Our Message
Grace for Grace
Often as we experience the realities of living in a fallen world, we find ourselves in great pain, confusion and disillusionment. Tired and hopeless it seems as if all is lost, and we have come to an end. But God!! What we find over and over throughout history are the testimonies of many who have found themselves, not in a “wrong place”, but rather at the very place to encounter and know God like never before. At our point of weakness, we have the opportunity to experience the manifestation of His strength and amazing Grace wherein life is never the same. We find in Isaiah 40:28-31 a description of the exchange that can bring life itself to us, as we were created for, In Him:
28 The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord, Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
In the original language we find the word “wait” in verse 31 to literally be resting and abiding as in a three-strand cord, one with the Lord. Wherein we “renew our strength” which literally translated is to “exchange” our strength for His. It is the Truth of the New Testament Gospel of Grace that we have been co-crucified with Christ (Gal.2:20) and have been raised together with Him and become one with Him. (1Cor. 6:17) He now can and will live His life through us as we rest in Him. His grace is sufficient, and we can now walk in confidence for our Father is faithful! As we walk in intimate relationship with Him, His life and love flow freely through relationships as we now come together as His Body living and loving in the earth. Hallelujah!
He gave His life for us, that He might give His life to us, that He might live His life through us.
Our prayer for you and the passion of GracePointe Ministries is that of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. 15Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and 1seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
The Exchanged Life
THE EXCHANGED LIFE
The term "Exchanged Life" is taken from the well-known passage in Isaiah 40:31. English translations refer to those who wait on or hope in the Lord as being able to "renew" their strength. Many commentaries and study Bibles that deal with this verse note that the literal translation of the Hebrew word for "renew" is "exchange." Those who wait on the Lord will exchange their strength for His strength, as stated in verses 25-30.
The term "Exchanged Life" is directly related to the believer's discovery of their new identity in Christ. The believer is a new creation; one born of God. What was once true is no longer true. J. Hudson Taylor made the English term "Exchanged Life" popular through his testimony of how God made him a new man. (From the book, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, chapter 14.)
To elaborate further, we believe that the believer partakes of eternal life (Christ's Life) at the time of new birth, that identification with Christ in His crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension brought the death of the "old man" and the life of the "new man." This may become a revealed experiential reality through a decision to lose one's life (total surrender) and to appropriate the Christ life by faith, and is continuously revealed by abiding in the Spirit and pursuing holiness. Victorious living is Christ living His life through the believer by the believer's faith and obedience under the Holy Spirit. This does not teach passivity, sinless perfection, or the deification of man.
Beliefs & Values
Statement of Faith
1. We believe there is one loving, holy and just God, eternally existent in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30)
2. We believe in the deity of Christ: (John 10:33); His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:35); His sinless life (Hebrews 4:15, Hebrews 7:26); His miracles (John 2:11); His vicarious and atoning death (I Corinthians 15:4); His resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father serving as our mediator (Mark 16:19); His personal return in power and glory (Acts 1:11, Revelation 19:11)
3. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God and our perfect guide for faith and practice in all matters of life. (II Timothy 3:15, II Peter 1:21)
4. We believe in the absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation because of the exceeding sinfulness of human nature; and that only by God's grace and through faith in the shed blood of Christ are we justified, forgiven, and saved. (John 3:16-19, John 5:24, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8-9, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5)
5. We believe in the indwelling Holy Spirit sent from God to help convict, transform, renew, comfort, guide and enable believers to live victorious lives that will impact and help others and bring honor to Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:13-14, I Corinthians 3:16, I Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 4:30, 5:18)
6. We believe Prayer is a way to communicate with God and develop a personal relationship with Him. Faith in prayer contributes to the healing process for emotional, spiritual and relational wholeness and well-being. (Psalms 63:1-8, Matthew 6: 6-13, Ephesians 6:17-18, James 5:15-16)
7. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they are saved unto the resurrection of life or they are lost unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28-29)
8. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:9, I Corinthians 12:12-13, Galatians 3:26-28)
9. We believe that water baptism is a symbol of the cleansing power of God and a testimony of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 3:11, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:4)
10. We believe that we are called to preach the gospel to all nations. (Matthew 28:19)
11. We believe that the Holy Communion is a celebration of Jesus’ death and our remembrance of Him. (Matthew 26: 26-30)
Values
Individuals -
- Every child, youth and adult was created uniquely by God with great value and meaning.
-Human life is of inestimable worth and significance in all its dimensions, including the unborn, the aged, the widowed, the mentally handicapped, the unattractive, the physically challenged and every other condition in which humanness is expressed from conception to the grave.
- Spirituality and relationship with God can be found in only one way. That Way is through Jesus Christ. Only when our personal identity and life is found In Him, can we experience true freedom and life. This is what we were created and designed to experience, in a love relationship with our Father God.
Family -
- Children are a heritage from God. We are therefore accountable to Him for raising, shaping and preparing them for a life of service to His Kingdom and to humanity.
- Every child and family is valued and loved by God and has the potential for growth and success according to God's purpose.
- God has ordained the institutions of marriage, the family, and the local church to function as a part of the Body of Christ, to supply ones lack with the abundance of another, in Christ.
-Marriage was purposed as a sacred covenant relationship between a man and woman to become one in Christ.
Ministry -
- No one man or ministry is intended to be all in all. We not only need each other, but much more must recognize God’s design for His Church, the Body of Christ.
- The Body of Christ (The “Church”) was instituted by God to function as a unified, cohesive and organized being, healthy and strong to fulfill its purpose.
- The purpose of the Church is to join the passion and gifting of each member to share life with those who are hurting and in need while edifying itself in love.
-Those who have dedicated themselves to the front lines of ministry should be helped and supported to accomplish their God-given mission.
-To have an encouragement and accountability support group
-To have a safe nurturing environment for respite, counsel, healing and support
- Spiritual nurture and growth is the critical factor for permanent, positive change.
-Children, Youth and Adults should be helped and supported with sound Biblical counsel.
-To overcome trauma
-To know and understand their personal identity in Christ
-To know and understand themselves as a part of the Body of Christ
-To find personal and unique purpose and direction in life
-To experience freedom, fulfillment and fruitfulness in life
- Services should be provided to children, youth, and families with compassion and integrity.
- It is essential for all community resources to form a collaborative partnership to provide a foundation from which every child and family can reach their potential.
- All individuals should be treated with respect, worth and dignity.
- All business operations should be handled to ensure accountability and prudent expenditures of all funds.
- All services should be provided in a manner which gives glory and honor to Jesus Christ.