MOUNTAIN STATE ALLIANCE

We affirm that the Bible is God’s Word, and that the Scriptures, both the Old & New Testaments, are verbally inspired by God and are the revelation of God to man both in what we must believe and how we must live.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:21

We affirm that there is only One True God, revealed in three eternal persons – Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit.

SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22

We affirm that God created every person equally in his own image – “male and female he created them”. As divine image-bearers, all people (regardless of ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, religion, sex, or any other differentiator) have inestimable value and dignity before God, are equal before God, and deserve honor, respect, and protection.

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 1:26-28; 2:21-23

We affirm that God is holy, righteous, and just, and that man willingly fell to sin, ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world and continuing with us into our world today. No one is exempt from the impact of sin, nor from God’s requirement that those who bear his image live justly in this world.

SIN: Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6-7; Romans 5:12-19
JUSTICE: Isaiah 61:8; Micah 6:8

We affirm that salvation is granted by God’s grace alone and received through faith alone in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone. This good news (the “gospel”) is the divinely revealed message concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ for everyone who believes.

SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:8; Colossians 1:21-22; Titus 3:5-7

We affirm the primary role of the Church – the fellowship of believers in Jesus – is to bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through living grace-transformed lives in the power of the Spirit, sharing personal testimony, preaching of his Word, teaching sound doctrine, committing to worship and prayer, observing baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and equipping God’s people for works of service and ministry.

SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:22-23; Hebrews 12:23; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 4:11-16

As ministry leaders committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and united in His mission in North Central West Virginia, the members of MSA met on February 9, 2023 and agreed to the following principles about relationships with each other. (John 13:34&35)

1. We are all part of Christ’s body.
2. We do not regard any church or ministry as exclusive. We recognize that many people in our area may be helped through the various appeals and styles of the different churches and ministries involved in the MSA.
3. We will seek to establish relationships and build bridges with each other’s churches/ministries.
4. We will speak well of, and refrain from criticism of each other’s ministries and members.
5. We commit to addressing problems by humbly communicating with our counterparts and seeking the Lord together to resolve the issues.
6. We affirm the leadership commitments staff and church members have made to each other’s ministries and will not actively recruit them away from those churches/ministries.
7. We recognize people have the freedom to choose their involvement with any church/ministry. In general, we will encourage them to select and be involved with one primary organization.
8. We will encourage collaborative efforts on a voluntary basis between our churches/ministries. We are open to share experiences and resources to assist each other with the unique challenges of ministry.