About Us

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Wesleyan

During the latter part of the 19th Century, the marks of holy living were lacking in the established churches and their leaders. This lack caused Christians, both clergy and laity, to return to the doctrines of holiness and sanctification as taught by John Wesley in the 18th Century revival in England. Their return to Bible holiness resulted in what is now referred to as the Wesleyan Holiness revival of the 19th Century. This holiness movement spread throughout America and was foundational in bringing in the Pentecostal movement of the 20th Century.

As Wesleyans we acknowledge our roots to be in the Wesleyan Holiness revival. We are committed to promoting and preserving the Bible doctrine that Christians are to be holy in heart and life (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:14,15). Holiness is to the soul what health is to the body. A healthy person is sound physically; he is free from sickness and disease. A holy person is sound morally; he is free from sin and corruption.

But WPC does not see the practice of holiness as just an assurance to heaven; though without it no one will see the Lord (Matthew 5:8; Hebrews 12:14). To practice holy living solely for heaven’s gain is selfishly seeking salvation by works.  Holy living is to be practiced by every Christian so that this world may see the character of God and thereby bring glory to God and salvation to others (Matthew 5:16; Titus 2:11-14).

Because holiness is to reflect one’s faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, believers are to leave off those things that are detrimental to holiness, to full dedication, and to the unity of the church and begin to cultivate a pattern of life that expresses godliness. Therefore, WPC requires its members to adhere to a code of conduct that can be enacted at the beginning of one’s pursuit of holiness.

Pentecostal

As Pentecostals we recognize the importance of the Holy Spirit in His person, work, and ministry.  As to person, the Holy Bible reveals that He is not an influence, power, or created being, but is the third Person of the Trinity; He shares with the Father and the Son a common divine nature so completely united in substance, essence, power, and glory that together they form the one true and eternal God (Matthew 3:16-17; Acts 5:3-4; 1 John 5:7).  As to work, the Holy Spirit was involved in the creation of the universe and the human race (Genesis 1:1-2). He is the divine author of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Without the Holy Spirit, there would be no faith in Christ, no salvation, and no Christians in the world.  As to ministry, it is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin, reveals to us the truth about Christ, gives us the new birth, and incorporates us into the body of Christ (John 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:13). It is the Holy Spirit who delivers us from the bondage of sin, helps us to pray and worship God, reveals Christ to us, produces Christlike character in us, and empowers us for service and witness (Romans 8:1-4, 26; Acts 1:8).

As Pentecostals we believe Christ’s pro-mise of the fulness of the Spirit was first fulfilled at Pentecost and remains a promise to all who repent of their sins, become obedient to God, and ask in faith for the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Luke 11:13; Acts 1:5; Romans 14:17). This fulness of the Spirit makes it possible to receive and live in the power and righteousness of God’s kingdom. Christ’s presence, love, truth, and righteous standards are made real by the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Galatians 5:22-23). The full and complete life of the Spirit is  promised to all who thirst for God and His righteousness (John 2:37-39; Ephesians 5:18).

Church

A church is more than a group of religious people sharing a common building as a meeting place.  Locally and universally, it is a body of believers who have covenanted together as subjects of Christ to live under His sovereign Lordship with His Word as the final authority in their lives. The Church, as the body of Christ, is the physical presence of Christ in this world (Matthew 5:13,14; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 1 John 4:17). It is the vehicle He uses to evangelize the world and perfect saints who will one day reign with Him in His kingdom (John 15:16; Colossians 1:25-29).

Christ, as the only Head of the Church, rules His subjects through the Word and Spirit by the ministry of men gifted by Him to rule in His name and in His stead (Hebrews 13:7). The New Testament identifies these men as Elders and Deacons. Elders are to take heed to themselves and the flock to shepherd and guard them against attack (Acts 20:17, 28-31). Deacons are to serve the church and assist the elders in their ministry.  No church officer has the right to ursurp the delegated authority of the Lord or take dominion over God’s heritage (1 Peter 5:1-4). They are the rulers for Christ who are under the rule of Christ.

Consistent with the New Testament example, Wesleyan Pentecostal Churches have a representative form of government where general and local church leadership is by a plurality of Elders (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). Elders are ordained in every church and rule with one heart and one soul. Such team leadership avoids the extreme of one man rule on one hand and mob rule on the other. It promotes equality, accountability, unity and humility among church leaders.

We Believe

1. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are verbally inspired of God, inerrant, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice.

2. In one God infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

3. Man was created in the image of God for holiness and righteousness to the praise of His glory; and that the fall of our first parents brought about the total depravity and lost condition of the human race.

4. In the virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; that He ascended to the right hand of God the Father and is there interceding as our High Priest.

5. The atonement through Jesus Christ is for the whole human race, and that salvation is attained only by repentance and faith in His blood.

6. Justification, regeneration, and adoption are simultaneous experiences of salvation provided by the Lord Jesus Christ, received by faith, and effected by the Word through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

7. Sanctification, as an act of grace subsequent to the new birth, sets the believer free from the law of sin and death through the crucifixion of the flesh for the pursuit of holiness.

8. The baptism of Holy Ghost is subsequent to sanctification and empowers the believer for righteous living and service; and that the initial evidence is speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance.

9. The Church is visible as a company of disciples under the authority of the Scriptures, the Lordship of Christ, and the discipline of the Spirit.  It exists to glorify God through the perpetuation of holy worship, the edification of the saints, and the proclamation of the gospel.

10. Water baptism, the Lord’s Supper, washing the saints’ feet, and the Lord’s Day are symbols of the new covenant and should be observed by all believers.

11. Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement, and that anointing with oil should be administered to the sick who call for prayer.

12. Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Ghost to believers as He wills, and that they are for the building up of the Church and for the fulfilling of its divinely ordained functions.

13. Obedience to the commands of Christ is the proper evidence of saving faith, and that holiness is God’s standard of living for His people.

14. In the diligent use of the means of grace whereby one’s calling and election are made sure.

15. In the sacredness of life, the sanctity of marriage, the priority of the family, and the divine order of the home.

16. The call to separation requires a detachment from all that is worldly and an involvement in society as a responsible citizen doing what is good.

17. Jesus Christ will come again to catch up the living saints with the risen saints to be with Him, so to judge their works and reward their faithfulness; and that after the seven year tribulation on the earth, He will return with His saints to reign a thousand years.

18. In a bodily resurrection: a resurrection of life for the righteous and a resurrection of damnation for the wicked.

19. In a final judgment in which the dead will stand before God and be judged according to their works in this life.

20. In the eternal state, the righteous will inherit endless happiness and the wicked will receive endless torment, without liberation or annihilation.