Our Story
Following Christ throughout life is a journey, many of us at becoming church came from many different backgrounds and church upbringings. We came together to meet in our homes in 2019 as place to heal from the church hurts we acquired along the journey. We found community with each other and a different way to experience the church, through God's grace he healed us of our church hurts. And now we continue to follow Christ as we invite you to join in us in our homes as we travel together on the journey to follow Christ.
Statement of Faith
Our church has followers of Christ from many denominational backgrounds. We have laid out a statement of faith that we have prayed over as a church. We hope it honors God and the people He has brought together. These statements are what holds us together in vision and we point back to it as needed. In love we strive to work out our salvation together.
We begin our Statement of Faith with the timeless beauty of
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy *catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
*The Global Church
These things we hold tightly in our hands; in all essential beliefs, we have unity.
"There is one Body, and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all..."
(Eph. 4:4-6)
The Bible: We believe the sixty-six books, and only these, known as the Old Testament and New Testament, are the written Word of God. They are without error in the original manuscripts and are a perfect light to guide our steps as we follow Jesus. When we have different interpretations amongst us, we strive in humility to understand one another and acknowledge that God’s ways are far beyond our own.
(Matt. 5:17-18; Mark 12:26, 36; Luke 24:27, 44; John 10:34-36, 16:13, 17:17; Acts 1:16, 28:25; 1 Cor. 2:12-13; 2 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 1:12; 2 Pet. 1:21)
The Trinity: We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; distinguishable but indivisible. Equal in power and glory; and that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all.
(Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 6:8; Ps. 90:2; Matt. 3:13-17, 28:19-20; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-3, 10:30, 14:16, 23; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Pet. 1:1-2; 1 John 5:7)
God the Father: We believe that God the Father is infinite, personal, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayers; and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus.
(John 1:18, 5:17-47, 17:1-26; 1 Cor. 8:6; Heb. 1:1-2)
Jesus Christ: We believe God’s only begotten Son, Jesus, was conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercessions for His people, and personal, visible return to earth.
(Isa. 7:14, 53:5-6; Matt. 1:20-25; John 1:1, 14, 3:16, 4:6, 11:35, 20:28; 2 Cor. 5:21, 12:13, 15:5-8; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Col. 1:15-19)
Holy Spirit: We believe in the Holy Spirit, who plays an active role in our daily lives and who came from the Father and Son, convicted the world of sin, brought righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. We believe the Holy Spirit equips every believer with grace-given gifts to be used to build up the body of Christ.
(Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104:30; Matt. 28:19; John 14:16-17, 26, 15:26; Acts 5:3-4, 11:16; Rom. 8:9, 13-14, 16, 26; 1 Cor. 2:10, 6:11, 19-20, 12:13; 2 Cor. 1:21-22, 3:17-18; Gal. 5:22-25; Eph. 1:13-14, 3:16, 4:30; Titus 3:5; Heb. 9:14)
The Church: We believe in the global church, the living spiritual body. We work to partner with other groups of believers, ministries, and churches. We acknowledge that Christ is the Head of the Church and all believers in Christ are members. We believe within the local fellowship there is a plurality of leadership consisting of elders and deacons. We affirm that both men and women can serve as elders or deacons.
(Matt. 9:36-38, 16:16-18, 18-20, 28; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8, 2:41-47, 15:22; Rom. 10:13-15, 12:5, 13:1; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; 2 Cor. 5:20, 9:6-15; Eph. 1:13-23, 4:1-16, 5:25-32; Col. 3:16; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Heb. 10:23-25, 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:5)
Humanity: We believe that all are sinners, by nature and by choice, and that all are dead in their sins. God is holy and His nature is perfection, therefore God holiness condemns humanity’s sinfulness. Yet, God in His perfect loving nature—through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus—restores, regenerates, and rescues all those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and they will receive salvation.
(Gen, 2:7, 18-24, 3:1-24, 6:5; Ps. 51:3, 58:3; Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21-23; John 3:5-6, 18, 36, 8:42-44; Rom. 3:23, 5:12-19; 1 Cor. 2:9-16; Gal. 3:11; Eph. 1:4, 2:1-3, 4:18; Phil. 3:4-9; Col. 1:16-17; Titus 3:5; James 2:10; 1 John 5:12)
Christ's Return: We believe in the hope to come, the physical and imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus, and in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, and the eternal blessing of the redeemed and just judgement of the unredeemed. We believe God will create a new heaven and earth and reign over it forever.
(Ps. 96:10, 13; Isa. 9:7, 11:10-12; Jer. 23:4-6, 30:4-7; Dan. 7:13-14, 12:1-2; Zech. 14:3-21; Matt. 13:41-43, 24:15-22, 27-31, 25:31; Mark 13:33-37; Phil. 1:23, 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Titus 2:11-13; James 5:8; Heb. 10:37; Jude 14-15; Rev. 1:7, 6:1-17 21:1)
What is an “Elder”
The term “presbýteros” (the Greek for "elder") was used in the Bible to signify an older spiritual leader who possessed wisdom and experience, though it was not a strict requirement to be old to serve. We recognize that in Acts 20, Titus 1, and 1 Peter 5, the terms elder (presbyteros), bishop/overseer (episkopos), and pastor (poimen) are all used interchangeably and may point to different church leadership roles:
Elder: leads and governs the church
Bishop: an overseer often over a number of churches
Pastor: a shepherd skilled at teaching (often one elder particularly skilled at teaching)
However, we choose to use the term “elder” because we believe it best captures the biblical model and role of church leadership needed at this time within our specific faith community. We understand that as the community grows in number, there may be a need for more layers of biblical leadership at some point as outlined above.
Core Responsibilities
Spiritual Leadership
Responsible for the spiritual oversight of the church. They were pastors who led by example and cared for the spiritual well-being of the flock (1 Pet. 5:1–3; Acts 20:28)
Governing and Leading
Tasked with ruling well—providing direction and making decisions for the church body. (1 Tim. 5:17)
Teaching and Defending Doctrine/Oversight
A major function of an elder was to teach sound doctrine and guard the church against false teaching. (Titus 1:9)
Shepherding and Caring for the Flock
They were caretakers—visiting the sick, praying for people, and helping resolve conflicts within the body. (James 5:14)
Plurality and Shared Leadership
In most New Testament churches, leadership was not centered on one person but a plurality of elders. This shared governance provided accountability and unity. (Acts 14:23, 15:2, 21:18)
Character Qualifications
Rather than focusing on age, charisma, or popularity, leaders were chosen based on spiritual maturity and godly character. Guided by the following characteristics, elders are voted on by the whole church once a year.
(1 Tim. 3:1–7, Titus 1:5–9, 1 Thess. 5:12, Gal. 6:1, Acts 11:30)
Key traits included:
Above reproach and living as an example of the word applied to their lives
Faithful to one spouse
Self-controlled, gentle, not greedy
Able to teach
Able to admonish and restore
Not a recent convert
Hospitable
Wise with money
Able to delegate to and disciple other qualified servants
Well-respected inside and outside the church
Elder Management and Accountability
Shared accountability is crucial among the elders and provides trust and oversight for the safety of the whole church.
The elders select one person within the elder group to be designated as the managing elder who takes responsibility for:
Planning and leading elder meetings
Challenging the elders to engage in personal spiritual growth
Leading accountability discussions
This role is rotated among the elders, with each managing elder taking on the role for 4 months at a time.
Elder meetings are considered “sacred but not secret.” Some elder discussions require confidentiality and sensitivity, but all operational details are shared, both proactively and upon request, with the whole church. The minutes of each elder meeting, along with decisions made, are shared with the whole church soon after meetings.
From time to time, non-elder church members may be invited to join the elders during meetings to give perspective, insight, to express concerns, or to see how the elders operate. All church members are welcomed and encouraged to express concerns to any elder at any time and to request to attend an elder meeting.
Elders are responsible for the management of church finances. All decisions regarding how funds are allocated are discussed and decided upon by the entire elder group. The elders agree that the managing elder is empowered to disperse up to $100 without the express approval of all the elders. All elders have access to church finances which are regularly reviewed. A financial report is given to the whole church on a regular basis.
Formal business meetings are held twice per year and business-related issues are discussed with members as needed throughout the year.
Our Community at Becoming Church
At Becoming Church, our community is shaped by the model of the early Church found in the Book of Acts. We are a family of Christ-followers rooted in authentic relationships, shared faith, and a deep desire to grow closer to God. (Acts 2)
We believe that every person is created in the image of God, uniquely gifted, and worthy of dignity and love. Our church is a sacred place where we worship together, carry one another’s burdens, grow in faith, and walk closely with God in every season of life.
Our Guiding Commandments
We strive to live out the three commandments Jesus gave us:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. (Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27)
Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt. 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27)
Go and make disciples of all nations. (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8)
These commandments shape our purpose and inform how we live in community with one another and the world.
Core Values of Our Community
A healthy, Christ-centered community is a powerful witness to the transformative love of God. To foster spiritual growth and reflect God’s heart, our community is built around these five core principles:
1. Unity in Christ
Our foundation is our shared love for Jesus and our commitment to becoming more like Him. While we come from diverse backgrounds, life stages, and spiritual journeys, our faith in Christ unites us.
2. Relational Discipleship
Discipleship is a journey we take together. We study God’s Word as a community, ask hard questions, and remain open to learning and growing. We hold one another accountable and encourage each other to align our lives with the example of Christ. Our goal is not just knowledge—but transformation through relationship with Jesus.
3. Authentic Community
We value honesty, vulnerability, and grace. This is a place where you can show up fully—struggles, joys, doubts, and all—without fear of judgment. We believe real community happens not just on Sundays, but in everyday life. We don’t just attend church; we live life together.
4. Collective Worship & Prayer
While personal prayer and worship are essential, something powerful happens when we come together to seek God. Through communal worship and prayer, we experience God’s presence, deepen our connection with one another, and express our dependence on Him. We gather regularly to worship and pray—united in spirit and purpose.
5. Service & Generosity
Every member of our community has been given unique gifts by God. We are called to use those gifts—our time, talents, and resources—to serve one another and the world around us. Through acts of service and a posture of generosity, we reflect the heart of God to a world in need.