What We Believe

OUR MISSION

Grace River Church exists so that every generation can experience the transforming power of God in every area of their lives. We are a diverse community of people who love and support each other as we discover God's purpose for our lives. At Grace River, you will find a place to belong, grow, and serve, a place where you will experience the love of Christ through authentic community.

YOUR LIFE

Wherever you are in life, you are of immeasurable worth and God has a purpose for you. We want to help you fulfill the purpose God has for your life. Your journey has a next step and we'll help you find it! You do not have to take the next step alone. With a strong community of friends, you can laugh, grow, and serve with people who genuinely care about you.

YOUR FAMILY

Strong families need a solid, Biblical foundation. That is why we partner with parents to help raise the next generation of children and teenagers to become committed followers of Christ. Grace River Church provides weekly opportunities for children and teens to experience the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

THE COMMUNITY AND WORLD

We are passionate about serving the community and demonstrating God's love to others. Whether individually or in groups, inside the walls of the church or outside, we are focused on building relationships that heal and restore a hurting world.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

THE VISION OF GRACE RIVER CHURCH

Grace River Church exists to see every generation experience the transforming power of God in every area of their lives.

GRACE

We believe all people have sinned and have fallen short of God’s standard of holiness. God in His amazing grace has provided a way for every person to receive eternal life, and that way is only through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Salvation cannot be earned through personal goodness or human effort. It is a free gift that must be received by humble repentance and faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross. John 3:16; Romans 5:8

GOD'S WORD

We believe the Bible is God’s unique revelation to every person. It is the inspired, infallible Word of God, and it is the supreme and final authority on all matters upon which it teaches. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

THE TRINITY

We believe there is only one God, Creator of heaven and earth. He exists eternally as three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; each fully God and yet personally distinct from each other. 2 Corinthians 13:14

PEOPLE

We believe every person is created in the image of God and every person is of immense worth to God. Central to the message of the Bible is the understanding that God loves every person, and God invites each person to live in communion with Him and to live in community with other believers. Romans 5:12

JESUS

We believe Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, was born of the Virgin Mary and lived a sinless life. He willingly took upon Himself the punishment for every sin through His death. He overcame sin and death through His bodily resurrection, and He ascended to Heaven and is at the right hand of the Father serving as our advocate and mediator. Matthew 1:18-25; Colossians 2:9

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and He dwells within every believer. He convicts the world of sin and He draws people to Christ. The Holy Spirit is available to empower believers to lead Christ-like lives, and He gives believers spiritual gifts to serve the church and to be witnesses of Christ to the world. Acts 2-4; Ephesians 4:30-32; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

OUR FUTURE

We believe in the second coming of Christ for the living and the dead. At the final judgment, unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation. Believers will be received into God’s loving presence for eternity and will be rewarded for their faithfulness to Him in this life. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; Revelation 20:11-15

OUR COMMUNITY

We believe all believers are members of the body of Christ, the one true universal Church. Spiritual unity is to be expressed among Christians by their love for one another across ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, national, generational, gender, and denominational lines. Acts 16: 15; Hebrews 10:25

DISCIPLESHIP

We believe discipleship is an ongoing process whereby a believer continues to grow in Christ-likeness. The local church is a congregation of believers who gather for worship, prayer, instruction, encouragement, mutual accountability, and community with each other. As disciples of Christ in the local church, believers invest time, energy, and resources to fulfill the Great Commission. Acts 2:40-47

RENEWAL

We believe water baptism by immersion is an outward expression of an inward decision to follow Christ. We believe in the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper with the use of bread and juice as symbols for Christ’s broken body and His shed blood that He offered up as a payment in full for every person’s sins. Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25

WHY WE EXIST

The entire Grace River team exists to create a culture where every generation can experience the transforming power of Jesus Christ. We pray that you will join us in this journey as we love God, love others, and reach the world around us.