ACEFC Dreams (What we value)
1) Clear Teaching of God’s Word to Transform Lives. We believe that the Bible, God’s inspired Word, is both timeless and timely, relevant to the common living. Therefore, we are committed to equipping Christians through the preaching and teaching of the Bible, to follow Christ in every sphere. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”(II Timothy 3:16-17).
2) Reaching Non-Follower. We believe that Non-Followers matter to God and, therefore, should be welcomed to His Church. As a result, we will prepare and assist people to invite their neighbors, care for their community, and impact the world. “In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that nay of these should be lost” (Matthew 18:14).
3) Inspiring Worship. We believe that worship is ascribing to God, worth. It is expressed weekly in a corporate setting and daily in lifestyle. Worship is our highest work. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire’” (Hebrews 12:28).
4) Effective Prayer. Prayer is our lifeline to God. Without it we are powerless no matter how hard we try. It is stressed in personal lives and encouraged in corporate settings. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
5) All Followers Serving. We believe the primary responsibility of the pastors and teachers is to prepare God’s people for service. Therefore, we intend to place as much ministry as possible in the hands of gifted, trained, and loving followers of Christ. “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13).
6) Authentic Biblical Community. We believe that we are responsible as the body of Christ to provide grace-oriented contexts in which all of our people can experience authentic biblical community involving relationship-building, spiritual growth, trust and godly servant-leadership development. Small groups have been established to encourage this community. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47).
7) God-Honoring Excellence. We believe that excellence honors God, inspires people and promotes inviting. Therefore, we will strive to be excellent in relationships, programs, communication, stewardship, and facility. We will engage in ongoing evaluation and review of these. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…” (Colossians 3:23).
8) Relevance and Change. In today’s rapidly-changing world, forms and methods must be continually evaluated, and if necessary, altered to fit new conditions. We encourage creativity and innovation. We are more concerned with effectiveness in ministry than with adherence to tradition. “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins(Matthew 9:22).
ACEFC Beliefs (What we believe)
God
1. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.
The Bible
2. We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
The Human Condition
3. We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.
Jesus Christ
4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel's promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
The Work of Christ
5. We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.
The Holy Spirit
6. We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
The Church
7. We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God's grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.
Christian Living
8. We believe that God's justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.
Christ’s Return
9. We believe in the personal, bodily and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
Response and Eternal Destiny
10. We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.
