Who We Are
Our mission is to lead people to Jesus, follow His lead, and live with a sense of urgency for others.
At Haven Church, we believe in the Trinity: God the Father, the Creator; God the Son, Jesus Christ, who redeems us; and God the Holy Spirit, who sustains our faith. Humanity is born into sin, but salvation is a free gift through Jesus Christ, offering eternal life for believers. We believe the Bible is the ultimate authority for faith and life. Christ instituted the sacraments of Baptism and Communion, through which the Holy Spirit works faith.
What We Believe
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We therefore believe that The Father is God, The Son is God, The Holy Spirit is God, but they are not three Gods but one God. (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3: 13-17; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
God the Father created and cares for the entire universe. (Genesis 1:1 and Psalm 145:16-17)
God the Son (Jesus Christ) redeemed the world through his perfect life, suffering, death, and resurrection. (John 1:29; 10:1-18, Romans 5:8)
God the Holy Spirit truly calls us by the gospel, enlightens us with His gifts and keeps us in our faith.
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Human beings since the fall are mired by original sin and live in a sinning state of rebellion against God. (Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; 5:8)
The penalty for sin is death, and separation from God. (Genesis 2:16, Romans 3:23; 6:23)
Salvation is a free gift of God purchased by Christ. All who trust in Christ as savior will have everlasting life with God.
There will be a future resurrection of the dead. Those who believe in Jesus Christ as savior will be raised to everlasting life. Those who have not believed in Jesus Christ will be raised to eternal punishment. (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29)
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The Scriptures are true, authoritative, and sufficient for all matters of faith and life. In addition, the Scriptures are the standard by which all other doctrine and teaching materials are judged. (2 Timothy 3:16)
The Confession of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as found in the Book of Concord are useful as a doctrinal source in guiding faith and life.
Other sources of doctrine such as The Westminster Small Catechism are useful so far as they are subordinate to the above sources.
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We believe that Christ instituted two Sacraments, Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. In order to obtain and strengthen faith, the Ministry of Preaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted by Christ (Matthew 26:26-29; Matthew 28:16-20). Through the Word and Sacraments, the Holy Spirit works faith; where and when it pleases God, in those that hear the Gospel. This is not a result of our good works, but the work of Christ who justifies those who believe that they are received into grace by His good work.
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The Haven Christian Church has a clear calling to advance the kingdom of God through loving our neighbor, sharing the gospel, and engaging in mission work. (Matthew 28:16-20)
Have Questions?
If you ever have questions about what we believe or want to explore faith further, we encourage you to reach out to Pastor James. We understand that faith can bring up deep questions, and we’re here to walk with you on your journey. Feel free to connect with us for any guidance or conversation.