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ABOUT US |
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Services Times Leadership • David Caskey • Ben Abel Trustees Abingdon Bible Church ___________________________,you are being given the opportunity to serve Abingdon Bible Church in the leadership position of ________________________________. The Elders request that all who accept a leadership position indicate their agreement with the following: 1. I am a believer in Jesus Christ who is walking in fellowship with Him and with the members of Abingdon Bible Church. 2. I am committed to the authority and reliability of Scripture in the ministry of Abingdon Bible Church; and I personally desire to live a life of obedience to God’s Word. Therefore I commit to regularly attend at least one preaching service weekly. 3. I am in submission to the doctrinal statement of Abingdon Bible Church as contained in the church constitution. (Please indicate any areas of uncertainty or disagreement.) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ 4. I am in submission to the leadership of Abingdon Bible Church including
the Elders and Deacons, and other ministry leaders as appropriate (1 Tim.
5:17; Heb. 13:17). (Please indicate any areas of disagreement with
leadership.) ___________ 5. I understand that I will be responsible to ______________________ as my supervisor in this position. 6. I am willing to attend training for this ministry should this be provided. 7. (If working with minors) I am willing to submit to the screening process for the Child Protection and Sexual Abuse Prevention Policy. ____ I am willing to serve. ____ I am not willing to serve at this time. Comments______________________________________________________ Signature ____________________________________ Date _____________
ABINGDON BIBLE CHURCH Core Value 1: Biblical Teaching. The inspired Scriptures teach us the knowledge of God and the way of salvation. They are the authority for correct doctrine and holy living and the standard by which God judges us. They provide an anchor in a rapidly changing world. Thus expository preaching and biblical teaching are a priority in our ministry. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:1-4. Core Value 2. Corporate Worship. We assemble regularly for corporate worship to acknowledge God’s greatness and to express our love for Him. All aspects of our public services seek to express our worship including prayer, music, giving, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, testimonies, and hearing and responding to God’s Word. Matthew 22:37; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 1:18; 3:16-17. Core Value 3: Worldwide Outreach. In
obedience to the Great Commission, we seek to proclaim the gospel personally
and corporately in our community; and we send and support Christian workers
around the world. Our compassion for the lost further compels us to rescue
them from eternal judgment and to bring them into God’s family. Matthew
9:37-38; 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; 18-20. Core Value 4: Spiritual Maturity.
Discipleship seeks to develop godly relationships, to foster accountability
and to achieve spiritual maturity. It prepares every believer for godly
living through obedience to the Scripture and equips them for ministry. It
equips leaders for our families and church through mentoring and developing
ministry skills. Trained leaders enable our congregation to grow, become
potential missionaries, free the pastors to serve in their areas of strength,
lay the foundation for the next generation, and serve our community. Acts
6:3; 1 Cor. 12:12-26; 2 Timothy 2:2; 2 Peter 1:5-11; 3:18. Core Value 5. Compassionate Care. God’s people are commanded to show His compassion by caring for the many needs of people. We seek to integrate each member of the congregation into a small group setting to enable them to minister to one another. Pastoral care provides spiritual guidance to individuals. Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 10:25-37; 1 Cor. 12:26; James 2:14-26; 1 John 3:11-18. Our Mission and Goals We seek to honor God by a growing faith in Christ that is strengthened and
expressed: Goals In order to fulfill our mission as a local church, we must faithfully
pursue the following goals based on our relationships with God, others in the
Body of Christ, and a world separated from Him: 2. We will love one
another and seek unity in the Body of Christ by: 3. We will
faithfully express God’s love for a world broken by sin through: A Woman’s High Calling Abingdon Bible Church is committed to the authority and reliability of
Scripture in defining the roles of both men and women in the life and
ministry of the church. God created us in His image and for His glorious
purposes. Through Christ’s sacrifice, men and women can equally experience
intimate communion with God. We are equal in Christ (Gal. 3:28), all
commissioned by Christ (Matt. 28:19, 20), ambassadors for Christ (II Cor. 5:
17-20), gifted by Christ (Eph. 4:7-12), and servants of Christ (Heb. 9:14;
12:28). In response to His love for us, love should characterize all of our
actions and relationships (I Cor. 13). Our History Abingdon Bible Church had its origin with a group of local Christians who were
troubled by a drift toward liberalism in several area churches. The
dissatisfaction started in 1952 and grew during the following year. In the
summer of 1953 Rev. Dan Graham, a noted evangelist of Blountville, Tennessee
began a nine-week revival in Abingdon, Virginia. Rev. Graham had recently
broken a long relationship with his denomination because of its modernistic
trend. At the time, he was urging the formation of independent,
Bible-believing churches. At the close of one of these nightly services several of the local
concerned Christians came together under Graham's revival tent and there
decided to form an independent Bible church. Those known to have been in that
group include W. B. Cox, Worth Goodman, Stanley Buckles, Glenn Eggers,
Charlie Hefner, J.J. Roseberry, Looney Scott, W. P. Clapp, Richard Eggers, W.
H. Hardwick, and J. M. Barker, Jr. Things moved rather quickly after that meeting. On U.S. Highway 11, a mile
below town was a restaurant and motel that had a huge basement. The VFW had
recently vacated the basement. This basement space was rented from the
building's owner Mr. Sheffey. On a Sunday morning in August 1953, the first
service was held in that basement. Rev. Bob Woolley, then of Binghamton, New
York had been one of the speakers at the tent meeting. He had stated at the
Graham meeting that if there were ten local men, who were serious about
setting up an independent Bible church, he would come and be its pastor.
While the church waited for Rev. Woolley to come to pastor the new church,
Rev. Odum, Mr. Enoch Denton, Mr. H.C. Kiser, Sr., and a layman from Johnson
City supplied the pulpit. In October 1953 Rev. Mr. Herbert Ratliff moved Woolley and family from New
York to Abingdon. Rev Dan Graham supplied funds for this move. The Abingdon Bible Church was formally organized on November 2, 1953, with
85 charter members. Rev. Woolley led the church in writing and adopting the
church constitution. Those on the committee to write the constitution were W.
H. Hardwick, J. J. Roseberry, Stanley Buckles, J. M. Barker, Jr., Worth
Goodman, Kenneth Morrison, and W. B. Cox. During that autumn Mr. J. J. Roseberry and Mr. Stanley Buckles consulted
with Mr. Sheffey concerning the possible purchase of the building in which
the church was meeting. Mr. Sheffey agreed to sell and the matter was
presented to a business meeting of the church on November 22, 1953. Throughout the life of the church, the members have had a concern for
Christian education, evangelism, and missions. The church's educational
program includes Sunday School for all ages, children's church, youth
meetings, AWANA, and a yearly Vacation Bible School. A music program has also
been an important part of the worship services. Revival meetings and
evangelistic services have been held regularly in order to revive God's
people and to seek to reach the lost in the community for Christ. Giving to
both home and foreign missions has been a growing commitment of the church.
At present the church supports sixteen missionary families, two Bible
colleges, and four other ministries. Our former pastors have been R. H. Woolley (10/53-3/60), Martin Gilbert
(5/60-2/64), John C. Berry (6/64-12/65), J. C. Hinnet (12/65-5/66), Hayward
Lough (8/66-8/72), and Frank M. Eppinette (10/72-6/78). Our Doctrinal Statement Each and every person, in order to become or remain a member of this church should subscribe to the following articles of faith, (when any member feels he cans no longer so subscribe, he should, for honesty and conscience sake, withdraw). 1. We believe that the completed Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired by God and are inerrant in the original writings and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and practice. (II Timothy 3:16-17; Rev. 22:18-19). 2. We believe in the triune God- - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each person being equal, yet there being not three Gods but one. (Gen. 1:1; John 10:30). 3. We believe God created everything and upholds His creation by the word of His power. God is eternal and all knowing, all powerful and unchanging. He is holy in character and just in His dealing with us. God is love and truth. He is the sovereign Lord of all. (Revelation 4:11, Hebrews 1:3, Isaiah 40:9-17, 1 Peter 1:15, Psalm 19:9, Romans 3:2-26, 1 John 4:8, John 14:6, Ephesians 1, and Romans 9). 4. We believe in the virgin birth, the sinless life, and the eternal deity of Jesus Christ the Lord. (Isa. 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 8:46; Heb. 7:26; John 1:1). 5. We believe that men are justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus. Salvation is entirely by the grace of God and not by any works so that all boasting is excluded. (Acts 13:38-39; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Rom. 3:25; Heb. 9:14). 6. We believe in the bodily resurrection and Lordship of Jesus, His ascension into Heaven, and His present intercession and high priesthood in the presence of God for us. (Acts 2:32; I Cor. 15:23; Acts 1:9; I John 2:1; Heb. 8:1-2). 7. We believe in that "Blessed Hope" - the personal, imminent, and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His saints, then to establish His millennial kingdom. (I Thes. 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rom. 5:9; I Thes. 1:10, 5:9; Rev. 3:10, 19:11-16). 8. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He regenerates, indwells, enlightens, and empowers the saved. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is received by every believer at salvation (John 16:8; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 3:16; 6:19; 12:13; Ephesians 1:13; I John 2:27) 9. We believe that Satan is a real person who was created perfect, but fell through pride. He was the tempter at the fall of man, and is the archenemy of God and the souls of men. (Job 1:6-7; Ezek. 28:14-15; Isa. 14:12-13). 10. We believe all human beings, born or unborn, are made in the image of God and are descendants of Adam. Everyone, regardless of skin color, ethnicity, religion, class, sex or age, has an intrinsic dignity and is worthy of our love and service. Our salvation in Christ will transform all of our personal and social responsibilities. Faith must be reflected in our lives. (Isaiah 1:17, Genesis 1:26-27, Leviticus 19:18, Luke 6:27-36, Acts 17:24-26; James 2:14-26). 11. We believe in the fall of man through the sin of Adam, resulting in the necessity of the New Birth through Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:12, 14; John 3:3-6). 12. We believe in eternal security for the believer on earth and the eternal blessedness of the righteous in Heaven. (John 10:27-30; Romans 8:35, 38, 39). 13. We believe that those who are born again possess two natures, and that believers may be victorious over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, but eradication of the old nature is unscriptural. (Rom. 6:13, 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; I Peter 1:14-16; I John 3:5-9). 14. We believe that every believer has received spiritual gifts to minister to others in the body of Christ. A primary role of leadership is enabling individual members to discover and use their gifts. God is sovereign in all matters, and does hear and answer the prayer of faith according to His will for the sick and afflicted (Eph. 4:11-12; Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:12-31; James 5:15; 1 Pet. 4:10-11). 15. We believe that all the true believers in Jesus Christ are members of the body of Christ, the true Church; therefore, we have fellowship with all who are believers. (I Corinthians 12:12-13; Hebrews 12:23). 16. We believe that the saved are called to a life of separation from all worldly and sinful practices and are admonished by Scripture to grant a degree of Christian liberty to others. (Romans 12:2; 14:1-23; 1 Cor. 10:23-33; II Cor. 6:14; James 4:4; I John 2:16). 17. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men; the eternal blessedness of the saved, and the eternal conscious punishment of the unsaved. (John 14:1-6; Phil. 3:20; Rev. 21:1-4; Matt. 25:46; Rev. 22:11). 18. We believe that in view of the total depravity and the lost condition of all the unsaved, the obligation of the saved is to witness by life and word to the whole world of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20). |
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