About Us

Statement of Faith, Our Beliefs

Contact Us

About Us

Statement of Faith, Our Beliefs

Contact Us

Why a statement of faith?

 

We believe there is an objective reality, a truth that’s there whether we acknowledge it or not, and we want to make clear what we believe about reality. There are many things that can be known simply by observing them, but there are also things that can only be known by faith, and these are the most important things: Where did everything come from? Why do we exist? Why are things the way they are? Is history headed somewhere? How people answer these questions reflects their fundamental beliefs about reality, and as a result, how they live.

This is true whether people verbalize their beliefs or not, and very often we can live out of beliefs without being conscious of them. We want to be conscious and aware of our faith, in order to live accordingly. We also want to be clear with those interested in knowing what drives us and lies at the core of our lives and beliefs.

At Shelter Church, Jesus is the heartbeat of everything we do. 

 

He’s what makes us go, he’s who we live for, the Person that we orient our lives around. We want our church to embody his love for each other and our city. While the doctrines that express our faith in him aren’t everything, they help give shape to our faith.

In this statement, we focus on the core beliefs of Christianity derived from Scripture, faithfully summarized in the historic creeds, catechisms, and confessions of the Christian faith. We expect all members of The Journey to affirm and uphold this statement of faith.

Lastly, we are not God, but are limited by our human weakness, ignorance, bias, and sin in our expression of these doctrines. What we offer here then is not perfect or complete, and though we wholeheartedly affirm it, we remain open to further light, understanding, and correction.

Statement of Faith 

The Triune God

That there is only one true God eternally existing in three equally divine yet distinct Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) who know, love, and glorify one another in complete harmony. As Sovereign Lord, the Triune God creates, sustains, and rules over everyone and everything with perfect love, wisdom, and power, and is thus worthy of all our worship.

Exodus 3:13-15; 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 5:43-45; John 15:26; 17:5; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Creation

That out of his love, wisdom, and power, God created all things speaking them into existence. On earth he established a kingdom, where everything was very good, holy, and flourishing, sustained and cared for by him. As the crown of his creation, God made human beings, male and female, in his image, giving us stewardship over his kingdom, inviting us into his work, rest, and love.

Genesis 1:1-3; 1:26-31; Exodus 20:8-11; Psalm 8:1-9; 33:4-6; Proverbs 8:22-31; Isaiah 45:18; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17

Rescue

That despite our rebellion against him, God has been working throughout history to rescue the world from ruin and renew human beings to their high and noble position as his image-bearers. God has ultimately rescued us from sin, his righteous judgment, and spiritual evil through his Son, Jesus Christ, the true image of God, who became human, dying in our place on the cross, rising from the grave, conquering death, and ascending to heaven where he reigns as King over all the earth. This is the gospel, or good news, of Jesus Christ. All who give their allegiance to him will receive forgiveness and new life with God.

Genesis 3:15; 9:1-17; 12:1-3; Exodus 2:23-25; 19:1-6; 2 Samuel 7:8-16; Jeremiah 34:14-16; Ezekiel 36:22-28; Matthew 1:20-23; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:16-22; Acts 3:22-39; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Colossians 1:12-14, 19-23; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 10:11-14; 2 Peter 1:3-4

The Church

That all people from every place and age who have been rescued by Jesus are united together in his universal Church. The local church, as one expression of this worldwideChurch, is a gathered body of those who are being renewed by the HolySpirit, to worship God according to the Word of God, display the goodness of Jesus’s kingdom in their shared life, and declare the good news to all peoples in word and works until Jesus returns again.

Matthew 16:13-19; 28:18-20; Acts 2:42-47; 11:19-26; 13:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 3:7-12, 20-22; 4:11- 16; Colossians 3:5-17; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 Peter 2:9-10

Divine Revelation

That the Triune God has made himself known through the world he has made, the words he has spoken, and the Son he has sent to us. Through the Holy Spirit’s guidance over human words, God is clearly revealed in the Bible, which tells a unified story of his gracious work in human history. As God’s Word, the Bible is true, authoritative, and necessary for a right relationship with God and his world, and serves as the basis for all of our essential beliefs and practices.

Exodus 17:14; 24:3-4; Psalm 12:6; 19:1-3; 119:160; Nehemiah 9:1-38; John 1:1-3; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Luke 24:25-27, 44-47; Romans 1:19-20; 2 Timothy 3:14- 17; Hebrews 1:1-3.

Rebellion

That the first humans rejected God’s rule, alienating all humanity from God and fracturing the world placed under their care. As a result, the image of God is distorted in each one of us as we seek to live apart from our Creator, leaving all of creation marked by sin and death, under God’s righteous judgment, subject to spiritual forces of evil, and without hope in the world apart from God’s grace and mercy.

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, 16-19; 6:5-6; Psalm 51:1- 5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:18-25; 3:22-23; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12; James 1:14-15.

The Holy Spirit

That after ascending to heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to renewthe image of God in believers, enable us to grow in Christlikeness,and empower the church for ministry and mission. As the unseen yet active presence of God in the world, the Holy Spirit awakens the hearts and minds of people to love, trust, and hope in Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Genesis 1:1-2; Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 3:5-8; 16:7-11; Acts 1:8; 2:1-21; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Galatians 5:23; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Titus 3:5

Re-Creation

That Jesus will return to fully establish his kingdom on earth, put an end to humanity’s rebellion, rightly judge all people, fix what is wrong in creation, and live with his people forever. As we wait in hope for the renewed heavens and earth, we partner now with the Holy Spirit in bringing transformation into every aspect of our lives.

Matthew 24:44; 25:26; Acts 1:9-11; 17:31; Romans 6:22; 8:19-22; 14:17; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 15:50-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 11:15; 21:1-22:5

Download our expanded Statement of Faith, including the theological distinctives that shape our overall teaching and ministry practices.

Statement of Faith PDF

Download our expanded Purpose Vision, Values and Strategy for Shelter Church written in both English and Ukranian languages. 

Purpose Vision Strategy PDF

What We Believe

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. God is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22;  Psalm 90:2;   Matthew 28:19;  1 Peter 1:2;  2 Corinthians 13:13

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death and to prove that He would someday return to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
1 Corinthians 3:17;  John 16:7, 14:16,17;  Acts 1:8;  2 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16;  Ephesians 1:13,  Galatians 5:25;  Ephesians 5:18

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17;  John 16:7-13; 14:16-17;  Acts 1:8;  1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16;  Ephesians 1:13;  Galatians 5:25;  Ephesians 5:18

The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. It is the final authority for our faith and practice.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.
Genesis 1:27;  Psalm 8:3-6;  Isaiah 53:6a;  Romans 3:23;  Isaiah 59:1-2

Baptism is a picture and an illustration—a symbolic act of having already given one’s life to follow Jesus Christ. Baptism by immersion best illustrates the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf and our subsequent faith in Him. It is not necessary for salvation, but is strongly associated with salvation as it best illustrates our new identity with Jesus Christ.
Luke 3:21;  1 Peter 3:21

Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23;  Ephesians 2:8-9;  John 14:6, 1:12;  Titus 3:5;  Galatians 3:26;  Romans 5:1;  John 17:3

Whether you believe once saved, always saved, or that you can lose your salvation, these two thoughts collide at perseverance. The bottom line is this, only those who are truly saved will persevere and only those who persevere are truly saved.
John 10:28-29;  2 Timothy 1:12;  Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14;  1 Peter 1:3-5

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; 2:25; 5:11-13;  Romans 6:23;  Revelation 20:15;  Matthew 18:8-9; 25:46

Genesis 1-2 records the literal story of the creation of the world. Man was created directly in God’s own image. It was not a matter of evolution.
Genesis 1:1-31; 2:1-25;  John 1:3;  Hebrews 11:3;  Revelation 10:8

To live in harmony with other believers is clearly the teaching of the New Testament. It is the responsibility of each believer to endeavor to live in fellowship with each member of the congregation. It is further the responsibility of each member to bring all gossiping and backbiting to an end.
John 13:34-35;  Ephesians 4:1-3; 5:1-2;  1 Corinthians 12:13; 13:1-13;  1 John 3:14-18; 4:11;  James 3:1-18

The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.

Matthew 26:26-30; Mark  14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20;  Acts 2:42-46  1 Corinthians 11:23-29;