The Timothy Initiative Ministries
STATEMENT OF FAITH
This Statement of Faith is not intended to be divisive but to be an expression of God’s love and favor to all people. It is the standard by which we conduct our ministry. We believe God has called us to walk in union with Him and in unity with each other (Eph.4:1-6; 2Cor.13:11; Rom.12:18; Joh.17:21-23; Joh.15:1-8; 1Cor.12:12). As a Church and spiritual Family, we fully embrace the “Apostle’s Creed” and believe the following:
We base our faith, teaching and lifestyle on the uniquely inspired Bible as the final authority in our lives on the issues upon which it bears (2Tim.3:14-17; Heb.4:12; Isa.55:10-11; Matt.4:4; Matt.15:6; Joh.3:34; 1Thess.2:13; 1Pet.1:23).
We believe as the Bible teaches: there is One God, intrinsically good, eternally existing in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — each possessing all the attributes of Deity (Gen.1:1; Deut.6:4; Mar.12:29; Joh.1:18; Act.10:37-38; Eph.4:4-6; 1Joh.5:7; Matt.28:19; 2Cor.13:14).
We believe God created the heavens and the earth, and He created humans to have fellowship with Him and with others as a spiritual Family (the Body of Christ; the Church) (Gen.1:26-30; Isa.43:7; Rom.12:5; 1Cor.12:12; Col.1:16; Eph.1:5, 22; Eph.2:10, 19; Eph.3:14-16; 1Joh.1:3; 1Joh.2:24-25; 1Joh.5:20). We confess Abba to be loving beyond measure (Rom.8:15; Gal.4:6).
Humans disobeyed God and defied Him by sinfully going their own ways. As a result, we need God's saving grace to restore us into a relationship with Him. Salvation comes only through God's saving grace revealed in the person of Jesus Christ—not human effort—and must be received personally by repentance and faith (Rom.5:12-15; Joh.3:16-17; Rom.3:23-26; Eph.2:8-9; 1Cor.15:4-8; Rom.10:9-10).
Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth and voluntarily paid for our sin by dying on the cross as our substitute. This accomplished salvation for all who receive grace by trusting in Him alone. He rose from the dead and is the only mediator between God and us. He will return to earth to consummate history (Heb.4:15-16; 2Cor.5:21; 1Pet.3:18; 1Tim.2:5-6).
We believe salvation through Christ signifies and includes forgiveness, healing, prosperity, deliverance, safety, freedom, blessing, and restoration for the whole person (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: Strong’s NT: 4991).
We believe that God can transform people’s lives into the likeness of His Son, Jesus, as they yield to the power and work of the Holy Spirit (Rom.12:2; Gal.6:15; 2Cor.3:18; Rom.8:29-30; Col.3:10; 2Cor.5:17; Eph.4:13).
We believe in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at salvation and the subsequent baptism of the Holy Spirit (Joh.7:37-39; Joh.14:16-18); Act.1:8; Eph.1:13-14).
We believe God (as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) gives supernatural abilities (gifts) to people to do God’s will and to serve others with those gifts (Rom.12:6-8; 1Cor.12:1-11; 1Pet.4:10-11). We
believe the ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers equip believers for their work of ministry (Eph.4:11-13). We welcome the fruit and gifts of Holy Spirit (Gal.5:22).
We believe that we are to seek the Kingdom of God above all else (Matt.6:33; Rom.14:17; 1Cor.4:20; 1Cor.6:9-10; 1Cor.15:24; Col.1:12-13).
We believe that our mission is to seek and save the lost, preach the Good News, and make people followers of Christ. We do this by going into the world (neighborhood, community, marketplace, and society), influencing people with God’s love, power, wisdom, mercy, and grace. The Church is called to be a visible manifestation of God to all people (Mat.28:18-20; Joh.17:18, 20-22; Luk.9:1-6; Luk.10:1-11; Luk.17:33, Mar.16:15; 1Cor.9:19-23; Rom.10:14-15).
We believe in the Lord’s Supper (1Cor.11:17-30; Act.2:42-47) and the baptism of believers by immersion in water (when possible) (Mat.28:19; Rom.6:3-6; Mar.16:16; Act.2:38; Col.2:12). We also believe in the preeminent ministry of prayer (Eph.6:18; 1Thes.5:17; Act.6:4), the covenant of marriage as stated in the Bible between one man and one woman (Gen.2:22-24; 1Cor.7:2; Mat.19:5; Eph.5:28-33; 1Pet.3:1-9), care for the poor (Isa.61:1; Luk.4:18; 2Cor.9:9; Gal.2:10; Jam.2:2-6), and total devotion to God through various pathways of worship (Joh.4:24).
We believe in the ministry of signs, miracles, and wonders. We believe in divine healing and that Jesus Christ commanded all believers to lay hands on the sick so they can recover; ours is a ministry of love, words, actions, and power (1Cor.2:4-5; 1Cor.4:20; Rom.15:17-19; 1Thes.1:5; Mar.16:17-18; Mat.8:10; Mat.4:23).
We believe we must live in humility, wisdom, kindness, forgiveness, and above all, in love, with all people. Love always wins. (1Cor.13; Col.3:12-17; 2Tim.2:25; Tit.3:2; Jam.4:6; 1Pet.5:5; Eph.5:15; Gal.5:13, 22; 2Cor.6:6; 2Pet.1:7; Eph.4:2, 32; Joh.13:34-35; Rom.12:9-12; Heb.10:24; Gal.6:10).
We are committed to Church as Spiritual Family. We raise up spiritual Moms and Dads (through Holy Spirit transformation) who mature spiritual Daughters and Sons to be the next generation of spiritual Moms and Dads (1Cor.4:14-17).
We believe that, in the end, everyone will experience bodily resurrection and God’s righteous judgment. Those forgiven through Christ will enjoy eternal fellowship with God (1Cor.15:29-42; Phil.3:10-11; 2Cor.5:6-9).
We believe God continues to reveal truths to His Church through Holy Spirit, never inconsistent with the Bible, and we embrace every direction or leading He intends for us to follow (Joh.14:26; Joh.16:13; Gal.5:16, 18, 25; Rom.8:14; 1Cor.2:12-13).