Our Mission at GPC:

To passionately follow the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) and help fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) by balancing Worship, Ministry, Outreach, Fellowship and Discipleship.

Our Vision at GPC:

Raising up maturing Christ followers in a healthy church community.

Our Five Focus Areas at GPC:

The following are where we invest most of our ministry energy to accomplish our vision:

1. Sunday Mornings

2. Building Community

3. Discipleship & Outreach

4. Children’s & Student Ministries

5. Faith in Action Mission Activities

Our Core Values at GPC:

The following are how we strive to accomplish our vision:

1. Humility: relying on God for personal growth and making a lasting impact

(John 15:5, James 4:6, Micah 6:8)

2. Authority of God’s Word: understanding and applying the Bible to everyday life

(2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, James 1:22)

3. Community: building loving relationships for mutual support

(John 13:35, Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Corinthians 12:18)

4. Unity: working together to accomplish God’s purposes

(Ephesians 4:1-3, Psalm 133:1, Acts 24:16)

5. Intentionality: working actively to accomplish God’s purposes

(Romans 12:9, Romans 6:12-13, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

6. Generosity: sacrificially investing our lives to serve others

(Acts 20:35, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, 1 Timothy 6:17-19)

7. Creativity: communicating God’s truths in a variety of ways

(Exodus 35:30-35, Ephesians 2:10, Romans 12:6-8)

8. Quality: pursuing excellence because God deserves our best

(Colossians 3:23-24, Matthew 5:14-16, 1 Corinthians 10:31)

WHO IS GOD?

• God is the one who made us and desires a personal relationship with us although he is beyond our ability to understand completely.

• Jesus Christ is God in human form who came to earth in order to show us how much God loves us and die for our sins.

• Through His Holy Spirit, God empowers and guides those that seek his direction.

HOW DO I FIND GOD?

• All people are valued and loved by God.

• God’s forgiveness through Jesus is the way that he provides a relationship with him.

• Trusting and following His direction are how we grow in our relationship with God.

WHAT IS LIFE PRIMARILY ABOUT?

• We are most fulfilled when we are closest to God.

• The Bible is God's manual for discovering the insights we need for discovering our purpose.

• Nothing in reality just happens; God is involved and in charge.

• God’s people are called to serve others, just like Jesus did.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH?

• God allows evil to provide us with a choice of trust.

• God can bring good out of evil events and God promises victory over evil to those who choose him.

• Heaven (being with God) and Hell (being without God) are the two options.

WHAT ABOUT MARRIAGE & FAMILY?

• We understand the Bible to teach what has been called the ‘traditional family’. So we teach that marriage should be a committed relationship between a man and woman.

Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:31

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Below provides more details regarding our beliefs including Bible verses.

At GPC we hold to UNITY in central Christian beliefs. We believe and practice a faith that finds its source in the Bible.

"There is one Body and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all..." Ephesians 4:4-6

At GPC we also have LIBERTY in non-essential beliefs. We believe that the Holy Spirit guides believers to do God's will within the boundaries of Scripture.

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters...who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls...So then each of us will give an account of himself to God...So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God." Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22

At GPC, regarding our beliefs, we are also committed to demonstrating CHARITY. That is, following the example of Jesus, we show love in all our beliefs. We believe that by showing Christ-like love to others, people are more drawn to develop into the people God intends.

"If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains but have no love, I amount to nothing at all." 1 Corinthians 13:2

BAPTISM

We encourage baptism by immersion as a public demonstration of our faith. The word for 'baptism' in the Bible means 'to be brought into'. Going into the water is the best way to picture the cleansing (being forgiven) and the commitment (being all in) that our baptism represents (Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:3).

GOD

God is the creator and ultimate authority of all. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14)

PEOPLE

We are made in the spiritual image of God and are to be like Him in character. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, they are marred by attitudes and actions of disobedience toward God called "sin". Our sinful condition separates us from God which reveals our need for a Savior who makes forgiveness possible. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6, Isaiah 59:1-2)

SEXUALITY & PURITY

God made mankind in His image, male and female. How we view and describe ourselves should be in line with the sexuality (male or female) God gave us. God also calls sin any sexual relationship outside of the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. (Genesis 1:26-27, I Corinthians 6:13,18, Col. 3:5, Hebrews 13:4, I Thessalonians 4:3)

ETERNITY

After we die we will either be separated from God because of our sin or with God by choosing forgiveness and salvation. Hell is where God isn't and Heaven is the place of eternal fellowship and eternal life with God.

(John 3:16, Romans 6:23, I John 5:11-13, Matthew 25:44-46, Revelation 21:27)

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is part of the Trinity, being co-equal with His Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead to demonstrate His deity and power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

(Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, John 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; I Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13)

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as God and together make up the triune God. He is present in the world to make mankind aware of our need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides Christ followers with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, guidance in doing what is right, and spiritual gifting for the purpose of ministry.

(II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, I Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; 5:1; Galatians 5:25)

SCRIPTURE

The Bible is God's word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of God Himself. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.

(II Timothy 1:13; 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:105, Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)

SALVATION

Salvation is God's free gift to mankind but we must receive what God makes available. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement, being religious or by doing enough good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's way to be forgiven can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we accept Jesus as our Savior to forgive us and Lord to lead us we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into our lives by faith. (Romans 5:1; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 1:12; 14:6, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26)

ETERNAL SECURITY

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in their salvation for eternity. Salvation is offered by the grace of God and not by self-effort.

(John 10:29, II Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 10:10,14, I Peter 1:3-5, Colossians 2:13-14, Ephesians 1:13-14)