Statement of faith

What we believe

Draft for approval. This statement is drafted from the United Pentecostal Church International's Fundamental Doctrine and Articles of Faith and its "Our Beliefs" overview (sources below). Nothing here is final until our founder approves it.

We are an Apostolic Pentecostal fellowship. We say so openly, because we believe it, and because every woman deserves to know where we stand. And every woman is welcome at the table, whatever church she calls home.

The Bible

We believe the Bible is inspired by God and is His infallible Word. It is our authority for salvation and for Christian living, and everything we teach and read is weighed against it (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21).

One God

We believe in one God: eternal, holy, and almighty, with no division in His nature. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD" (Deuteronomy 6:4). This one God has revealed Himself as Father; through His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation (I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; II Corinthians 5:19; Joel 2:28).

Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ is the one God manifested in flesh: fully God and fully man. "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). He was born of the virgin Mary, lived without sin, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. He is the only mediator between God and humanity, and His name is the name by which we are saved (I Timothy 2:5; I Timothy 3:16; Acts 4:12).

Sin and salvation

We believe every person has sinned and needs a Savior. Salvation comes by grace through faith, based on the atoning death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and not by our own works (Romans 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:8-9).

The new birth

We believe the full gospel experience is the new birth described in Acts 2:38: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

  • Repentance: turning from sin with a changed heart and life (Luke 24:47; Acts 17:30).
  • Water baptism: by immersion, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; Romans 6:3-4).
  • The baptism of the Holy Spirit: with the initial sign of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6). This promise is "unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39).

Christian living

We believe Christians are called to love God and love others, and to live holy lives, inwardly and outwardly, by God's grace (Mark 12:28-31; Titus 2:11-12; Hebrews 12:14). We believe the gifts of the Spirit, including divine healing, are for the church today (I Corinthians 12:8-10; James 5:14-16).

The worth of every woman

We believe every person is created in the image of God and has worth to Him, regardless of race, background, or ability (Genesis 1:27; Galatians 3:26-28). That is why every woman is welcome at our table.

The future

We believe Jesus Christ is coming again to catch away His church. In the end there will be a final resurrection and a final judgment; the righteous will inherit eternal life, and the unrighteous eternal death (I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:11-15).

What this means at our table

  • Our companion and Brittany's reflections are written from this Apostolic perspective.
  • Every book we choose is screened against these beliefs, and no book we read centers on the doctrine of the Trinity.
  • Our authors are not all Apostolic. Reading a book together doesn't mean we agree with everything its author believes, and each book comes with an honest content note.
  • We are an independent ministry. We are not a department of the United Pentecostal Church International, and this statement is our own, drafted with gratitude from its published doctrine.
  • You don't need to share our beliefs to join a group. We'd simply love for you to know them.

Sources