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Mission Statement

Objective

Motive

Restoration

Creed

Ordinances

Admission

Organization

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At Forest Dale, we are:
Glorifying God, proclaiming His Son, loving as a family, serving like a friend, and growing in Christ Jesus.

The Forest Dale Church of Christ is a fellowship of loving believers in Jesus Christ. We are seeking God and endeavoring to meet the needs of individuals and families by introducing them to Christ and equipping them for loving, sacrificial service according to the biblical example.

The New Testament church had no super-organization, exercising authority, either administrative or otherwise, over a group of churches or over a certain territory. Such forms of church government are fatal to congregational liberty. Therefore, we shall remain free of all ecclesiastical control. We are absolutely independent of all other congregations, being responsible to the Lord alone.

Our objective

Christian unity (John 17:20, 21) The unity for which Christ prayed can be brought about by individuals uniting in restoring His church, as it was in the beginning. When love for Christ transcends love for 'party', and when individuals become 'Christians only' in the one great church, as Jesus planned it, denominationalism will end.

Our motive

Our motive for this program is found in John 17:21, "that the world may believe" that God sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world.

Restoration

Our program is the restoration of the New Testament church in its teachings, ordinances, and life. The ideal New Testament church is one teaching and practicing what the Holy Spirit commands in the New Testament and refraining from doing what He forbids.

Creed

We have no creed but Christ. He is the only creed required in the New Testament. We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and therefore accept as true the miracles of Jesus' virgin birth and His resurrection. Where the Scriptures speak we speak. Where they are silent we are silent.

Ordinances

The New Testament church had just two ordinances: Baptism and The Lord's Supper
Baptism This is a command of Christ. Matthew 28:18-20.
This baptism is by immersion only. Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12.
The Lord's Supper 1 Corinthians 11:23-25.
The early church observed this ordinance every Lord's day. Acts 20:7.
Since the 'first day of the week' comes every week, we observe communion weekly.

Admission

The laws of admission in the New Testament church are identical with the steps in conversion.
They are:

Faith in Christ as the Son of God (Mark 16:15, 16; Hebrews 11:6)
Repentance (Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30)
Confession (Luke 12:8; Romans 10:10)
Baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38)


Organization

There were two types of offices in the New Testament church. Elders exercised spiritual oversight (Acts 20:17-28; 1 Timothy 5:17) Deacons were entrusted with financial and benevolent affairs (Acts 6:1-6) Their duty and authority was limited to the congregation of which they were members.

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