The Church at the Crossing

Our Purpose:

Every church needs to have a purpose statement that answers the question, “why do we exist?” At Church at the Crossing, we filter every idea, program, and budget request through our purpose statement. If what we plan doesn’t help us meet our purpose, then we don’t do it.

Our purpose at Church at the Crossing is summarized in a single statement:

“To reach people in the Dothan area with the life-giving message of Jesus that they might become fully devoted followers of Christ.”

Our statement of purpose is based on two teachings of Jesus:

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart…soul and…mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe…” Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark 16:15-20)

STATEMENT OF BELIEF

The Holy Scriptures (II Tim 3:16-17)
       We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible, irrevocable and complete Word of God.
The Eternal Godhead (1John 5:7)
   We believe God is Triune: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the three in one.
The Fall of Man (Rom. 5:12)
   We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that by voluntary disobedience he fell from perfection.
Basis of Salvation (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8, Rom. 10:9-10)
      We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, signing the    pardon of all who believe on Him and confess Jesus
      Christ as their Lord.
Salvation Through Grace (Eph. 2:8)
      We believe that before salvation we have no righteousness of our own and must come to God through the righteousness of Christ.
Repentance and Acceptance (I John 1:9)
      We believe that upon sincere repentance and a wholehearted acceptance of Christ as Lord, we are justified before God.
The New Birth (Cor. 5:17 ; Gal. 2:20 ; John 3:5-7)
      We believe that the change which takes place in the heart and life at conversion is a literal one and is the result of being born of
      the Spirit of God.
Daily Christian Life (Heb. 6:1)
      We believe that it is the will of God that we live a sanctified and holy life, growing constantly in the Faith.
Water Baptism (Matt. 28:19)
      We believe that baptism by immersion, in water, is an outward sign of the inward work of salvation.
The Lord's Supper (I Cor. 11:28)
      We believe in the commemoration of the Lord's Supper by the symbolical use of the bread and the juice of the vine.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4)
      We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to endue the believer with power, and that His empowering is after the same
      manner as in the Bible days.
The Spirit-Filled Life (Eph. 4:30-32)
      We believe that it is the will of God that we walk in the Spirit continually.
The Gifts and the Fruit of the Spirit (I Cor. 12:1-11; Gal. 5:22-23; Rom 12:6-8, Eph. 4:11-13)
      We believe that the Holy Spirit has gifts to bestow upon the Christian and that we should show spiritual fruit as evidence of a
      Spirit-filled life.
Moderation and Balance (Phil. 4:5)
      We believe that all truth must be balanced with other scriptural truth in order to avoid any extreme or fanaticism, and we believe
      that moderation should show forth in our daily walk as a believer.
Divine Healing (I Peter 2:24; Matt. 8:17; Matt 18:18-19; James 5:14-16; I Cor. 2:9; Mark 16:15-18; Matt. 24:25;
                            Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33)
      We believe that divine healing is the provision of Christ to heal the sick in response to the exercise of faith, the prayer of faith, the
      prayer of agreement, anointing with oil, the gifts of healing or the laying on of hands. We believe that this provision of Christ is for
      everyone today.
The Second Coming (I Thes. 4:16-17)
      We believe that the second coming of Christ is literal and inevitable.
Church Membership (Acts 16:5; Heb. 10:5)
      We believe it is our sacred duty to identify and actively participate with the local and visible church of Christ .
Civil Government (Rom. 13:1-5)
      We believe that the laws of the land should be upheld at all times except in matters opposed to the Word of God.
The Final Judgment (2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-13)
      We believe that all shall stand one day before God in final judgment, and there receive eternal reward or eternal judgment.
Heaven (John 14:2; Rev. 7:15-17)
      We believe that Heaven is a literal place, eternally existent.
Hell (Rev. 20:10, Rev. 20:15)
      We believe that hell is a literal place of eternal torment for all who reject the Lord Jesus.
Evangelism (James 5:20 ; Mark 16:15 ; 2 Cor. 5:18-21)
      We believe that soul-winning is the Great Commission given to the Church.
Tithes and Offerings (Mal. 3:10; 2 Cor. 9:7; Heb. 7:8)
      We believe that the method ordained of God for the support and spread of His cause is by the giving of tithes and free-will
      offerings.
Worship (John 4:24; Ps. 150)
      We believe that “acceptable” and “true” worship is prescribed by God Himself in His Word. This embodies individual and corporate
      expressions of praise and thanksgiving and reverence in holiness.
Church Government (1 Peter 5:1-5; Rom. 13)
      We believe in church government to ensure order, and we believe in loyalty to those acting in rightful authority as they lead us in
      the Lord.
Unity, Understanding, and Love
      We believe that in essentials there must be unity, in non-essentials – understanding, and in all things – love.