Doctrinal Statements
Mission Statement
At Calvary East Valley our passionate desire is to Glorify God through the worship of His Son Jesus Christ in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24, 12:32) and to prepare His people for His imminent return by (Luke 19:11-27, 2 Peter 3:11-13) growing in our relationship with God with the ultimate goal of becoming more like Jesus, (1 Thessalonians 4:3, Romans 8:28-30) serving God in the body of Christ with the ultimate goal of building up His church, (Ephesians 4:11-16) and obeying God in the proclamation of the gospel message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with the ultimate goal of bringing the gift of salvation to a lost and dying world! (Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 10:14-15, 17)
Core Values
We believe this passionate desire requires a steadfast commitment to the fellowship of believers, (Hebrews 10:24-25, Galatians 6:2) the uncompromising teaching of God’s Word, (2 Timothy 4:1-2, Hebrews 4:12) the complete yielding of our lives to the Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 5:15-20, Galatians 5:16, 25) and a desperate dependence upon prayer! (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, James 5:16).
What We Believe at Calvary East Valley
WE BELIEVE that there is one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all things. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8 and 48:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3).
WE BELIEVE that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which this church operates and is the basis for which this church is governed. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures.
WE BELIEVE in the person of God the Father, an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 90:2; Psalms 102:27; John 3:16 and 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3).
WE BELIEVE in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, his substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal, visible return to earth. (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 8:58 and 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 1:2; Revelation 1:8).
WE BELIEVE in the person of 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 for ministry all who believe in Christ; (Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:26 and 15:13,16; Hebrews 9:14). We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. (John 6:13, 14:16-17 and 16:8-11; Romans 8:26).
WE BELIEVE that all people are sinners by nature and, therefore, are under condemnation; that God saves and regenerates based upon faith by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. (Acts 8:15-17; Ephesians 2:1-3 and 8-9; Romans 3:23, 5:8, and 10:9-10; Titus 3:5).
WE BELIEVE in the universal church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head and all who are born again are a part of the Body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16)
WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: (a) full immersion water baptism of believers, and (b) the Lord’s Supper. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
WE BELIEVE in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which is His personal, visible return to earth and the establishment of His millennial kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous and endless separation of the wicked. (Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:11-15)
WE BELIEVE in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell and that all those who place their faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord, while those who reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord. (Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:3, 5:22, 18:9 and 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11 and 20:11-15)
WE BELIEVE in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church where all believers will meet the Lord in the air and be taken out of this world prior to the Tribulation that will come upon the earth. (Isaiah 26:20; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:36; Romans 1:18, 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-16 and 5:9; 2 Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 3:10, 5:7-10 and 7:13-14)
WE BELIEVE that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Genesis 1:26-27) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
WE BELIEVE that “marriage” is exclusively the legal union of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:18-25) We also believe that legitimate biblical sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4) Hence, sexual activities such as, but not limited to, adultery, fornication, incest, polygamy, polyamory, homosexuality, transgender, bisexuality, cross-dressing, pedophilia and bestiality are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) Further, lascivious behavior, the creation, viewing and/or distribution of pornography and efforts to alter one’s gender are incompatible with a true biblical witness.
WE BELIEVE because God has ordained marriage and defined it as a covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, Calvary East Valley will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the Pastors and staff of Calvary East Valley will only officiate and/or participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of Calvary East Valley will only host weddings between one man and one woman.
WE BELIEVE that every person be treated with compassion, love, kindness, and respect, and be afforded the dignity that is inherently theirs by virtue of being made in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26-27; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated, and are neither in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Calvary East Valley.
WE BELIEVE that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Calvary East Valley as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a Biblical role model to the community it serves, it is imperative that all persons employed by Calvary East Valley in any capacity or who serve as volunteers agree to abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22)
WE BELIEVE that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalm 139)
This Statement of Faith, Character, Belief and Ordinances do not exhaust the extent of Calvary East Valley’s beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of our faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the Senior Pastor and Board of Elders is Calvary East Valley’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
Our Philosophy of Ministry
We believe that the book of Acts of the Apostles, as well as the epistles of the New Testament, give us the principles by which the church is to function.
We place great importance on the exposition of the Scriptures with a specific emphasis on verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter teaching through the entire Bible.
We rely strongly upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit and seek to remain flexible to His leading. We believe that the Holy Spirit’s leading will always be consistent with the clear teaching of the Scripture.
We are convinced that where God guides, He provides. Therefore we trust the Lord to provide for and to build His church.
We seek to worship and serve the Lord within the context of our culture, yet we recognize that the culture must conform to the Scriptures, not the Scriptures to the culture.