Rains of Grace Fellowship

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                     Mission and Vision Statement             

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The Mission

Making it hard to get to hell in Columbiana County
Instructing Christians to become disciples
Seeking to be a house of prayer and worship
Seeing a need and meeting it
In-depth sharing of our lives
Overcoming terminal tendencies
Never fixing on temporal things


The Vision

Worshipping Upward, Committed Inward and Reaching Out!

Worshipping Upward!

we are wholeheartedly committed to a lifestyle of worship that brings glory and honor to The Lord Jesus Christ.

Committed Inward!

As individuals we are fully committed to the pursuit of Holiness and purity.

Reaching Out!

We are committed to the proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all people groups, and to reach out in networking with the body of Christ to accomplish this task.

What We Believe

1. The all inspired Word of God, The Bible. It is God's Word to man. It was given under the inspiration by The Holy Spirit that enabled the writers to write His (God's) will and purpose for mankind. Scripture references: 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and 2 Peter 1:21.

2. There is one true God and He is revealed in the trinity. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Scripture references: Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16.

3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was fully God and fully man. Scripture references:

A. Jesus virgin birth: Matthew 1:23;

Luke 1:31 & 35.

B. Jesus sinless life: Hebrews 7:26; I Peter 2:22.

C. Jesus miracles: Acts 2:22; 10:38.

D. Jesus substitutionary work on the cross: I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21.

E. Jesus bodily resurrection from the dead: Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; I Cor. 15:4.

F. Jesus exaltation to the right hand of God: Acts 1:9; 11; 2:33; Phil. 2:9-11.

4. Man was created by God without sin and volitional. However, man willingly sinned and thus sin and death entered the world and humanity is in need of a savior. Scripture references: Genesis 1:26, 27; Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:6; Romans 5:12-19.

5. Jesus, God the Son, came to earth for the sin of humanity. He did this so that every person may have restored fellowship with God through salvation. Scripture references: Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; Titus 3:5-7.

A. There are two evidences of salvation. InternalThe direct witness of the Holy Spirit found in Romans 8:16. Externalliving a life of holiness found in Ephesians 4:24 and Titus 2:12.

6. There are two ordinances that are to be observed in the Word: Baptism in water as an outward testimony of the inward work of salvation; and Holy Communion as a remembrance of Christ's sacrifice. Water Baptism: Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6: Communion: 2 Peter 1:4; 1 Corinthians 11:26.

7. Sanctification is both complete at salvation and is a lifelong process. Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. Scripture references: Romans 12:1,2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12. The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord." Scripture references: Hebrews 12:14. By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy, for I Am holy." Scripture reference: 1 Peter 1:15, 16. Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by the faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. Scripture eferences: Romans 6:1-11; Romans 6:13; Romans 8:1,2; Romans 8:13;Galatians 2:20: Philippians 2:12, 13 and 1 Peter 1:5.

8. The baptism of The Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues. All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. Scripture references: Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31.

This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. Scripture references: Acts 8:12-17; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 11:14-16; Acts 15:7-9. With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as: An overflowing fullness of the Spirit, John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8 A deepened reverence for God, Acts 2:43, Hebrews 12:28 An intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, Acts 2:42 A more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost, Mark 16:20.

9. The gifts of God (The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit) are fully functioning within the body of Christ today. The gifts of the Father mentioned in Romans 12:6-8; The gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in I Corinthians 12; and the gifts of the Son (Jesus) mentioned in Ephesians 4:11.

10. The five fold ministry is a vital part of the body of Christ today. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Scripture references: Ephesians 4: 11-14.

11. The primary function of every believer is to evangelize the lost. Scripture references: Matthew 28:19- 20; Mark 16:15-18.

12. Jesus Christ will return to gather His Bride (The Church) to be with Him in heaven. This is known as the rapture. Scripture references: I Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52

13. The tribulation. The wrath of God is going to come upon the earth. Finally resulting in the destruction of the earth and the heavens. Scripture references: II Peter 3:1-18; Revelation 6-19.

14. All mankind will stand before The Lord Jesus Christ in judgment. Those who are not saved will be judged according to their sin. However, those who are saved will only be judged according to their works done on earth because their sin was already judged on the cross. Scripture references: Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8.

15. The new heavens and the new earth. Scripture references: 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21; Revelation 22.