ARTICLE 10 STATEMENT OF FAITH

10.01 Short Form Statement.

This is the Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ Statement Of Faith "Short Form," adopted on May 12, 1996 by the Board Of Directors in representation of the Congregation, and the Pastoral Team. These Articles Of Faith set forth the teaching and pastoral ministry of Ray Of Hope. Persons who attend Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ are not obligated to believe any article of Faith. Each person is responsible for what they choose to believe, and their own consequential eternal destiny, which we believe is based on Salvation by Faith alone. All persons are welcome at Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, regardless of their "creed." However, the Pastoral and Teaching Ministry of Ray Of Hope adheres in unity to these Articles Of Faith and bases all Teachings, Practices, and Doctrines of Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ on these Articles Of Faith.
*** CLICK HERE TO SEE THE STATEMENT OF FAITH PAGE COMPLETE WITH GRAPHICS ***

We believe in One God Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, our Sovereign, Jesus the only Christ,

the only Son of God, Anointed Messiah, Eternal High Priest, Savior of

the world,

eternally begotten of God,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God, from true God, 

begotten, not made,

of one being with God, 

and through Jesus all things were made.


We believe God loved the world so much that God gave Jesus, God's own

Son, to save humanity from sin, and to reconcile the world to God, 

so that whoever believes in Jesus has eternal salvation, eternal

safety, and is a member of the eternal community of God.

Therefore, it was for us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven, 

was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary 

and became truly human, like us in all ways except He never sinned.

In this way the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us.

For our sake, in our place, as a sacrifice for our sin of the world, he

was crucified under Pontius Pilate; 

suffered death as the Lamb of God, and was buried.

On the third day he rose again eternally conquering death

and reigning forever as the Resurrection and the Life in

accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of God.

He will come again in glory, and to judge the living and the dead,

and his Sovereign Realm, His Eternal Community, his kingdom will have no end.


We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, 

who proceeds from God and the Son, 

who with God and the Son is worshipped and glorified, 

who has spoken through the prophets, and who

empowers and gives life to the Church.

We believe in one holy universal/catholic Christian and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism into Christ, for the sign of repentance, faith in Christ, and forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the Church, the saints in Christ,

and the life of the eternal world to come under God's

reign, where there will be liberty, justice, and equity for all

with God, in Christ, and through the Holy Spirit.

Additionally:
We, the Faith Community of Ray Of Hope Church, believe Christianity is the revelation of God in Christ Jesus, and is the religion of God in Christ set forth in the Scriptures. 

Christ Jesus is foretold in the Hebrew Testament (formerly known as

the "Old Testament") and, presented in the Christian Testament

(formerly known as the "New Testament"). Christ Jesus is proclaimed

by the Christian Church in every age and every land. 

The foundation of Ray Of Hope Church is Jesus Christ.   We are not creating a new Church, or a new religion. 

The foundation is laid by God, and we take our place as spiritual stones being built into the Church triumphant. 

We believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired written Word Of God.

          The Bible is the final authority for believers in all matters of faith and

Doctrines.  All teachings and practices must be in harmony with the

written Word Of God. 


We believe that all people, with the exception of Jesus the Son of God,

have sinned and are therefore in need of the new birth in Christ Jesus

before they can enter the Eternal Community of Jesus.


We believe that Salvation is a gift that God has given to the entire human

race.  Romans Chapter Five explains this Doctrine of Universal Salvation.  One's personal salvation is assured by believing in God as per John 5:24.  Salvation is best known through the Gospel of Jesus the Christ, and through rebirth in the Holy Spirit.  (This By-law was amended September 18, 2011 and used to read: We believe that Salvation is available to all who call on the Name of Jesus Christ, and are re-born into the Life of Christ.)

We believe the Church is made of all people from every time and every   place who believe in Christ Jesus.   Believers constitute the    priesthood of Jesus, the holy nation, the royal generation.


In Ray Of Hope Church we believe in remaining faithful to the Apostle's teaching, the Community of believer's, the breaking of the bread, and the prayers.


We believe the local Church is called to evangelize the local people by social action and ministry.

10.02 Long Form Statement.


10.03 Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ Statement Of Purpose


In the Spirit of God, and in the footsteps of Christ Jesus, we the Faith Community at Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ commit to: 

guide and welcome all people to the Free Gift of Salvation in Christ Jesus, with a God ordained celebration of all sexual orientations, and gender expressions, with an open ministry to persons affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS, their families and friends; 

declare and openly assert the truth that same-sex relationships, founded and fostered in God-centered love, are holy and blessed, and in fact originate by the work of the Holy Spirit; and, that God equally uses blessed same-sex and heterosexual Holy Unions and Marriages to bring God's own love and good news of "Salvation to all who believe" into the world; 

uphold, proclaim, and teach the historic Biblical Christian Doctrine, build community through worship and prayer, break the bread, and live the ministry of the Holy Spirit; 

change the world around us by living Gospel principles of social justice in everything we do, thereby exposing all forms of prejudice, oppression, racism, homophobia, sexism and misogyny; and, 

proclaim the ray of hope, which is the soon coming return of Christ Jesus, and the fullness of His Eternal Community where the Will of God will establish liberty, justice, equity and peace for all God's People and the universe. 

10.04 Duty to Support Theology. 

The Members of the Congregation, Council, committees, all program leaders, teachers, staff persons, and all persons in leadership capacities are expected to support the Theology of Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ as defined by the House Of Clergy and as stated in the written policies, statements, by-laws and programming of Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Participants, Friends, and Members are not obligated to personally believe any of the articles of the Theology of Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ unless they serve in a teaching, ministry or leadership position in Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

10.05 Open Door Policy. 

All persons are welcome to any Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ event or program regardless of their personal faith or belief system; however, at no time will any spirituality, belief system, creed, custom, ritual or mode of worship, be presented as having been approved or endorsed that is not in full accord with the Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ Statement of Faith (Long Form and Short Form), by-laws and policies of Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.