Redefined's Statement of Beliefs

We believe in the central tenets of Christianity as declared in the Nicene Creed, including, but not limited to, the following:

• There is one Almighty God, the creator of all things, who exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Spirit.

• The Son, Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man, descended from heaven and was born of the virgin Mary. For us and our salvation, Christ suffered, died by crucifixion, was buried, and on the third day rose again. Christ ascended into heaven where He now sits at the right hand of the Father. 

• Someday, Christ will return in glory to judge the living and the dead, establishing His kingdom which will never end. 

• The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, giving life and receiving adoration and glorification with the Father and the Son.

• There is one sacred and universal Church, tasked with spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

• There is one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We believe that, as Christians, we are called to be like Christ. This includes, but is not limited to, serving others. This begins in our own communities. We believe that while it is important to serve on a global scale, we must not neglect our neighbors at home.  (Matthew 20:28, Matthew 23:11, 1 John 2:6)

We believe that to serve is to put the lives of others above ours -- not for our own gain, but for theirs. This means that in serving we seek to empower individuals and communities and to meet real needs. (Proverbs 29:7, Isaiah 58:10, Romans 12:10, Philippians 2:4) 

We believe in the importance of serving with a humble heart, recognizing that the people we serve may impact us just as much -- if not more -- than we will impact them. We reject the savior complex and the notion that we are "rescuing" those we serve. (Romans 12:3, Philippians 2:3)

We believe that in caring for others, we are caring for Jesus. Focusing on bringing the Lord glory through service allows us to focus less on ourselves. (Proverbs 19:17, Matthew 25:31-46, John 3:30)

We believe that serving others is not an optional part of following Christ. (John 15:12, Philippians 2:4)

We believe that while evangelism and service are both important aspects of being a Christian, the two should not necessarily overlap, and that there is value in service apart from evangelism. We believe that God may open clear opportunities to share the Gospel with others while serving, and that we should wait for these opportunities to be given to us rather than force a conversation. (James 1:22, James 2:14-18, James 3:13, 1 John 3:18)

We believe that, as Christians, we are called to address not just the spiritual needs of others but also their physical and emotional needs. (James 2:15-16)

We believe that, as Christians, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and that the Spirit empowers us and gives guidance and understanding. He enables us to love others with His love, not just ours, and fills us with the fruits of the Spirit. We believe that Christians bring with them this power wherever they go. (Isaiah 11:2, Romans 8:26, Romans 15:13, Galatians 5:22-23)

We believe that interdenominational division is a danger to the Church and that Christians of all denominations can unite over serving others. (Luke 11:17, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 4:3-6, Titus 3:9)

We believe that people are given different gifts that enable them to serve best in different areas. We also believe that, in order to truly develop and reach a community, it is important to focus on all aspects of said community. (Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:5, 1 Peter 4:10)

We believe that it is the responsibility of leaders to lead by example by serving alongside members.  (1 Timothy 4:12, Titus 2:7, 1 Peter 5:3)

We believe in the importance of having fellowship with other Christians because in doing so we can promote unity, encouraging each other and building one another in our faith. (Proverbs 27:17, Matthew 18:20, Romans 1:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

We believe that faith is not meant to be comfortable, but rather that with faith a person can have confidence when venturing outside of their comfort zones to answer God's calling. We believe that God's calling often lies outside of our comfort zones. (Isaiah 42:16, Matthew 16:24)

We believe in serving not out of obligation but from the genuine desire of the heart. Furthermore, we believe that truly good service comes from selfless intentions. (Romans 12:10, Romans 12:13, Galatians 5:13, Philippians 2:4)

We believe that partnering with community organizations can lead to unity and a greater impact. (Proverbs 19:20)