God

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.

The Bible

We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.

The Human Condition

We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus — Israel’s promised Messiah — was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.

The Work of Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.

The Church

We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.

Following Jesus

We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.

Jesus’ Return

We believe in the personal, bodily and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

Response and Eternal Destiny

We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead into physical bodies to a resurrection of eternal blessing or judgement. To those who have given their lives by faith to the the Lord Jesus, blessing and reward. To those who have rejected Christ, condemnation and eternal conscious punishment. The former resurrection will be into an eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth; this unobligated goodness of God toward those who have received His Son and Lord and Savior will ultimately result in praise regarding the amazing grace of God. Amen.

Mission

Presenting Christ to all people so that they can choose Him; equipping those who choose Him to live effectively for Him.

Values

Missions

Our mission focus is manifest in the intentional sending of people from our local congregation into the world with the aim of (1) introducing the world to Christ, (2) and making disciples. Humanitarian activities become vehicles and means for meeting people and sharing the gospel. This is realized in foreign and local mission projects attended by people from our congregation.

Scripture

our activities are driven by Biblical principles and evaluated in the light of Scripture.

Worship

we worship with enthusiasm corporately. We intentionally condition our worship to (1) facilitate cultural appropriateness, (2) catalyze thinking about the meaning of words and actions, (3) educate people to lead worship on their own. (to be further clarified by worship team)

Prayer

all activities are permeated by praying. We pray in preparation, delivery and following our efforts. We pray for grace to reach others, the wisdom to execute his revelation, and the faithfulness to follow-up on opportunities.

Evangelism

the congregation owns the task of producing forums, events and environments in which (1) the gospel can be presented, and (2) decisions can be made. E.g., every outreach event provides the unbeliever an opportunity to make a decision to follow Christ. The mission focus is also evident in a day-to-day striving for a life that is winsome. Each moment is considered a moment on the mission field with the aim of helping someone come to Christ.

Discipleship

the fruit of our evangelism and missions efforts are intentionally channeled into our discipleship program. Mature believers are prepared to receive those who receive Christ. Leaders leverage (1) the outreach results, (2) their personal time, (3) church programs and training curriculum to step new believers from birth to maturity. This is the church’s primary measurable focus.

Fellowship

we meet to plan, to pray, to worship and to love one another. Alamo Stone encourages its membership to fellowship and encourage one another in holy, helpful and humble living.

Holy living

we are committed to lives that glorify God. We take seriously God's command to live holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). In words, actions and deeds we continually pursue the Biblical standards for purity with in addition keeping with biblical standards for church discipline; this sees our congregation upholding both the requirements for reprimand and grace for one another as mistakes are made. Leadership is called to be accountable with an eye toward protecting the name of Christ while avoiding even the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22; cf Titus 2:7,8).

Church Reproduction

Multiplying healthy churches among college students and young families by leveraging the strengths in EFCA and Campus Crusade for Christ.

Vision

Alamo Stone is committed to the Lord’s command to make disciples while living lives that provide tangible benefit first to membership and then to the surrounding community. For our church this involves evangelism aimed at reaching the lost with the message of Christ, equipping them to love God and one another, and deploying them to do the same. Our activities are bible-based and inseparable from prayer. Our fellowship is characterized by worship, evangelism, and a missions focus. Our presence in the community is marked by measurable relevance and holy living.