Celebration Church of the Tri-Cites
Our Purpose:
To equip each believer with the knowledge and abilities to go out and change their world. We want to teach people whole life worship, and a sense of self-worth in God’s eyes. We want to impact our community and the world.
Our Vision Statement:
Celebration Church seeks to worship Jesus in spirit and truth without fear, while also being a place to heal--emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
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Led by the Spirit of God
The Holy Spirit is the director of the affairs of Celebration Church. All
people associated with Celebration are encouraged to submit to the guidance and
direction of the Spirit. Our church Elders serve only as overseers of the
church, not as directors. They seek to submit to the Lordship of Jesus and to
the divine direction of the Holy Spirit.
A Community of Faith
Our faith is in Jesus Christ and in Him alone. We believe Jesus Christ paid the
full penalty for humankind’s sin by His death on the cross. We believe
forgiveness of sin is based on grace alone, in Christ alone, and through faith
alone. Salvation is not based on good works or human efforts.
A Praying Church
Celebration Church values prayer as foundational to the discovery of God’s
will. We encourage prayer by individuals, small groups, and in corporate
settings. We desire to pray in obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
We practice the laying on of hands and anointing with oil when appropriate and
with permission. Celebration Church values gentleness and deference to those
receiving prayer. We encourage the practice of prayer and fasting as led by the
Holy Spirit. We believe prayer undergirds all ministry and is indispensable in
fulfilling our God ordained purposes.
Celebrates God’s Love
Celebration Church enjoys worshiping God! The very name of our church reflects
this essential value. We are thankful for His mercy and grace, accepting of His
love, and excited about His presence. Worship is a natural extension of our
daily praise for and adoration of God. Part of our worship involves giving of
our resources to others. Celebration Church believes that giving to the Lord’s
work is an honor! We give, not because we have to, but because we have the wonderful
opportunity to strengthen His kingdom. We recognize God as the owner of all
things. He is the source of all life–the originator of all life’s blessings. We
are managers of what He has graciously given to us.
Invites Every Person to Join God’s Family
Celebration Church values and emphasizes evangelism. We encourage every person,
regardless of background or status, to seek a personal relationship with Jesus.
Develops Growing Followers of Christ
We believe the goal of every Christian should be to grow in spiritual maturity.
This maturity is found in obedience to God’s Word and His Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, we believe that an integral component of spiritual maturity is
discovering, developing, and employing one’s unique spiritual gifts.
Shares God’s Message of Hope with the World
Celebration Church is an evangelical, interdenominational church with a message
of God’s grace for the Tri-Cities and the world. The term “evangelical” means
we believe Jesus Christ is the source of forgiveness of sins and the answer for
every need. The term “interdenominational” means we are not formally aligned
with any particular Christian denomination, yet we respect those who come from
denominational churches. In a non-threatening manner, we encourage every person
to seek relationship with Christ and to become involved in His work of
ministry.
Adherence to Biblical Truth
We believe the Bible is God’s perfect revelation to humankind. The Scriptures
of both the Old and New Testaments were supernaturally inspired and without
error in the original manuscripts. The Bible contains the answers to all of
humankind’s problems and is the authoritative source of Christian doctrine and
precept. We believe God is one in essence. We believe He expresses His eternal
nature in and through three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe
God, by His choice and out of love, sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world to
rescue, redeem, and reconcile sinful humankind unto Himself. We believe Jesus
Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless
life, was crucified, buried, and resurrected. This resurrection was actual and
physical. We believe Jesus is the head of the church, and He intercedes for
believers. One day He will return to this earth personally, bodily, and visibly.
We believe God, by His choice and out of love, sent His Holy Spirit with a
broad, two-fold purpose:
Theological Liberty on Non-Essential Issues
Celebration Church is dogmatic on essential biblical truths. However, we seek balanced theological understanding and allow for differences of thought on non-essential issues. For example, we believe that the method of baptism is not as important as the motivation for baptism. Those who have trusted in Christ and wish to identify publicly with Him may choose one of three modes: immersion, sprinkling, or pouring. Each mode is equally valid as an identification with Christ.
Empowerment of Individuals for Personal Ministry
Celebration Church believes every person is called to some form of personal
ministry. We seek to train and equip believers to perform the work of Christ
according to His plan for their lives. We do not try to force individuals into
certain forms of ministry, nor do we believe that ministry is to be conducted
exclusively by paid professional staff. The work of Christian ministry is not a
spectator sport but rather a participatory endeavor.
Celebration Church Believes in Being “Real”
We value transparency, openness, and honesty. We shun religiosity by
discouraging artificial facades and encouraging heart-to-heart interchange.
