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Jesus sent His disciples into the world declaring, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20).
Our Gospel Ministry
Beginning with the harvest field right where we are in Appalachia, we are seeking to sow the seeds of the gospel and make disciples for Jesus by teaching and training brothers and sisters locally and by supporting the Lord's mission vision in Virginia, Tennessee and beyond. Central to this is our regular public worship, with God-centered praise, Christ-centered expository preaching full of application to our lives, and prayer for the Spirit's blessing.
We are growing together in our Christian Education hour (Sunday School) which utilizes a four year through-the Bible curriculum with all age groups synchronized to study the same lesson. We welcome participation in our Wednesday night Prayer and Bible Study Fellowship as well as our monthly men's fellowship and bi-monthly women's fellowship.
Ministries We Support
We are privileged to support the worldwide Bible distribution of Gideons International, www.gideons.org, minister to youth in school Bible Clubs, Vacation Bible School, and summer camps, and encourage the discipleship of college students and front-line pro-life evangelism through the ministry of John O'Roark of fullarmourministries.
We support the Middle East Reformed Fellowship, www.merf.org, and its missionaries in the Middle East who are seeing many Muslims come to Christ and are training indigenous Christians for ministry through radio, books, the media, and training centers.
We are a part of the mission-minded Presbyterian Church in America, www.pcanet.org, and her vigorous efforts to spread God's Word in the United States through her Mission to North America, www.mtw.org. In particular, we also support Bill and Susan Carr, who are training Native Americans for Christian leadership in Wisconsin under the auspices of Mission to the World.
Our Mission and Vision
All of these efforts, including our witnessing within our own community, are accompanied with the prayer that the Holy Spirit would open people's hearts to receive the truth of Christ, be saved, and grow in the Lord for His glory; that they might be like the Greek believers of old who "received the Word of God and accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the Word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
Our Statement of Faith
As members of the Presbyterian Church in America,
We believe the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We believe that all are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by His mercy.
We believe that salvation is by God alone as He sovereignly chooses those He will save. We believe His choice is based on His grace, not on any human individual merit, or foreseen faith.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him, alone, for salvation.
We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people not simply as individuals but as families in successive generations according to His Covenant promises.
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.
We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people to Himself.
We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Our Statement on Human Sexuality
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27; WCF 4.2). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of God’s authority as Creator, Designer, and Law Giver.
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: marriage is a covenant commitment instituted by God between a man and a woman that illustrates Christ's love for the church (Gen 2:18-25; Eph 5:22–33; WCF 25.1).
We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including, but not limited to, adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10.)
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Sandlick Presbyterian Church as the local Body of Christ and to provide a biblical role model to the Sandlick Presbyterian Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Sandlick Presbyterian Church in any capacity or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22).
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11). We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Sandlick Presbyterian Church.
Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between one man and one woman, Sandlick Presbyterian Church will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the pastors and staff of Sandlick Presbyterian Church shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman (BCO 59). Finally, the facilities and property of Sandlick Presbyterian Church shall only host weddings between one man and one woman (See Building Use Policy).
WCF: The Westminster Confession of Faith
BCO: Book of Church Order
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