Our Beliefs:
- We believe the Bible is the written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
- We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- We believe that all are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by His sovereign mercy.
- We believe that salvation is by God alone, as the Father sovereignly draws the person to Christ, based on His grace, not on any human individual merit, or foreseen faith.
- We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him alone for salvation.
- We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people not simply as individuals but as families in successive generations according to His Covenant promises.
- We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.
- We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people to Himself.
- We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
WE BELIEVE
The Bible clearly teaches that God created all things out of nothing! (Ex Nihilo) After He created all things, He declared them “Good” in Genesis 1. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve exercised their free will by choosing to listen to Satan, the “Father of lies”. By ignoring God’s Word and believing Satan they rebelled against God and became sinners, thus dying spiritually as it is concluded (interpreted) in Ephesians 2:1-3.
Mankind’s rebellion, beginning with our first parents in Genesis 3, is known as the Fall of Man, bringing with it the curse of God the Creator which he communicated in Genesis 3 to Satan, to Adam and to Eve. At the Fall of Man, sin began to ruin everything that God had created and declared good bringing guilt, pain, misery and physical death. Even in Genesis 3, you can see Adam blaming Eve and Eve blaming Satan for their sin, not taking responsibility.
WE VALUE
The “Whole Counsel of God” as it is revealed throughout the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament! Before Jesus’ birth, God’s People had faith and a longing hope in their coming Messiah, the Christ. The New Testament describes Christ’s Incarnation, His Crucifixion, His Resurrection, and His Ascension. He commissioned His Disciples as the Apostles who began spreading the Good News of His Kingdom, building His Church which will dwell with Him eternally in the New Heavens and the New Earth described in the book of Revelation.
Church History is also important to us for at least two reasons. God’s Word says that we are “One body”. Jesus prays for this in John 17:20-21 and the Apostle Paul explains it in Ephesians chapter 2 and 4. Secondly, the Bible teaches us to learn lessons from the past. Every human in history who has trusted in the coming Messiah is united to Him and every other believer who will trust in Him before He returns.
Being in the world, but not of the world is important to us for evangelism and outreach. The Great Commision of Matthew 28:16-20 and the words of Jeremiah 29:5-7 instruct us to live our Christian lives boldly, lovingly, and joyfully in a lost world that needs the Hope of our salvation in Christ.
Our Beliefs:
- We believe the Bible is the written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
- We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- We believe that all are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by His mercy.
- We believe that salvation is by God alone, as the Father sovereignly draws the person to Christ, based on His grace, not on any human individual merit, or foreseen faith.
- We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him alone for salvation.
- We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people not simply as individuals but as families in successive generations according to His Covenant promises.
- We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.
- We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people to Himself.
- We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
WE BELIEVE
The Bible is the inerrant Word of God revealing the one and only Triune God.
He created all things out of nothing and it was good in Genesis 1.
Mankind’s rebellion began in Genesis 3 known as the Fall of Man, and thus sin entered the world bringing guilt, pain, misery and death.
Throughout the 39 books of the Old Testament God’s People hoped in the coming Messiah. The 27 books of the New Testament describe Christ’s Incarnation, His Crucifixion, His Resurrection. And His Disciples began spreading His Kingdom and it shall have no end!
Curt and Suzi Stapleton are from Maryville and Marietta. In the fall of 2021, Curt was called by the Tennessee Valley Presbytery to plant a new PCA church in Athens Tennessee. They have four kids and are almost empty nesters, but love still having a teenager at home with a new GSP puppy. Curt was ordained in 1998 to begin RUF at ETSU, then he served as the Associate Pastor at Westminster Pres in Johnson City before planting Mercy PCA in Morgantown, WV in 2008 (home of WVU). Their backgrounds are in campus ministry, church planting, mission trips, and various size churches. They love to see people come to faith in Christ and see others grow deeper in their knowledge of God’s grace, and love for God and his Church. As they seek to serve Athens through Bible study and Worship, you will likely find them serving with FCA or Young Life on a local campus or hanging out with friends, maybe fishing or walking their dog. Reach out to them, they would love to meet you and hear your story too!
Curt and Suzi Stapleton are from Maryville and Marietta. In the fall of 2021, Curt was called by the Tennessee Valley Presbytery to plant a new PCA church in Athens Tennessee. They have four kids and are almost empty nesters, but love still having a teenager at home with a new GSP puppy. Curt was ordained in 1998 to begin RUF at ETSU, then he served as the Associate Pastor at Westminster Pres in Johnson City before planting Mercy PCA in Morgantown, WV in 2008 (home of WVU). Their backgrounds are in campus ministry, church planting, mission trips, and various size churches. They love to see people come to faith in Christ and see others grow deeper in their knowledge of God’s grace, and love for God and his Church. As they seek to serve Athens through Bible study and Worship, you will likely find them serving with FCA or Young Life on a local campus or hanging out with friends, maybe fishing or walking their dog. Reach out to them, they would love to meet you and hear your story too!