Our Heritage
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We are a…
- Christ-centered: Jesus is the only way to God, so He is at the heart of all we do.
- Bible believing, teaching, and doing: The Bible is God’s inspired Word and our only source of authority for our life and practice.
- Non-denominational: We are an informal association of churches with no hierarchical denominational structure, conference, or office.
- Independent: The local congregation sets its own agenda and appoints its own pastors and leaders.
- Christian Church of the Restoration Movement: The Restoration Movement was a reform movement that took place on the American frontier in the 1800’s. Thomas Campbell, and his son, Alexander, were Scottish Presbyterian immigrants concerned with the division among churches that was weakening the impact of the church. They were frustrated to see Christians that were Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational, etc., professing to follow the same Jesus, yet they could not get along with each other because they disagreed on certain doctrines, traditions, or creeds.
They believed that if Christians would use the Bible as the main source of authority instead of man-made traditions and creeds, and focus on what unites them (the essentials of the Christian faith) instead of what divides them (non-essential opinions), then that would unify the churches so that they can get back to the mission of sharing the hope of Jesus Christ with the world.
Those that joined their efforts dropped their denominational labels and called themselves simply “Christians.” They went back to the common practices of the early church, like believers baptism by immersion, sharing The Lord’s Supper (Communion) each Lord’s Day, and being led by a plurality of respected spiritual leaders called Elders.
The movement took off like wild fire throughout the 1800’s. Although it has had its setbacks and disappointments, the movement and the dream is still very much alive today, to where it is one of the fastest growing church associations in the U.S.