Our Beliefs

The Gathering is part of a fellowship of non-denominational churches scattered throughout the world known as Christian Churches. Her roots are in what is known  as the Stone-Campbell heritage that began in the United States in the early 19th century. This  heritage seeks the unity of all Christians based on the authority of the Bible for the  evangelization of the world. While creeds and confessions can help articulate faith they have  often been used to divide believers more than unite them. But to avoid any misunderstanding The Gathering affirms the unqualified acceptance of the following:  

  • There is one, holy God who eternally exists in three persons (referred to as the Trinity— Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). God created all things visible and invisible. God is perfect in  wisdom, power, and love, knowing all things past, present, and future, and his sovereign plan of  redemption was set in place before the foundation of the world. (Gen 1:1-2, Dt. 6:4, Heb 11:3,  Eph 1:9-10; Rev 1:8)  

  • Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, born of a virgin, fully divine and fully human, and  our Savior and Lord. Jesus, who was without sin, died in our place as a substitutionary sacrifice  for our sins, bearing divine judgment, and reconciling to God all who trust in him. Jesus was  bodily resurrected in victory over sin and death. He ascended to the right hand of the Father  where he presently reigns as our king, high priest, and advocate until his glorious return. (John  3:16; 8:58; 14:6; Col 1:15; 2:9-15; 1 Cor 15:3-8, 20-28; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; Heb 4:14-15)  

  • The Holy Spirit is fully divine and active in the church and the world. The Holy  Spirit draws all people to Christ by illuminating the gospel and convicting of sin. The Holy Spirit  dwells in the believer to transform, guide, assure, gift, and empower living a fruitful Christian  life. (John 16:8-11; Acts 2:38; 2 Cor 3:17-18; Gal 3:2)  

  • God is revealed in the Bible, the uniquely inspired written Word of God and infallible in  all that it affirms. The Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. (2 Tim 3:16;  2 Pet 1:20-21).  

  • God creates all humans, male and female, in his image, and therefore all people  have intrinsic value and purpose. By the sin of the first man and woman (Adam and Eve), death  entered the world. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, alienated from God and  without hope apart from the blood of Jesus Christ. (Gen 1:26-27; Gen 3; Rom 3:23; 5:12; Eph  2:1-3)  

  • Salvation can be found in Christ alone and is offered to all by grace through faith. A  living faith is demonstrated through repentance, confession, baptism by immersion, and a life  of obedience. (Rom 3:23; 5:12, Acts 2:38, Gal 3:26-29; Eph 2:4-10) 

  • The church is the body of Christ on earth, with Christ as the head. God’s church is composed of all believers, serving as ministers of the gospel according to the gifts which God  has given them. Together the church is called to make disciples of every tribe, people, and  language until Christ returns. (Matt. 28:18-20; Eph 3:10; 4:11-13; Col 1:18; 1 Pet 2:9-10; Rev.  7:9)  

  • Christ will visibly return to restore creation and judge the world. There will  be a bodily resurrection for the believers to eternal life with God in heaven and for the  unbelievers to eternal judgment in hell along with the devil and his co-horts. In heaven, sin will  be no more and those in Christ will live in fellowship with God forever. (Matt. 25:31-46; Acts  1:11; 2 Thess 1:5-12; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Rev 20:11-15)