Our Statement of Faith

As an assembly of Baptized Believers, having been saved by personal and individual faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in accordance with His command that “all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Cor. 14:40), we do hereby adopt the following as our constitution and by-laws:

ARTICLE I

The Name and Object of this Church

Section 1
The name of this Church, founded on July 9, 1995, is and shall remain Mission Independent Baptist Church.

Section 2

The object of this Church is to glorify God in the salvation of souls, the edification of Christians through the teaching of God’s Word, the worldwide proclamation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the promotion of Godly worship, the defense of the “Faith once delivered to the saints”, to love one another, and to cooperate with Christian activity functioning in accordance with God’s Word.

ARTICLE II

Autonomy of this Church

This Church will be and shall remain an independent, self-governing Baptist Church, responsible only to our Lord. The Church will have full power and authority to purchase, lease and acquire by gift, devise and bequest and hold mortgage, convey and dispose of all kinds of property both real and personal, provided that the title to all property shall be vested in the Church Trustees as
hereinafter set forth.

ARTICLE III

Declaration of Faith

Section 1

We believe in the Original Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible. It will be the accepted authority, and thus, be the only version used. Accepting fully the writings of the Old and New Testaments as the very Word of God (II Timothy 3:16). Verbally inspired in all parts, (II Peter 1:21), our infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice.

Section 2

We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons, equal in all Divine authority; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Section 3

We believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ: His virgin birth: His sinless life: His sacrificial death: His bodily resurrection: His ascension into Heaven, there to be our intercessor.

Section 4

We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, draws men to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, assures believers of Heaven by His indwelling power and enables Christians to live a Godly life.

Section 5

We believe that all men are by nature and choice sinful and lost, and have within themselves no possible means of salvation.

Section 6

We believe in Salvation b Grace through faith in the completed work of our Lord Jesus Christ: That salvation is a gift of God offered freely to all men and is received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: Sonship in the family of God, and the Divine guarantee that he shall never perish.

Section 7

We believe in the existence of Satan, the deceiver and ruler of this present evil world; that he was defeated, and judged at the Cross-, and therefore his final doom is certain.

Section 8

We believe in the second coming of Christ: That His return from Heaven will be personal, visible and glorious, the time being unrevealed but always immanent: That when He comes first, by resurrection of the dead and translation of the living, He will remove from the earth His waiting church; Then pour out the righteous judgments of God on an unbelieving world, afterwards descend with His Church and establish His glorious and literal Kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years.

Section 9

We believe that the spirits of the saved at death immediately go to be with Christ in Heaven; that after Christ returns for the waiting Church, their work will be judged and rewards determined: That the spirits of the unsaved at death will immediately descend into Hell until the final day of judgment, at which their bodies will be raised from the grave, judged, and along with death and Hell shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, the place of eternal punishment.

Section 10

We believe in the priesthood of all believers that Christ is our great High Priest and through Him alone every born again believer has direct access into God’s presence without the need of a human priest. That each believer has the right and duty to study and interpret the Scriptures guided by the Holy Spirit.

Section 11

We believe that the New Testament church is an organized body of born again, baptized believers practicing spiritual ordinances and actively engaged in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Section 12

We believe in the two spiritual ordinances given to the local Church: Baptism by immersion of believers only and the Lord’s Supper to be partaken of by obedient Christians.

Article IV

Church Covenant

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expense of the church, the relief of the poor and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

ARTICLE V

Church Membership

Section 1

This church may refuse membership to an person the Church feels would be a hinderance the the unity of the Church and who would hinder the working of the Holy Spirit in and through this Church. Future members must agree and adhere to all parts of this Constitution and By-Laws. Also, in accordance with the Word of God and our beliefs as a Church, membership and the holding of any office in the Church will be denied to a professing, or otherwise known homosexual.

Section 2

Membership to this Church shall be established by the following means:

A. Statement: A personal testimony of their personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, having been baptized or to be baptized by emersion.

B. Letter: A letter from another Church of like faith (like faith meaning, like doctrinal beliefs as this Church).

Section 3

Membership of this Church will not be established until the individual has been baptized or his letter has been received from a Church of like faith. The individual will be under the watch care of this Church until he has been baptized or his letter is received, then he may be given the right hand of fellowship.

Section 4

Members of this Church shall be expected to show their interest in the welfare of the Church by regular attendance, their endeavor to promote the unity and fellowship among the members and their financial support. Those who have no means to support the Church financially shall be welcome and shall have the same membership privileges as those who have much to give.

Section 5

Members who without reasonable excuse do not attend any of the regular services in the Church for a period of two months will lose their voting in any and all business meetings. The individual may be reinstated as an active member after regular attendance is resumed.

Section 6

The Church after due notice and opportunity for hearing, and every possible kindly Christian effort to make such action unnecessary, may upon majority vote, terminate the membership of a person in this body for reasons it considers sufficient to warrant such action.

ARTICLE VI

Officers of the Church

Section 1- Pastor

The pastor shall be elected by the Church for an indefinite period of time. He must receive a seventy-five percent vote of those members present at the time that he is voted on. He shall serve until the relationship is dissolved at the request of either the Pastor or the majority vote of the Church. Should a vote of termination be requested, one week’s notice must be given to the membership. In either case, at least thirty days notice shall be given of termination, unless otherwise agreed on by the Church. The election of the Pastor shall take place at a meeting especially set for that purpose of which at least one week’s notice has be given to the membership. The election shall be upon the recommendation of the deacons who have been designated by the Church to seek out and nominate ministers to fill that office. The Pulpit Committee shall bring only one name at a time before the Church to be voted upon. Election shall be by standing vote or by ballot at the discretion of the Church. Should the minister fail to receive a three-fourths vote, the Committee shall be instructed to seek out another minister and that meeting at which the vote was taken shall be dismissed without debate. Members must be present to vote. The Pastor shall be in charge of the Spiritual welfare and oversight of the Church; he shall be the exofficio member of all organizations, departments and committees. The Pastor shall be the moderator of the Church. In case the Pastor resigns, dies or is ill the Chairman of the Board of Deacons will be the moderator. Furthermore, the Pastor will be male and he must be married. He must be married to his first wife unless a widower.

Section 2- Deacons

The deacons shall be elected from among the men of the Church who have proven themselves to be scripturally qualified according to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. The deacons shall work with the Pastor and discuss business matters approved by the Church. Deacons shall at all times consider themselves servants of the Church. It should be the endeavor of this Church to have an odd number of deacons.

Section 3- Ordination

This Church shall, as the Lord leads, ordain ministers and deacons into the Service of the Lord. The Church reserves the right to revoke such ordinations if the Church feels that circumstances merit such actions.

Section 4- Church Clerk

The Church clerk shall keep a complete record of all official acts of the Church and shall sign the minutes of each official business meeting. The clerk shall keep an accurate and complete record of the membership, such as: name, address, date of acceptance, how they were received, etc. The clerk will record date, and reason anyone is dismissed from the Church.

Section 5- Church Treasurer

The Church Treasurer shall be responsible for all money received in regular and special offerings for the Church. He shall keep an account of all the money received and all expenditures. He shall spend money only by approval of the Church. He shall give a report of the Treasury at regular business meetings of the Church.

Section 6- Trustees

The trustees shall sign all legal documents such as deed to property, notes, and etc. as the Church may direct. Any trustee who refuses to discharge his duty as ordered by the Church shall be replaced immediately. In case any trustee becomes inactive or dies, the Church shall declare his office vacant and elect someone to fill that place in a regular or special business meeting.

Section 7

The Pastor, Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent shall direct all Sunday school activity.

Section 8

The Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Teachers and Assistant Teachers shall be elected on yearly basis. The time for annual elections shall be determined by the Church.

Section 9

The Pastor, Deacons and Trustees of the Church shall be elected for an indefinite period of time.

ARTICLE VII

Spiritual Program of This Church

This Church shall meet on the first day of the week, Sunday, and on Wednesday night for mid-week prayer services. The Sunday service shall consist of Sunday School and Worship Service in the evening. The Church shall also hold Revival Services, Bible Conferences, home and foreign Mission Programs and any other meetings that are in accordance with the work of God. The Church building will not be used for anything other than Christian activity. This includes the sale of any items although it may be religious in nature.

ARTICLE VIII

Amendments

A meeting of the Board of Deacons shall be held monthly to discuss business matters of the Church. A regular Church business meeting will be held the following Wednesday night after the Deacons meeting. The minutes of the last business meeting shall be read. A report shall be given by the Treasurer and the head of any other department in the Church. Regular business meetings should be announced in advance. Unless otherwise stated in this Constitution, a majority vote of members present shall decide all matters of business. The business meetings shall be held in a decent and Christ like fashion.

ARTICLE VIII

This Constitution may be amended by a three-fourths majority vote at a regular or special business meeting providing a one-week notice has been given to the membership.