We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.

We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of all people, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into Heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.

We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.

We believe that all people are sinner by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. This regeneration enables people to be saved from eternal hell and live in eternal paradise with God.

We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.

Marriage is a creation institution. Adam and Eve were made to complement each other as male and female in a “one flesh” union, with the power to unite two people and bring children into the world. It is the foundation of family, the sacred building block of society, designed to reflect God’s covenant of faithful love. Jesus affirms this “one flesh” union as the pattern for sex and marriage, highlighting its sacred and unbreakable bond.

Marriage also mirrors salvation, showing the relationship between Christ and His Church in faithful love, mutual service, and an unbreakable union that brings life. God calls spouses to take on distinct roles: husbands lead with love and care, while wives follow in loving partnership as they shape their home together.

Sex is meant for marriage alone. God prohibits any sexual activity outside the one-man, one-woman covenant. This includes pornography, adultery, premarital sex, and same-sex sexual activity. As followers of Jesus, we honor God with our bodies, pursuing sexual faithfulness as a form of devotion.

Not everyone is called to marriage. Singleness is a valuable and dignified calling with its own unique ways to serve God’s Kingdom and impact the world. In fact, singleness can sometimes be an even higher calling in God’s Kingdom.

Matthew 19:4-6 // Ephesians 5:31-32 // 1 Corinthians 7:6-9

The sexed nature of our bodies—being male or female—is tied to our creation in the image of God. Jesus reaffirms the significance of being male and female, rooted in the way we were created. He also acknowledges those “born eunuchs,” similar to intersex conditions, while affirming that male and female are the norm for creation. Christ’s incarnation and resurrection further highlight the body’s importance.

As followers of Jesus, we identify with our bodily sex, not trying to confuse or change it through hormone therapy or surgery.

We know that some in our community are born with intersex conditions (a biological reality) or experience gender dysphoria (a psychological reality). Both are real and can be painful. If that’s you, you are deeply loved by God, created with dignity and worth, and are a valuable part of our church family. We are here to walk with you, love you, and serve Jesus together, with no “second-class citizens,” only image-bearers who belong to Christ.

While we believe gender should align with biological sex, there is freedom in how we express gender, as long as it doesn’t go against our bodily sex. King David was a “real” man when he wrote poetry and played the harp; Deborah was a “real” woman when she led Israel into battle. Jesus wept like a mother hen, and the Proverbs 31 woman ran a business, bought property, and provided for her family.

We don’t expect those outside the church to live according to God’s order, but within the church, we hold each other accountable, encouraging one another toward holiness in Christ, and trusting God to handle those outside.

Genesis 1:27 // Matthew 19:4, 11-12a // Deuteronomy 22:5 // 1 Corinthians 5:12–13

New Hope is a staff-led church with direct Board oversight. This means that the Lead Pastor and the staff have authority and ability to make necessary decisions. However, the Board of Overseers provides oversight and steps in when needed. The language you will hear at New Hope is that the “staff is the river, the board is the river bank.” Meaning, the staff are given freedom to do their jobs and build Jesus’ church, but if they act in a way that is unbiblical, unhealthy, or unprofessional, the Board provides accountability and oversight.

The following are issues that we consider secondary issues. Meaning that while individuals within our leadership and church may have convictions about them, they are secondary issues and freedom should be given within our church to hold different beliefs as long as the beliefs remain within the spectrum of biblical Christianity. We do not believe that differing opinions on these issues should result in the church being divided.

We have simply named the issues below and given a clarifying statement to ensure that we are clear about what we would not consider to be within the spectrum of biblical Christianity.

SIGN GIFTS

Statement: While we believe “sign gifts” to be an open-handed issue, we do not believe that the gift of tongues (or any other individual spiritual gift) is required as an evidence of salvation.

THE MILLENNIAL REIGN

Statement: While we believe “the millennial reign” to be an open-handed issue, we do not believe that Jesus has already returned or that there are “two peoples of God.”

AGE OF THE EARTH

Statement: While we believe “the age of the earth” to be an open-handed issue, we do not believe in atheistic or naturalistic evolution.

WOMEN IN MINISTRY

Statement: We believe that when there is healthy male leadership in the church, women are free to teach and lead. We do not believe the teachings of the Apostle Paul, or anyone else in the Bible, are sexist or misogynistic, but we do believe they were contextualized for a specific church at a specific time. While our core preaching team is made up of men, 1-2x per year we have a female preacher.