what we believe

At Bethel Church we focus on Jesus Christ as our Savior, our Healer, our Baptizer, and our Returning King. He is "what it's all about" in our church. Bethel Church is an Assemblies of God Church.
We hold to six core values:
Biblical Authority
The Bible is the inspired inerrant Word of God.  It is His message of love and the ultimate source of truth for every part of our lives.
  • 2 Peter 1: 20-21 - Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet's own understanding or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.
Intimacy with God
God seeks more than a casual friendship.  Since God's love for us never changes, we are the ones that determine our closeness with Him.  He invites us to an intimate relationship through worship and prayer.
  • James 4:8 - Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.
  • Exodus 34:14 - You must worship no other gods, but only the Lord, for he is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you.
  • Psalms 40:5 - O Lord my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.
Intentional Outreach
Jesus commissioned and empowered us to share the Good News of hope and forgiveness through personal relationships in our community and throughout the world. 
  • Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere: in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  
  • Matt 9:10 - Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.
Relevance
Though the message of the Gospel never changes, we follow Christ's example by communicating this Good News in a manner that relates to our culture.  
  • Matt 28:18-20 - Jesus came and told his disciples, I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
  • Acts 17:22-34 - So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it:  "To an Unknown God." This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I'm telling you about.  He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples, and human hands can't serve his needs for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall and he determined their boundaries.  His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him though he is not far from any one of us.  For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said,  We are his offspring. And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead. When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, We want to hear more about this later. That ended Paul's discussion with them, but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
  • 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 - Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
Authentic Community
Accountability, belonging, care, and spiritual growth happen best with relationally connected believers.
  • Hebrews 10:24-25 - Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
  • Acts 2:44-47 - And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Life Training
Equipping people to discover and develop their gifts is God's strategy to change the world.  This is accomplished as we release each age group to the work of the ministry by affirming the calling and giftedness of each believer; training them for a lifetime of ministry and leadership.
  • Rom 12:6-8 - In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
  • 1 Tim 4:7-8 - Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives-tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.