Mission & Vision
Our Mission:
We exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy
of all peoples through Jesus Christ.
The Vision That Drives Our Mission:
Magnifying the Glory of Jesus
Our mission is driven by our desire to join God the Father in magnifying the supremacy
of his glory through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. By grace through
faith we aim to ...
- treasure all that God is
- love all whom he loves
- pray for all his purposes
- meditate on all his Word
- be sustained by all his grace.
Pursuing Love
We believe that the all-satisfying supremacy of God shines most brightly through
sacrificial deeds of joyful love. The cry of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of our
people is for fresh initiatives, biblical values, and a decisive emphasis on relationships
of love.
Therefore, we embrace God's call for visible manifestations of love toward each
other, our guests, and our neighbors. With a fresh openness and outgoing spirit
to each other and to all new people, we aim to put ...
- understanding above accusation
- forbearance above fault-finding
- biblical unity above the demand for uniformity.
Update: Bethlehem's Vision & Values
After being prayed through, wrestled with, and thought hard about for several years,
the pastoral staff has recently completed an update of the mission/vision statement
that was first produced in 1995. (See Pastor John’s introductory sermon to the initial statement.)
To better understand the convictions that motivate and drive us as a church family,
read through “The Vision and Values of Bethlehem Baptist Church”.
Our Beliefs
We are ...
Calvinistic in our theology
We trust wholly in the sovereign grace of God in and over all things.
Baptistic in our church polity
Under Christ and his Word the congregation is the final authority in church governance
with a Council of Elders who oversee and teach the people. We practice and teach
believer's baptism (by immersion).
Charismatic in our affections
We are committed to pursue all the fullness of God with use of his spiritual gifts
in the life of the church.
All the pastoral staff and elders embrace The Bethlehem Baptist Church Elder Affirmation of Faith
. Members are required to embrace the shorter Congregational
Affirmation of Faith.
The Mind and the Heart
We are convinced that 1) truth really matters, and 2) that right belief is essential
for sustained, persevering right living and affections—and we want to keep these
two in proper order. Right belief is not our ultimate goal. Rather, we aim for the
heart:
The mind is the servant of the heart. Knowledge exists for the sake of love.
And all theology worth its salt produces doxology.
—John Piper
Our Aim: Your Happiness
Our desire is your happiness in God, for God is most glorified in us when we are
most satisfied in him.