ABOUT US

In the summer of 2000, Covenant Community Church and Living Water Fellowship joined together to become New Heritage Church. The respective senior pastors, Randy Reinhardt and Fred Lessans had become closely associated in the mid-eighties resulting in a growing friendship and shared values. As time continued, there became a growing awareness and openness that God could perhaps be leading each congregation to become one church. After a process of discernment and much prayer, we formalized our new relationship in June of 2000 and by God’s grace have currently integrated the two congregations into one. We hope to be a sign and an encouragement to others that Jesus’ prayer for unity amongst his followers can be realized when believers walk in humility and love. May we continue to do so!

STATEMENT OF FAITH

God: There is one true and living God who has revealed Himself in three persons: the Father; the Son, (Jesus Christ); and the Holy Spirit. He is creator, redeemer and sovereign ruler over all. He is the author of truth, hope, faith and love.

The Father: God is the Eternal Father, the source of all life. He is the great initiator and creator, who brought all things into being. He has a plan and purpose for His creation and works in everything, toward the fulfillment of that purpose. He saves from sin and death, all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ: God sent His only begotten Son into the world, born of a virgin, to live as our example without sin, to proclaim and demonstrate the kingdom of God and to die on a cross for the forgiveness of sins. God raised Him from the dead and took Him up into His presence, giving Him all authority in heaven and on earth.

Holy Spirit: God is active in the world today, through the Holy Spirit, to glorify Jesus Christ and accomplish the will of the Father. The Spirit of God came to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Spirit of God leads, empowers and fills those who look to Him, enabling them to be witnesses to Jesus Christ, throughout the earth. The gifts of the Holy Spirit, as portrayed in the New Testament, are available to all believers today.

Bible: God has given us His word, written and preserved by men in the Holy Bible. The Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God and our standard for faith and practice.

Sin: God created man in His own image. Through disobedience, mankind is separated from God, without hope in the world and condemned to eternal destruction.

Salvation: God has provided the way for us to be reconciled to Him, through the cross of Jesus Christ. The Good News is that Jesus Christ died for us and was raised from the dead. Those who turn from sin to God, trusting in Jesus Christ as their way to God, will receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. This is the free gift of God, extended to all who will receive it, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Kingdom of God: God rules over all His creation. He has intended from the beginning, to accomplish His rule over the earth, through man. Jesus Christ, having proven Himself through humble obedience, even to death, has been given all authority. We enter His kingdom and participate in it by submitting to His rule in our lives. His kingdom brings righteousness, peace, and joy to our hearts. It brings justice and mercy to society.

Church: God has gathered those who respond to His call into His church, the corporate expression of the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the earth. The universal church includes all who receive Jesus Christ as Lord, worldwide and in all generations. Local churches are groups of believers, baptized and joined together, living under the New Covenant, with God-ordained leadership. God calls the church to unity, in the midst of diversity, finding common ground under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, while accepting cultural and doctrinal differences.

Ministry: Every believer in Jesus Christ is a minister, called to serve the Most High God. God appoints some in the church as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They work to equip all God’s people for the work of ministry, so that the church, the body of Christ, may be built up to bring glory to God.

Evangelism: God entrusts to His called out people, the work of making His ways known and extending His blessing to all peoples. Jesus commissioned His church to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them. We carry the responsibility for that task and will answer to Him for our faithfulness. We have Good News that the entire world must hear.

Ordinances: Jesus Christ committed to the church the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism in water is administered as a public symbol of one’s faith. The Lord’s Supper is celebrated in remembrance of Jesus’ death until His return.

Christ’s Return: Jesus Christ will return to earth to finalize the establishment of His rule over all creation. All creatures will acknowledge that He is Lord and bow to His authority. He will judge the living and the dead, rewarding those who have willingly bowed to His authority and condemning those who have not. Heaven is a real place of eternal life, and Hell is a real place of eternal damnation.

In recognition of the spiritual heritage handed down to us through many generations, we identify our faith with that of the early church, expressed in The Apostles’ Creed. The following is an early version of that statement of faith:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

On the third day, he rose again.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy, catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

"In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity, in all things charity."

Augustine of Hippo