At Forward Leader, everything we do flows from what we believe. Our Statement of Faith is rooted in the authority of Scripture and reflects our commitment to the historic, Spirit-empowered Christian faith. These core beliefs shape our mission, guide our leadership, and unite us as a gospel-forward movement. We hold to these truths with conviction, not as a set of doctrines to merely affirm, but as life-giving realities to live out daily in faith, love, and obedience to Jesus Christ.

The Bible

We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error and the infallible rule of faith and conduct. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law contrary to the Holy Scriptures.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 28:13; 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4, 21, 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13

The Trinity

There is one living and true God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and co-eternal: created all, upholds all, and governs all things.

Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 John 5:7; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6, 44:8, 48:16; Hebrews 1:3, 3:7-11; John 10:30

God the Father – Eternal, Creator Redeemer

We believe in the person of God the Father, an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 11:4-6, 90:2, 102:27; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4; 1 Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3

Jesus Christ – Son of God, Savior, Resurrected

We believe in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we could have life.

Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 8:58,11:25; I Corinthians 15:3-4; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; I John 1:2; Revelation 1:8

The Holy Spirit – Co-equal, Co-eternal and Co-existent

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. He is co-equal, co-eternal, and co-existent with the Father and the Son. His ministry upon the earth is to convict and convert man and be the great paraclete (comforter, counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthened, and standby) to the Church. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus to all believers and is received subsequent to and is distinct from the experience of New Birth. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is meant to empower the believer to be a witness of Jesus Christ by the preaching and demonstration of the Gospel. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are also evidence of this experience. Whereas there is one initial baptism, there are many subsequent infillings of the Spirit. The ultimate purpose of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is so that we, the believers, may have power to be witnesses.

Luke 24:29; Acts 1:4; 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Matthew 3:11; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2

Eternity

Man was created to exist forever. He will exist either eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.

John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15

Man

Man is made in God’s image and is the supreme object of His creation. He was created to have fellowship with God but became separated from that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, he cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.

Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11

Salvation

We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This salvation is based upon the sovereign grace of God, and was purchased by Christ on the cross, and is received through faith apart from any human merit, works, or ritual. We believe salvation results in righteous living, good works, and proper social concern.

Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-66, 28:1-6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:24-28; Revelation 3:20

The Church

The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the great commission. It is committed to Christ’s teachings and obeys all of His commands, and it seeks to bring the Gospel to the world. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.

Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 21:2-3