OUR MISSION
The mission of Eldred Baptist Church is to worship the Triune God in spirit and in truth by submitting to the Lordship of Christ in all things.
MISSIONAL ENGAGEMENT
At Eldred Baptist Church, we are committed to the mission of Christ, to "proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins to all nations" (Luke 24:57), and to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:18-20). Ultimately, we affirm that every person is a missionary, sent to live a missional life in whatever context we are in. We also are engaged in supporting numerous missionaries around the globe while seeking to raise up and send out missionaries from our own local body. (Acts 13:1-3)
EXPLICIT COMMUNICATION OF THE GOSPEL
The Great Commission calls us to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19), which cannot happen until people have heard the truth of the gospel and are saved. We know that “the gospel is the power for salvation” (Rom. 1:16) and that “[saving] faith comes by hearing… the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). People will not be saved unless the gospel is preached, and the gospel must be preached explicitly with words. We are to be salt and light in the world (Matt. 5:13-16) and a sanctified life will bear strong witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ through the gospel, but witness will not accomplish this alone. The gospel must be preached explicitly.
OUR CHURCH COVENANT
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this Church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to raise up our children in the training and instruction of the Lord; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk cautiously in the world; to be just in all our dealings, faithful in our commitments, and living as examples of Christlikeness; to avoid unnecessary conflicts, gossip, and excessive anger; to avoid intoxication from any substance, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Saviour.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer, to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Saviour, to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.