Freedom Church is based in Forestville, MD. We are a Christian family-oriented and community church, focused on establishing the Kingdom of God in the hearts of all people. From a warm welcome to friendly support, we want everyone to experience God through worship and ministry.
Our Mission
Freedom Church exists in order that we may glorify the Lord God through the means He has established in His Word:
1. Evangelism – introducing people to Jesus Christ
2. Edification – building believers to maturity in Jesus Christ
3. Worship – the experience of communion with the living and holy God which leads to an awareness of His holiness, majesty, and grace
We want to glorify God as a Biblically-functioning community of believers where, in the context of loving relationships, the lost are found and the found are discipled and deployed into ministry so that Christ’s redemptive purposes are accomplished in the world.
Our Core Values
Ministry distinctives provide a framework for understanding who we are and what we do as the body of Christ here at Freedom. Together with our statement of faith, they are the basis upon which our ministry is built.
THE CENTRALITY OF JESUS CHRIST
In every aspect of our ministry, the focal point will always be the honor and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, the living Head of the body who is now exalted gloriously at the right hand of the Father.
THE INERRENCY OF THE BIBLE
The authority for our ministry comes from the Word of God as we submit ourselves to its teaching, commit ourselves to do what it says, and yield our lives to become what Christ desires for us to be.
THE UNDERGIRDING OF PRAYER
All that we do must have the thorough undergirding of our individual and corporate prayer support or else there can be no reason to anticipate the attending power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our ministry.
AN ENVIRONMENT OF GRACE
Convinced of the absolute sovereignty of a Holy God, we understand that nothing good happens in our ministry that is not the result of His grace, His unmerited favor toward us, and consequently, our ministry together must be characterized by that same grace in our response to one another.
A DECENTRALIZED MINISTRY
Ministry is to take place out in the midst of a fallen world and so our challenge is to provide a balance between times when believers are gathered together to be equipped for ministry and times when they are sent out to do the ministry for which every member has been commissioned by Christ.
MISSIONS & EVANGELISM EMPHASIS
The conviction that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation leads us to pursue vigorous means of proclaiming the gospel by sending our members to take the message to all those who need to hear, both in the local community and to the ends of the earth..
ACCOUNTABILITY OF COVENANT GROUPS
Integrity in the lives and ministries of our members requires that we provide a context for accountability relationships as we give high priority to the development of covenant groups where that can take place.
IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY
Recognizing that one of the greatest battlefields and proving grounds of our faith in Christ is right within the home, we are committed to strengthening the spiritual lives of families as they seek to become beacons of light for Christ within our community.
Our Beliefs
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. The Oneness of God manifested and revealed in The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1Timothy 3:16, 1John 5:7,8) Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days, demonstrating His power over sin and death. He was seen by over 500 people and returned to the Father to prepare a place for us. Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1: 1-5; John 14: 10-30; Hebrews 4: 14,15; I Corinthians 15: 3,4; Romans 1: 3,4; Acts 1: 9-11
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son (of God). He is present in the world to make humankind aware of our need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under his control daily. II Corinthians 3: 17; John 16: 7-13; 14: 16,17; Acts 1: 8; I Corinthians 2: 12; 3: 16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5: 25; Ephesians 5: 1
We are all made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. We are the supreme objects of God’s creation. Although humankind has tremendous potential for good, we are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. This attitude separates us from God. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59: 1,2
We all were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. The place of eternal separation from God is called Hell. Heaven is the place of eternal union and eternal life with God. John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15 (Hell); Matthew 25: 41; Revelation 21:27 (Heaven)
Salvation is a gift from God to humankind. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sins penalty. Eternal life begins the moment we receive Jesus Christ into our life by faith.
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in this salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and “keeping power” of God that gives this security. John 10:29; II Timothy 1: 12; Hebrews 7:25; 10: 10-14; I Peter 1: 3-5
The Bible is God’s word to all humankind. It was written by human authors who were under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit so that what they wrote is the Word of God. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. II Timothy 3: 16; II Peter 1: 20,21; II Timothy 1: 13; Psalm 119: 105; 160; Psalm 126; Proverbs 30: 5
We are a covenant keeping church. God enters into a covenant (special binding agreement) with those whom he calls to be his sons and daughters. Covenant people have a special relationship with God and have a special responsibility. We keep covenant with God by living our lives as his children, by keeping covenant with our spouses and family and by keeping covenant with all believers regardless of race, age, gender or marital status. Genesis 17: 7; Jeremiah 32: 38-40; II Corinthians 6: 16-18; Romans 8: 12-17; Acts 2: 39; Ephesians 5: 21-33; 6: 1-4; Galatians 3: 28-29; Ephesians 4: 1-6
We believe there are two sacraments given by Christ to strengthen our faith as members of His Church. The first is Holy Baptism which is a sign and seal of God’s eternal covenant of grace for us and our children. Baptism symbolizes the washing away of our sins through the blood of Christ.
The second is the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The broken bread symbolizes the broken body of Christ. The cup symbolizes the blood of Christ poured out at the Cross for our salvation. Christ is spiritually present in the bread and juice. When we celebrate Holy Communion our strength is strengthened. Genesis 17: 1-10; Deuteronomy 7: 9; Matthew 19: 13015; 28: 19; Acts 16: 14-15; 30-33; Mark 14: 22-25; I Corinthians 11: 23-26; I Corinthians 1: 16
The Church is the living Body of Christ on earth. He is the head and the source of its life. We believe that all true believers want to be a part of the Church so they can grow in their faith, worship and fellowship with other believers, and make a united impact upon society. Ephesians 5:23; Romans 12: 4-8; I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4: 1-16; Colossians 1: 15-20
When history has run the course laid out for it in God’s plan, Jesus Christ will return in power and glory to judge the world and to complete the total victory over sin, death and Satan. At that time those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will enter heaven to be with him forever. Those who have not believed will be eternally separated from God. Acts 1: 6-11; Mark 13: 24-27; Revelation 1: 7; I Peter 4:5; Matthew 24: 29-31; 25: 31-46.