and the final authority and standard for faith and life. (2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, John 17:17, Rev.22:18-19)
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There is one eternal, infinite and complete triune God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19, John 14:16-17, Eph. 4:4-6)
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Man, although created by God in his own image and likeness, sinned in turning away from God in disobedience, thereby forfeiting fellowship with God and incurring his wrath, judgement and righteous condemnation. (Gen. 1:27, Rom. 3:23, Rom. 5:12, Eph. 2:1, Rom. 6:23, Gen. 3)
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That the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ manifested in the flesh through the virgin birth, being truly God and truly Man, having lived a life of perfect obedience, rendered himself up as the perfect and sole substitute for our sins by his death on the cross, thereby taking away (delivering from) the guilt and the power of sin, and its eternal consequences. (John 3:16, Col. 1:15-22, Phil. 2:6-8, Rev. 1:5, Rom.5:8-9)
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In the salvation of the whole person through rebirth as evidenced by repentance and acceptance of the Gospel of Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit. (John 3:3-16, Rom. 10:9, Acts 2:21, Mark 1:15)
Salvation is solely by grace through faith in Christ “who was put to death for our sins and raised for our justification”, thereby bringing us peace with God. Our salvation purposed for all eternity by God, will most certainly lead to our glorification, for “nothing is able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Eph. 2:8-10, Rom. 4:24-25, & 5:1, 1Cor. 1:30-31, Rom. 8:1 & 28-39, 1 Peter 1:8-9)
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That the Holy Spirit, being the third Person of the Trinity, works to convict of sin, righteousness and judgement; and following his work of regeneration He indwells the believer and transforms him into the image of Christ. The Spirit distributes His gifts to all believers for the ministry of the Church according to His sovereign will. (1 Cor. 12:4-7, John 14:16-17 & 16:7-12, Rom. 8:9 & 15-16, 2 Cor. 3:17-18)
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The universal Church is made up of all who are called by the Father, born anew by the Spirit, and redeemed by the blood of Christ to be a royal priesthood. All believers are enjoined by the Lord to fellowship together for the purpose of sharing the Apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. The local church is an expression of the Universal Church. Fellowship between such churches displays the unity of the Body of Christ. The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ’s saving work for mankind. (1 Peter 2:9-10, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Cor. 12:12-13, Heb. 10:23-25)
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“When the times have reached their fulfilment” Jesus will personally return, visibly, in power and glory, to judge the living and the dead. The lost will be punished eternally. Those who are saved will be physically raised to eternal life and enjoy God for evermore. (Acts 1:11, 1 Thess. 4:13-18 & 5:1-3, Mark 13:32-37, Eph. 1:9-10, 1 Cor. 15:20-28, Rom. 14:10-12, Matt. 25:31-46, Rev. 20, 21, & 22:1-6)
(If you are clicking through to read the Bible references above, please take the time to read the whole chapter to understand the context.)
Epworth Baptist Church is a member of the Evangelical Alliance. As members, we also subscribe to their statement of faith, which can be found here.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BAPTIST
For Baptists the concept of a family is important. The church is not so much a particular place or building, but rather a family of believers, committed to Christ, to one another and to the service of God in the world.
In this Baptist family everybody is equal, for everybody has a part to play in the service of God. There is no hierarchy of bishops or priests exercising authority over their members. Equality of status, however, does not mean that all have the same role.
Each local Baptist church appoints its own leaders - or ministers - to have particular responsibility for preaching, teaching and pastoral care. Working alongside these ministers are also deacons, who together with the minister(s) form the leadership team of the local Baptist church.