STATEMENT OF FAITH
At Centerpoint Church, our Statement of Faith captures the essence of what we believe theologically. It serves as a guide for what we preach, teach, and communicate. Our Statement of Faith is composed of several key areas we feel make up the cornerstones of the Christian faith. We believe these areas are essential and non-negotiable for individuals and faith-based communities seeking to live a truly authentic life that reflects the message of Christ. In the essential areas of the faith, we require unity; in the nonessentials, we offer freedom; and in all things, we demonstrate love.
THE BIBLE We believe that the entire Bible is fully inspired by God, and was written by ordinary individuals called by God to do so. It is alive, active and for today. We believe its content is entirely trustworthy and is our guide for truth, faith and life. We hold a high view of the Scriptures and place great significance on its authority in our lives. (2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17, 2 PETER 1:20,-21, MATTHEW 5:18, JOHN 16:12-13, PSALM 19:7-11, PSALM 119:105) GOD We believe that there is one God who is the loving Creator of the heavens, the earth and all that’s in it. God is eternal and is completely good, knowing all things and having the power to do all things reigning forever in majesty. We believe God exists eternally in a perfectly co-equal community as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (GENESIS 1:26-27, DEUTERONOMY 6:4, COLOSSIANS 1:15-17; HEBREWS 1:8, 2 CORINTHIANS 13:14) JESUS We believe that Jesus was sent by God and born of the Virgin Mary and is mysteriously and wonderfully God in the flesh. He is the perfect reflection of God’s heart, character, beauty and love for all people. He lived a sinless life and offered Himself as the only perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. Through faith in Jesus we have been forgiven and brought into a right relationship with God. Jesus died and then rose again from the dead, ascended to heaven and one day will return to judge the world and bring an end to injustice as He restores all things to God’s original intent (MATTHEW 1:18-25, JOHN 1:14, JOHN 8:40, JOHN 8:58, JOHN 11:33, ACTS 1:9-11, ROMANS 5:8-10, COLOSSIANS 1:15-17) THE HOLY SPIRIT We believe that the Holy Spirit is sent from God to live in all who put faith in Jesus. The Holy Spirit teaches, comforts, convicts and empowers us, giving each person diverse gifts for serving in the church and serving others in the world on the mission of God. We believe that it is through the Holy Spirit that we have the power to change and develop a holy life and Jesus-like character to be lived out to the fullest here on earth. We also believe that baptism in the Holy Spirit, as given to the Disciples at Pentecost, is still given freely by God and available to believers today. (JOHN 16:8-11, ACTS 1:8-9, 2 CORINTHIANS 3:6, I CORINTHIANS 12:12-14, ROMANS 8:9, EPHESIANS 5:18) SALVATION We believe that all people are created with dignity and great value in the image of God and that people were created to live in a thriving relationship with God. However, through our sin (failing to live by God’s word and standards), we break our intended relationship with God and experience the sad consequences of that broken relationship, both spiritually and physically. However, because of God’s love for us, He sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from those consequences. Our broken relationship with God is restored through Jesus’ death on the cross; a perfect act of redemption for each of us. Everyone can receive that forgiveness and become spiritually reborn through repenting (changing our mind and heart) of our sin and placing faith in Jesus alone through the free gift of salvation. (EPHESIANS 2:8-10, JOHNS 1:12, EPHESIANS 1:7, ROMANS 3:22-26, ROMANS 10:9-10, 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-7) THE CHURCH We believe the church is more of a movement we belong to than a building we go to. The church itself is a group of people who have said yes to Jesus and are empowered by God’s Spirit to be part of fulfilling the Great Commission here on earth. The church is one global community, with smaller, local expressions, such as our own church community at Centerpoint. Each local church expression has a unique personality and we see beauty in this diversity believing it takes diverse churches to reach a diverse world. Even though the church is more than a gathering, assembling together is an important role of the church and a place where believers and skeptics alike have a seat at the table. At the gathering we exhort, worship, fellowship and equip the saints for ministry so we can accomplish this mission together. We believe the gathering helps us come and see, so we can go and be the church to the world around us. (MATTHEW 28:18-20, ACTS 1:8, 2:1-47, EPHESIANS 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 4:11-13, EPHESIANS 5:25-30, 1 CORINTHIANS 12:27) THE AFTERLIFE We do believe that life continues after physical death and that there is a literal heaven and hell. We feel a relationship and commitment to Christ is the only way to heaven and we believe that Jesus will one day return and bring justice and judgment to all things. In the simplest of terms, we believe that to be in Heaven is to be eternally with God and to be in hell is to be eternally without God. There are so many metaphors and ancient apocalyptic language used in the Scriptures about these mysterious topics, and we approach them with great humility, awe and wonder. (DANIEL 12: 2, MATTHEW 24-25, 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-25, 1 THESSALONIANS 4: 13-18, REVELATION 20-22)
SACRAMENTS
COMMUNION: The final sacrament Jesus shared with His Disciples, before his arrest and crucifixion, was communion, also known as The Lord’s Supper. We believe this is a unique and sacred sacrament where we reflect on the body (bread) and blood (wine/juice) of Jesus that was sacrificed for us on the cross. We offer this sacrament at various points and moments throughout the calendar year at our church and make this sacrament available to anyone who desires to reflect on the sacrifice of the cross. (MATTHEW 26:26-29, I CORINTHIANS 10:16; 11:23-25)
MARRIAGE: The Bible is our foundation for all things and this includes the sacrament of marriage. We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a sacred bond and covenant between one man and one woman. We also believe God's design for marriage is that both husband and wife put Jesus first in their life and relationship. (GENESIS 2:24, MALACHI 2:14, MATTHEW 19:4-6, JAMES 4:8)
WATER BAPTISM: Following faith in Jesus, new believers are instructed in the Bible to be baptized in water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We believe water baptism is an important moment in the life of every believer and offer this sacrament at various times throughout the calendar year at our church. We offer this next step to anyone who believes and places their faith in Christ Jesus through the free gift of salvation. (MATTHEW 28:19, ACTS 2:38, MARK 16:16, ACTS 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48)
THE BIBLE We believe that the entire Bible is fully inspired by God, and was written by ordinary individuals called by God to do so. It is alive, active and for today. We believe its content is entirely trustworthy and is our guide for truth, faith and life. We hold a high view of the Scriptures and place great significance on its authority in our lives. (2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17, 2 PETER 1:20,-21, MATTHEW 5:18, JOHN 16:12-13, PSALM 19:7-11, PSALM 119:105) GOD We believe that there is one God who is the loving Creator of the heavens, the earth and all that’s in it. God is eternal and is completely good, knowing all things and having the power to do all things reigning forever in majesty. We believe God exists eternally in a perfectly co-equal community as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (GENESIS 1:26-27, DEUTERONOMY 6:4, COLOSSIANS 1:15-17; HEBREWS 1:8, 2 CORINTHIANS 13:14) JESUS We believe that Jesus was sent by God and born of the Virgin Mary and is mysteriously and wonderfully God in the flesh. He is the perfect reflection of God’s heart, character, beauty and love for all people. He lived a sinless life and offered Himself as the only perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. Through faith in Jesus we have been forgiven and brought into a right relationship with God. Jesus died and then rose again from the dead, ascended to heaven and one day will return to judge the world and bring an end to injustice as He restores all things to God’s original intent (MATTHEW 1:18-25, JOHN 1:14, JOHN 8:40, JOHN 8:58, JOHN 11:33, ACTS 1:9-11, ROMANS 5:8-10, COLOSSIANS 1:15-17) THE HOLY SPIRIT We believe that the Holy Spirit is sent from God to live in all who put faith in Jesus. The Holy Spirit teaches, comforts, convicts and empowers us, giving each person diverse gifts for serving in the church and serving others in the world on the mission of God. We believe that it is through the Holy Spirit that we have the power to change and develop a holy life and Jesus-like character to be lived out to the fullest here on earth. We also believe that baptism in the Holy Spirit, as given to the Disciples at Pentecost, is still given freely by God and available to believers today. (JOHN 16:8-11, ACTS 1:8-9, 2 CORINTHIANS 3:6, I CORINTHIANS 12:12-14, ROMANS 8:9, EPHESIANS 5:18) SALVATION We believe that all people are created with dignity and great value in the image of God and that people were created to live in a thriving relationship with God. However, through our sin (failing to live by God’s word and standards), we break our intended relationship with God and experience the sad consequences of that broken relationship, both spiritually and physically. However, because of God’s love for us, He sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from those consequences. Our broken relationship with God is restored through Jesus’ death on the cross; a perfect act of redemption for each of us. Everyone can receive that forgiveness and become spiritually reborn through repenting (changing our mind and heart) of our sin and placing faith in Jesus alone through the free gift of salvation. (EPHESIANS 2:8-10, JOHNS 1:12, EPHESIANS 1:7, ROMANS 3:22-26, ROMANS 10:9-10, 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-7) THE CHURCH We believe the church is more of a movement we belong to than a building we go to. The church itself is a group of people who have said yes to Jesus and are empowered by God’s Spirit to be part of fulfilling the Great Commission here on earth. The church is one global community, with smaller, local expressions, such as our own church community at Centerpoint. Each local church expression has a unique personality and we see beauty in this diversity believing it takes diverse churches to reach a diverse world. Even though the church is more than a gathering, assembling together is an important role of the church and a place where believers and skeptics alike have a seat at the table. At the gathering we exhort, worship, fellowship and equip the saints for ministry so we can accomplish this mission together. We believe the gathering helps us come and see, so we can go and be the church to the world around us. (MATTHEW 28:18-20, ACTS 1:8, 2:1-47, EPHESIANS 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 4:11-13, EPHESIANS 5:25-30, 1 CORINTHIANS 12:27) THE AFTERLIFE We do believe that life continues after physical death and that there is a literal heaven and hell. We feel a relationship and commitment to Christ is the only way to heaven and we believe that Jesus will one day return and bring justice and judgment to all things. In the simplest of terms, we believe that to be in Heaven is to be eternally with God and to be in hell is to be eternally without God. There are so many metaphors and ancient apocalyptic language used in the Scriptures about these mysterious topics, and we approach them with great humility, awe and wonder. (DANIEL 12: 2, MATTHEW 24-25, 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-25, 1 THESSALONIANS 4: 13-18, REVELATION 20-22)
SACRAMENTS
COMMUNION: The final sacrament Jesus shared with His Disciples, before his arrest and crucifixion, was communion, also known as The Lord’s Supper. We believe this is a unique and sacred sacrament where we reflect on the body (bread) and blood (wine/juice) of Jesus that was sacrificed for us on the cross. We offer this sacrament at various points and moments throughout the calendar year at our church and make this sacrament available to anyone who desires to reflect on the sacrifice of the cross. (MATTHEW 26:26-29, I CORINTHIANS 10:16; 11:23-25)
MARRIAGE: The Bible is our foundation for all things and this includes the sacrament of marriage. We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a sacred bond and covenant between one man and one woman. We also believe God's design for marriage is that both husband and wife put Jesus first in their life and relationship. (GENESIS 2:24, MALACHI 2:14, MATTHEW 19:4-6, JAMES 4:8)
WATER BAPTISM: Following faith in Jesus, new believers are instructed in the Bible to be baptized in water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We believe water baptism is an important moment in the life of every believer and offer this sacrament at various times throughout the calendar year at our church. We offer this next step to anyone who believes and places their faith in Christ Jesus through the free gift of salvation. (MATTHEW 28:19, ACTS 2:38, MARK 16:16, ACTS 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48)
WE ARE GUIDED BY PASTORS.
The Directional Team is made up of Pastors and Staff Elders and is led by Lead Pastor, Chris VanBuskirk. This team oversees the day-to-day ministry and operations of the church. These Staff Pastors serve the congregation and are responsible for the development of the spiritual life of the church. Our current Directional Team is comprised of the following Pastors and Staff Elders:
Centerpoint Church is ECFA CERTIFIED
which ensures our commitment to integrity as it relates to financial practices and accountability. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability was founded by Billy Graham in 1979 and serves as the most trusted accreditation agency dedicated to helping Christian ministries earn the public’s trust through adherence to Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship.
- Chris VanBuskirk
- Kristyn VanBuskirk
- Matt Kysor
- Brad Batson
- Andrew J. Milbrandt
- Heather Sprague
- Wayne Francis
The Life Church + White Plains, NY - Jeff Kapusta
Lifepoint Church + Wilmington, NC - Dino Rizzo
Executive Directors of ARC + Birmingham, AL - Jim & Jennifer Wilkes
Journey Church + Cleveland, OH
Centerpoint Church is ECFA CERTIFIED
which ensures our commitment to integrity as it relates to financial practices and accountability. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability was founded by Billy Graham in 1979 and serves as the most trusted accreditation agency dedicated to helping Christian ministries earn the public’s trust through adherence to Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship.