Practical Distinctives

             In an attempt to identify the distinctives of Faith Bible Church, we want to communicate our position on areas that may be different from other churches in our community.  Our elders, through much research, study, prayer, and discussion, have developed these distinctives.  Our goal in presenting this information is to promote unity and to diffuse preference areas that may be divisive.

The following list is not comprehensive, but covers areas that presently seem to be of some concern.  It is our prayer that each of us may continue to have an upward focus and an outward emphasis.  We will strive for continued improvement and excellence in each area.

Verse-by-Verse Exposition of the Word of God

We are committed to contextual reading, explaining, and applying of the Scriptures (Nehemiah 8:8; I Timothy 4:13).  This means that we will study passages and doctrines that some churches pass over because of the difficulty or concern regarding difficult passages.  In this way, we may proclaim the whole council of God.

Worship

Our elders have established our theology and style of worship.  We encourage the entire body to enter into worship, which should be participatory.  Worship is not something to be observed, nor is it entertainment.  God is the audience and we are His worshipers.  Hence, the part of the building we worship in is not called a Sanctuary or Auditorium, but a Worship Center.

We are committed to singing songs that are theologically accurate, whether they are hymns, psalms, or spiritual songs.  We also sing many passages of Scripture that we have put to music.  Through our worship, we celebrate our God, ascribe attributes to Him, and thank Him for His grace and mercy in our lives.  Our worship is God centered, not man centered.

In order to maintain the integrity of our worship, each member of our worship team is accountable for his or her walk with Christ.  Our instruments are supportive of our singing and the style we have chosen.

            To preserve an atmosphere conducive to worship, we ask that parents avoid bringing their infants or toddlers into the Worship Center.  Loving, warm, and age-appropriate classes are provided.

Schooling of Our Children

            We believe that parents have options in educating their children and that one option is not godlier than another.  We recognize that parents are responsible to superintend the total development of their children and may choose either to home school, private school, Christian school, or public school their children.

Version of the Bible

            Our teaching Pastor teaches from the New American Standard Bible.  We also encourage the use of the King James Version, the New King James Version, and the New International Version.  We do believe that the Word of God is inspired in the original texts, and it is our desire to seek God’s truth in each passage.

Youth Ministry

The youth ministry of Faith Bible Church exists to help believing students to grow in their faith, to equip students, their parents, and other adults for ministry, to connect them with other Christians, to exhort them to worship God and honor Him with their lives, and to reach non-believing students.

            Since the founding of Faith Bible Church, we have established an age-graded emphasis to our Youth Ministry, providing for junior high, high school, and college-aged students.  The Youth Ministry is designed to work with parents and to assist them in teaching their children.  That we have a staff pastor overseeing the ministry to the youth attests to the priority assigned to youth ministry here at Faith Bible Church.  We encourage parents to involve their children in our youth ministries, camps, and retreats.

Children’s Ministry

            *Graded Sunday School

            We provide age-graded classes for children on Sunday mornings.  We encourage parents to involve their children in our Sunday School ministry.

            *AWANA

            We have chosen AWANA as a tool to continue to develop children.  Even though we do not endorse all that AWANA suggests, we follow this ministry in every area we can (i.e. Grand Prix, Olympics).

Emphasis on Volunteerism

            We do not buy into the false notion of “professional ministers financed by lay spectators”.  We strongly believe that the church in its entirety must do the work for which God has ordained it.  This requires that each believer employ his or her spiritual gifts in the service of the Lord through His local church.

Local Church-Based Ministry

            We see clearly that the great commission is a corporate mandate given to the church and is to be accomplished by local churches.  Therefore, our emphasis is that ministry effort and financial support should flow through the local church and non para-church organizations.

Leadership

            The offices of Elder and Deacon for men are two areas that we officially recognize at Faith Bible Church, although many godly men and women lead in other areas of ministry.  We function with a plurality of elders, with qualified men leading the church in unanimity.  We make no distinction between elders who make their living through the church and those who earn their income elsewhere.

            The Elder Board is the only board that influences the philosophy of ministry.  Councils are established to carry out ministries and give input to the elders for final decisions.  Our deacons assist the elders in many tasks and are invaluable to the life of the church.  Assisting the deacons are stewards, who take responsibility for tasks within the church.

            We continually have men in elder and deacon training who, once they are ordained to serve in these capacities, may serve as long as they remain qualified.

            I Timothy chapter three and Titus chapter one establish the qualifications for service in the capacity of elder or deacon. 

Emphasis on Evangelism

            We gather as a church for edification and instruction and leave for evangelism.  We do not give a traditional invitation, but do admonish non-believers in attendance to meet a trained counselor after our gatherings.

            We provide a “Red Book” evangelistic study to assist in sharing the Gospel.  We recognize the sinful, helpless state of man and the calling of sinners to repentance by the Holy Spirit.  We also encourage world evangelism and have an active Missions council to direct this effort.  The Missions Council’s reach includes support of foreign church planting missionaries, encouragement of short-term mission trips through our church, and local visitation of those in need of Christ.

            We encourage outreach to our local junior high, senior high, and college campuses through personal involvement and evangelistic events.  We are also committed to reaching out to the greater Canton area through such ministries as the Friendship Center and monthly outreach dinners. 

Sunday Night Services

            We believe that one day of the week should be set aside for corporate worship and have asked our body to set aside Sundays for this purpose.  In addition to the Sunday School electives and worship gathering on Sunday mornings, we encourage the body to participate in Wednesday evening Bible studies, in Care Groups once per month, and in fellowship with other families Sunday evenings.

            In order to facilitate the fellowship of our body and allow our leaders time to minister, we have chosen not to have a traditional Sunday night service.  The design is for more body life, not more leisure.  We do meet on the Sunday nights that the elders call the body together for special times of fellowship and encouragement.