What
we
believe
Get to Know Us
vision
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we exist to awaken faith by bold action, embody love with relentless grace, and advance the Kingdom through Spirit-led transformation.
culture
We prioritize these virtues in our lives, homes, and our church:
God's Word, Fasting, Embodying Love, Worship, Simplicity, Gratitude, and Courageously Enduring.
Scripture
The Bible is God’s written word and is good for teaching, correcting, guiding, and changing us. The Bible is the primary authority to teach us about God and to teach us how to live well, serving as our roadmap for life. When we read the Bible and apply its teachings to our lives, we grow as Christians and become more like Jesus. This is true for each person and the church as a whole. The Bible comprises 66 books that were assembled into the canon and is closed. God inspired Scripture; therefore, it is inerrant in accordance with the nature of God.
God The father
God the Father made the universe. He is the perfect Father: He never makes a mistake, He always does what is right, and He is, in essence, love, and compassion. He is all-powerful, sees everything, and knows everything: past, present, and future. He is in relentless pursuit of His creation and, out of love, even sending His son for communion with His people. God the Father shows how one parents with love, compassion, balance, and correction.
God The son
God the Son is Jesus Christ, our Lord. He has always existed, and when He came to live on Earth, He was (and is) both 100% God and 100% man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to give us the solution to our sin, and then He came back to life. The life that He lived gives believers an example as to how to live. Jesus Christ did not come into the world to condemn the world, but to save all people through His sacrifice. One of the last things that he shared with His disciples was the hope in His return again.
God The
Holy spirit
God, the Holy Spirit, works in people’s hearts to convict, convince, and comfort us and to make us more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit is a down payment in the believer's life that is given at the moment of salvation. The Holy Spirit is still active and works miracles in people’s lives as He always has. He works within the hearts of Christians to help make us morally pure, and He gives Christians spiritual gifts to build up the church and expand the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit also draws all of mankind to the Father and Son. He (Holy Spirit) calls unbelievers to come and be a part of God’s people.
Gifts of the holy spirit
The lists of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit (Gifts) found in scripture differ in each passage addressing gifts. Therefore, these lists are not exhaustive in nature, and the Holy Spirit can supernaturally empower a believer to bring glory to Jesus Christ in an unlimited number of ways. This being said, a pursuit of the gifts of the Spirit is a command and should be prayed for. While scripture speaks to the wholehearted pursuit of gifts for the purpose of edifying the church, there are also some boundaries laid out in scripture that must be exercised within the modern church. Even though some abuse or misuse the gifts, it should not be something we avoid. No, gifts of the Spirit are not proof of being saved. They are not guaranteed to last forever, to be wielded by their possessor. They are from the Holy Spirit, by the Holy Spirit, for the glorification of God.
trinity
There is one God who has always existed in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each of the three Persons that make up the Trinity is recognized as God by demons, which gives them fear. Throughout eternity, there have been different seasons and levels of interaction with each member of the Trinity. In Creation, man walked with God the Father; after the fall, man experienced God the Father from a sacrificial system. After God sent His one and only Son, man walked with Jesus. After He was killed and rose again, He ascended with the promise of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent and now indwells anyone who accepts Jesus Christ the Son; this process restores the ability for a relationship with the Father and allows believers to rest in the promise that we will get to spend eternity with Him and live dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit through life.
creation
God spoke all things into existence from nothingness. As Creator, He remains actively present within His creation, directing all things toward their ultimate end, the glory of His name. Among the created order, God uniquely formed man and woman in His image and for His glory, appointing them as stewards of the earth. To the man, God entrusted dominion to cultivate, guard, and govern creation. To the woman, He gave a complementary role, forming her as a suitable partner for the man. Equal in worth yet distinct in design, Adam and Eve were joined in a one-flesh covenant that established the divine pattern for marriage. Men and women are made in the image of God, both enjoy equal access to Him through faith in Christ Jesus, and both are called to meaningful engagement in family, Church, and civic life. God’s creation was declared good. Yet after the fall of Adam and Eve, nothing remained untouched by sin. Still, the story does not end in brokenness for one day, all of creation will be restored under the reign of Christ, and the glory of God will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.
marriage
Marriage is instituted by God as a covenant, not merely a contract. It is a sacred partnership designed for mutual help, spiritual growth, and fruitfulness. Within this covenant, love, forgiveness, and humility are continually practiced, making marriage a context for sanctification. Biblically, marriage is between one man and one woman, as established in creation. Adam and Eve were joined in a one-flesh covenant, forming the divinely appointed pattern for sexual union between men and women. In God’s wise design, men and women are not interchangeable, but complementary, each enriching the other in distinct and meaningful ways. Marriage is an illustration of the bridegroom of Jesus and his union with the Church. Husbands are called to lead their families and love sacrificially, as Christ loved the Church. As the Church responds to Christ, wives are called to submit, respect, and support their husbands. In this way, marriage reflects the sacred union of Christ and the Church, bearing witness to God’s covenantal love.
Fall
Adam and Eve were made in the image of God. They distorted the image of God and, therefore, forfeited their intimacy and proximity to God. They fell into sin through Satan’s temptation by eating from the tree of the knowledge of Good and evil. This separated God’s creation from himself because of the nature of God’s Holiness. The price of that sin was separation from God and death. The highest need for anyone is to be reconciled with God. This sickness is passed from generation to generation from the original sin. The debt that is owed by acting in sin is death.
salvation
Due to the fact that Adam disobeyed God, men and women cannot have a close personal relationship with him until we are born again spiritually. Jesus made this new birth possible by dying on the cross and by coming back to life. The only thing that can happen is for God to save us. God is the only one who can restore the relationship between Him and His creation. When God restores, it is not only for the present life but also with the promise of eternity in His presence. Believers are only saved by receiving the free gift of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. Once this occurs, there is an adoption that takes place into the family of God. Through submitting to Him, empowerment occurs through His Holy Spirit that empowers us to be free from sin and develop to look more like Christ as we grow in our relationship with Him. One who accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior, confesses with their mouth and believes in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord is saved.
church and governance
People are the crown of God’s creation, made in His image with body, soul, and spirit, each part affecting the others. Just as the human body has many parts that work together for the whole person to thrive, so it is with the Church. The body of Christ is made up of many people with diverse gifts, all united to fulfill God’s will and carry out the mission entrusted to both the local church and the global Church.
The Church exists to glorify God by continuing the work of Jesus on earth. One reason God designed the local church is so that believers can gather for worship, practice baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and live out Christ’s command to love one another and attack the gates of Hell!
In addition, the New Testament shows that local churches were led not by a single individual but by a plurality of elders. Elders of the church are men called by God, affirmed by the church, and lead as shepherds, equipping the congregation for the work of the ministry toward maturity in Christ as a church. Leading with plurality and parity, they make decisions unanimously for the church over vision, staffing, discipline, theology, orthodoxy, property, and ministry.
Though the early church faced challenges, the pattern remained clear: God intends for elders to shepherd His people in the local church, serve the body faithfully, and lead in accordance with Scripture.
Baptism
and Communion
At the Water’s Edge, we participate in Baptism and communion regularly. These are commanded by God and given to the church to experience sanctifying grace. They are meant for specific times and require a specific posture of the heart. Baptism is for believers, in the presence of the church, and reveals a believer's death to their old, sinful life, and a resurrection into the newness of a Christ-like life. Communion is meant for the believer to participate in the consumption of the blood and the body of Christ. One must inspect one's own heart and repent not to abuse communion, but to honor the sacrifice that was made on their behalf.