Welcome
Throughout our years of Christian service, my wife, Irene, and I have had the privilege of serving in several ministries within our local church, including a marriage enrichment small group, a new believers’ discipleship program, and the Alpha Course.
The Alpha Course, designed predominantly for non-churchgoers and seekers, provides an introduction to the Christian faith within a relaxed, judgment-free “seeker-sensitive” environment. It was in fact our experience in “Alpha” that inspired the creation of this website — a resource designed to shed light on the questions, challenges, and misconceptions that often accompany a spiritual journey.
The contemporary Christian song “With Every Act of Love” by Jason Gray includes the lyric: “God put a million, million doors in the world for His love to walk through. One of those doors is you.” We hope that this website may serve as one of those doors, helping to communicate God’s love and truth to all who visit. We welcome your comments, questions, and any thoughts or experiences you would like to share regarding your spiritual journey.
Blessings,
Mike & Irene Rietta
Statement of Faith
The Christian faith serves as the foundation for many different churches and denominations around the world. While differences exist among churches regarding “non-essential” doctrines, styles of worship, or matters of church practice, all churches that identify as Christian should affirm foundational beliefs concerning God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, and salvation.
The following Statement of Faith outlines core biblical beliefs and provide the foundation for the content presented throughout this website.
- There is one God [1], who is infinitely perfect [2], existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit [3].
- Jesus Christ is true God and true man [4]. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary [5]. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in him are justified on the ground of his shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures [6]. He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest [7]. He will come again to establish his Kingdom of righteousness and peace [8].
- The Holy Spirit is a divine Person, sent to indwell [9], guide, teach and empower the believer, and to convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment [10].
- The Old and New Testaments, inerrant (free from error, infallible, and entirely truthful) as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of his will for the salvation of people. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice [11].
- Humankind, originally created in the image and likeness of God [12], fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All people are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ [13]. The destiny of the impenitent and unbelieving is existence forever, in anguish, separated from God, but that of the believer is everlasting joy and bliss [14].
- Salvation has been provided only through Jesus Christ. Those who repent and believe in him are united with Christ through the Holy Spirit and are thereby regenerated (born again), justified, sanctified and granted the gift of eternal life as adopted children of God [15].
- It is the will of God that in union with Christ each believer should be sanctified thoroughly [16] thereby being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to God, receiving power by the Holy Spirit for holy living and sacrificial and effective service toward the completion of Christ’s commission [17].
- Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body. Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil as taught in the Scriptures are privileges for the Church in this present age [18].
- The universal Church, of which Christ is the Head, consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and commissioned by Christ to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the Gospel to all nations [19]. The local church, the visible expression of the universal Church, is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together to worship God, to observe the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to pray, to be edified through the Word of God, to fellowship, and to testify in word and deed to the good news of salvation both locally and globally. The local church enters into relationships with other like-minded churches for accountability, encouragement and mission [20].
- There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life [21]; for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment [22].
- The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal and visible [23]. As the believer’s blessed hope, this vital truth is an incentive for holy living and sacrificial service toward the completion of Christ’s commission [24]