Halfmoon Christian Fellowship Church (HCFC) is a non-denominational independent church.  Our spiritual doctorine is based on the inerrant Word of God and the teachings of His Son, Jesus. We are committed to serving the community and spreading the Gospel. We offer various programs and events to support the spiritual development of individuals and families

 

What We Believe

Halfmoon Christian Fellowship Church's Spiritual Doctrine

 

A. Declaration of Faith:

We believe in the following fundamental spiritual truths about God, our relationship with Him and our commitment to His work and His creation.

 

1) The Trinity of One God

• We believe in one God, existing eternally as the Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe that God is all powerful, merciful and holy; that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to live among us as a man to teach us by His perfect example about love, compassion, and forgiveness.
• We believe in the conception of Christ by the Holy Spirit, the virgin birth, His crucifixion and resurrection, His ascension into heaven, and His eternal presence at the right hand of God the Father.
• We believe in the presence of the Holy Spirit in the heart of all believers and disciples of Christ, as exemplified at Pentecost.

2) The Creation

• We believe that God created the universe, heaven and earth, and created humanity in His own image to serve as the caretakers of the earth.

3) The Sinfulness of Humanity

• We believe that Satan has tempted humanity since the beginning of creation and this temptation is the primary source of our sinful nature.

4) Salvation through Jesus Christ

• We believe in the salvation available to all people, by the grace of God, through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

5) Christianity’s Mission

• We believe that Jesus Christ has commissioned the Christian church to “Spread the Good News” about the salvation available to all people through acceptance of Him as their Redeemer and Lord.
• We believe that Jesus directed us to use the many gifts and talents He has given to the members of His church to minister to those in need.
• We believe that the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts helps us to reach out beyond our human weaknesses to do what we can to continue His ministry here on earth.  This presence of the Holy Spirit also serves as our constant guide to help us try to live according to Christ’s loving example

6) The Bible

• We believe in the Word of God and the teachings of His Son Jesus Christ as they are presented in the Bible in its traditional and numerous contemporary English translations.  Such as the King James, Revised Standard, New International, Living Bible, and others; however, not all contemporary translations are accepted by the HCFC.  If you have questions, please contact the Pastor or the Administrative Board.
• We believe that the scriptures, as presented by these biblical writers, translators and scholars, were inspired by God through the presence of the Holy Spirit in their hearts.

7) Prayer

• We believe that the Lord expects and desires that we seek His wisdom, guidance, comfort and support through prayer, both individually and as a congregation of believers.  Prayer is an essential part of a strong spiritual relationship with the Lord and fellow Christians.
• We believe it is important to use prayer to express our thanks to the Lord for the many gifts and blessings He has given us.  We believe it is also important to use prayer to ask the Lord for forgiveness, and also to request help and comfort to those who are in need physically or spiritually.

8) Worship and Fellowship

• We believe that public and private worship and fellowship with other Christians are an important part of the Christian experience.  We also believe that worship and fellowship are both essential elements of the church’s ministry tools used to “Spread the Good News” about salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

B. Sacraments and Other Covenants:

Our Lord Jesus established the two important sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion.  These sacraments are the open and public declaration of our faith in Him, to commit and dedicate our lives to Him, and to remember and renew our relationship with Him.

In addition to these sacraments, we believe there are several other types of covenant declarations that are important in our relationship with the Lord and other Christians.  These include:

• Holy Communion
• Baptism
• Dedication of Children
• Membership Confirmation and Reception into the Church
• Holy Matrimony
• Pastoral Confirmation and Installation

We believe in the following fundamental truths about these sacraments and covenants.

 

1) Holy Communion

• We believe it is important to regularly remember the sacrifice Christ made for each of us and to renew our covenant relationship with Him through the ceremony of Communion or the Lord Supper.  This sacrament was established by Him in the upper room with His disciples on the day before His crucifixion.
• We believe that this service of Holy Communion should be open to all believers with a desire to participate (whether or not they are members of HCFC).  The sacrament must be administered by a pastor or approved worship leader.  That would be the HCFC pastor, a visiting pastor from another Church recognized by the HCFC, or an HCFC approved worship leader.

2) Baptism

• We believe it is important to establish a covenant between God and the members of His church in order to publicly dedicate our lives to following the teachings of Christ the Savior.  We believe that baptism can encompass this covenant of commitment and dedication at different points in the Christian experience.
• For anyone who has accepted Christ as their Savior, baptism is the acknowledgment of their personal desire and commitment to strive to understand and follow His teachings.
• For infants and young children, we provide a Dedication Service.  In this the family members or guardians make a commitment to raise the child to understand and follow the teaching of Jesus Christ.
• In both cases, we believe it is important for the members to make an associated covenant to provide loving support and encouragement to the person being baptized or to the family dedicating their children.  To help them grow in their faith and relationship with Christ through fellowship with the church family.
• We believe that Christ has made the sacrament of baptism available to all believers who confess their faith in Him, and dedication service to all children of Christian families in order that their lives and upbringing may be dedicated to the principles of the Christian faith.
• The ceremony will include baptism with water in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  It must be administered by a pastor, and preferably in the presence of the HCFC congregation, with advance invitation to the congregation requesting their participation.  The current installed HCFC pastor or by a visiting pastor from another church recognized by the HCFC.

3) Dedication of Children

• We believe it is important for the family and church to strive constantly to nurture the spiritual growth of children.  In accordance with our stand on Baptism (2.b), we believe that a person should accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior before being baptized.
• During this ceremony, family members make a commitment to do their best to raise the child to understand and follow the teaching of Christ.  The congregation of the church makes an associated covenant to provide loving support and encouragement to the child that is being dedicated and to help them grow in their faith and relationship with Christ through fellowship with the church family.  The ceremony must be administered by the current installed HCFC pastor or by a visiting pastor from another church recognized by the HCFC.  Preferably in the presence of the HCFC congregation, with advance invitation to the congregation requesting their participation.

4) Membership Confirmation and Reception into the Church

• We believe it is important for Christians to make a covenant with God to support His ministry by joining the membership of the church.  We believe that it is important for all who are to be confirmed as new members be instructed in the doctrine and duties of the Christian faith, as well as the doctrine and operating procedures of the HCFC.
• We believe that the Confirmation and Reception ceremony serves as the public declaration of the new and existing members to support one another.  We believe it is important for the membership of the church to make a covenant to provide loving support and encouragement to the person being confirmed in membership, and also to help them grow in their faith and relationship with Christ through fellowship with the church family.

5) Holy Matrimony

• We believe that the union of a man and woman in Holy Matrimony represents a special covenant, blessed by our Lord and Savior, as the beginning of a new family within the church and the larger Christian community.  We believe that this covenant and the resulting love, fellowship and other benefits of the Christian family experience are important examples that HCFC members will strive to provide in the local community.
• We believe that a strong Christian conviction strengthens the family and establishes the basis for entry into the covenant of marriage.  We also believe that pre-marital counseling with a pastor is a vital step in the marriage preparation process and is required before the ceremony takes place.

6) Pastoral Confirmation and Installation

• We believe that strong spiritual and scripture based leadership is very important to the success of any Christian ministry.  It is essential that the pastor and congregation enter a joint covenant to earnestly guide, support, and scrutinize the church’s ministry program.
• The pastor will be confirmed and installed as the primary spiritual leader of the church, establishing a mutual covenant between the pastor and the congregation, to prayerfully seek the Lord’s guidance in ministering to one another and the needs of the community.

About Pastor Clayton