SCRIPTURE
We believe the scriptures, both Old and New Testament, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and the Divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18)

GOD
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Rev. 4:11; Heb. 1:3; 1 Cor.8:6)

JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into Heaven, where at the right hand of majesty on High He now is our high Priest and Advocate, and in the person of the Holy Spirit, He indwells the believer. (Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; 1 Cor.15; Heb. 7: John 1:3-14; Rom. 8:9; 1 Peter 2:21-25; Acts 1:9, 10; 1 John 2:20-27)

HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and during this age to convict, regenerate, seal, indwell, guide, instruct and empower for life and service. We believe that the Holy Spirit continues to gift the believer with any and all of the gifts. (John 16:8-13; 1 Cor. 12:7-14: Eph.1:13: Rom. 8:9: Titus 3:5; Eph. 2:1-3; John 3:36)

MANKIND
We believe man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is therefore lost, and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. (Gen. 1:26, 27; Gen 2:17; Gen 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:21, 22; Rom. 3:9-23; Eph. 2:1-3: John 3:36)

SALVATION
We believe the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and thus become children of God. (Eph. 1:3-14: Eph. 2:4-10; Titus 3:4-7; John 1:2; John 3:16-36; John 5:24; Rom. 5:9, 10; Rom 8:1)

BAPTISM & THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe water baptism and the Lord’s supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during this age. However, they are not to be regarded as means of salvation. (This church shall practice baptism by immersion.) (Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12, Col. 2:12; Luke 22:19, 20: 1 Cor. 11:23-29)

THE CHURCH
We believe the true Church is composed of all such persons who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit through saving faith in Jesus Christ, are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is Lord and Head, and are commissioned for the God given task of proclaiming the gospel to every person. Only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church. Every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs.

CHRIST’S RETURN
We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that this has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. (Mark 13:32; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; John 14:3; 1 Cor. 15; Rev. 1:7)

JUDGMENT
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, and of the unbeliever to judgment and eternal separation from God. (Mal. 3:18; Matt. 25:34-41; John 5:28,29; Rev. 20:4-6, Rev. 20:11-15; 1 Thess. 4:16,17; 2 Thess 1:7-9)

MARRIAGE
We believe the term ‘marriage’ has only one meaning as delineated by scripture and that is a marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union. (Gen 1:27; Matt. 19:4-6; Rom. 1:24-27; Heb 13:4)

GOSPEL

The Gospel of Jesus is that life in the Kingdom (experiencing the rule and activity of God) is available to us now. We can experience the kingdom of God and live in it (forgiveness of sins, experiencing the presence and power of His Spirit living in and through us, direction for daily life…everything) by placing our confidence in Jesus for everything.  Because we have complete confidence in Jesus, (His life, His teachings, His atoning work on the cross, His authority and power…everything) we will be His constant students in living out this life. (Mark 1:15, Matt 9:35, John 3:16, Rom. 6, Rom. 10:9, Luke 16:16, and Matt. 28:18-20)

BAPTISM

At White Stone we encourage everyone who believes in Jesus to participate in a water baptism as a believer. In our opinion, full immersion baptism is a physical act that signifies a person’s desire to immerse their life into The Trinity.  It isn’t, however, to be regarded as means of salvation.  You do not have to be baptized again at White Stone if you’ve already experienced a full immersion baptism elsewhere.

We hold baptism services throughout the year as part of our Sunday morning services and  Discipleship Phase 1 classes.

CHILD DEDICATION

Child dedication is a beautiful way for parents to publicly make a commitment to raise their children to know and love the triune God. Agreeing to teach their child God’s Word, demonstrate practical examples of godliness, and praying earnestly for their child until the child can make a decision to follow Jesus on their own. 

We hold two child dedications each year in March and November and will be listed in the bulletin.

White Stone is much more interested in making true disciples of Christ than expanding its membership roll. The church’s bylaws do make membership a requirement to be eligible to vote on church business, but this requirement is primarily for organizational reasons. We find no biblical evidence to indicate a person needs to be a member of a church or denomination to be part of the body of Christ. The best reason to become a member of a local church is if you want to “put your stake in the ground” as a sign you will serve God’s Kingdom through that particular body of believers. There are two requirements for membership at White Stone:

1. The completion of Discipleship-Understanding the Kingdom (phase 1) class. At the end of this class you will have an opportunity to publicly state you are committed to being a disciple of Jesus.

2. Water baptism as a believer. In our opinion, full immersion baptism is a physical act that signifies a person’s desire to immerse their life into The Trinity. You do not have to be baptized at White Stone again if you’ve already been baptized elsewhere.

As a member, you can vote at the Annual Business Meeting which is usually held the first Monday in December. Everyone is invited to attend, but only members vote on the budget.

“To him who overcomes…I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”
Revelation 2:17

Throughout the Bible, one can see instance after instance of God giving His people new names—Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter, Saul to Paul and so on. And with each new name came a whole new identity…a new life.

God has always been in the business of giving people new identities, new lives, new reasons for existence. He takes the old and replaces it with the new. He takes the blamed and changes them to blameless; the unloved and changes them to the loved. We go from sinful and unrighteous to perfect and holy in His eyes because of what Jesus has done for us.

Ultimately He calls us His children—sons and daughters of God. One day in heaven, God will give each of His children a white stone with a new name written on it. And that new name will impart a new identity. It will carry a special blessing from God to His child. What an awesome thought to ponder. What about the white stone? The white stone really has no value except for the fact that the new name is written on it. The name and the promised blessing associated with it are what make it valuable. The stone is simply the vehicle through which the blessing is imparted. We have chosen to give this church family the name White Stone because those two words carry the promise of Christ. We are simply a vehicle to help carry the blessing of Christ’s name to a hurting and dying world. It is our prayer that God will use White Stone as a vehicle to give people new names because we know that with a new name comes a new life. And that is why Christ came… that we might have life!