Vision & Purpose
- Our vision is what we are becoming as we are carrying out our purpose.
- Vision is what we pray, plan and prepare for our church to look like in the future.
- Our purpose is why we exist and how in general we are going to seek to carry it out.
A Vision Conviction
“To Proclaim and Build Christ’s Kingdom at First A. R. P. and equip First A. R. P. to proclaim and build Christ’s Kingdom in the York/Chester neighborhood, Gastonia and surrounding areas, First Presbytery, A. R. P. Synod and globally.”
A Prevailing Purpose
- To make disciples of Christ and equip Kingdom builders through a balanced ministry by:
- Celebrating the King through Worship
- Communicating the King’s Gospel through Evangelism
- Educating Kingdom thinking through Discipleship
- Incorporating Kingdom relationships through Fellowship
- Demonstrating Kingdom agenda through ministry
- In the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the blessedness of the saved and the retribution of the lost.
Our Tenets
- In the scripture of the Old and New Testaments, as verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life.
- In one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- That Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true man.
- That man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature.
- Jesus died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified by His shed blood.
- Jesus rose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and presently resides there for us as King, High Priest and Advocate.
- All who receive Jesus Christ by faith are born again by the Holy Spirit and adopted as children of God.
- The Holy Spirit has given spiritual gifts to all believers to build up the body of Christ and bring glory to God.
- Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly to judge the world in righteousness and live forever with His followers in the new heavens and new earth.
- In the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the blessedness of the saved and the retribution of the lost.
Westminster Confession of Faith
Our principal doctrinal statements are found in The Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. From time to time position statements are written to address specific topics of concern. The areas of responsibility of boards and committees of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church are spelled out in the Manual of Authorities and Duties. In worship, our congregations often employ an ancient confessional statement known as the Apostles’ Creed:
“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.”