Trammell Carmichael Community Center 7675 Vaughn Rd Canton, GA 30115
Our Core Values and Beliefs
Core Values
We have certain core values at AllPoints that we tenaciously hold to, as listed below, not necessarily in descending order of importance!
We hold that the Christian Canon of Scripture is infallible (trustworthy, sure, certain). Whether considering the “Old Testament” or “New Testament” we believe the Scripture to be infallible and inspired by God. Scripture was given to be our authority in theology (how and what we think about God), personal and communal conduct within the Body of Christ, and how we pattern and establish the values in our lives. Interpretation of Scripture must be consistent with its context and purpose (particularly as it was originally given) but with an expectation that the Holy Spirit speaks through Scripture to us in living power, fully capable of transforming our lives not only for the here-and-now, but also for eternity.
We believe and know that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available for use in our present time, as they have always been. Jesus promised to empower every seeking and asking disciple with the Holy Spirit, His gifts and fruits, so that the Body of Christ might be able to carry on the supernatural ministry of Jesus in the world today.
We are committed to seeing the gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and shepherd/teacher (Ephesians 4:11) operative in the Body of Christ for the equipping and building up of the Body for effective ministry to the world. If we take 1 Corinthians 12 seriously, every member of AllPoints is a minister under the direction of the Spirit, to expand and build up the common good.
We believe in prayer as our essential connection and communication with God; God established prayer as such and as our fundamental way of bringing His Kingdom’s power and purpose into reality in our world. We believe the blessing and battles of the Kingdom are first won and established in the Spirit through prayer. So we are committed to an ever-growing understanding and discipline of prayer at all levels of ministry and service.
We seek to carry out the “Great Commission” to “go and make disciples.” Making disciples is a lot more involved than enrolling converts. The ultimate thrust of Jesus’ ministry was to seek and save the lost. God’s invitation to rejoin His family is open to everyone, and we are dedicated to showing the heart of the Father to everyone we encounter. We are dedicated individually and corporately to becoming mature and obedient disciples, to using the gifts of the Spirit to bring wholeness, to care for the poor and needy as a matter of practice, to seek unity with other believers, and to pray continually for the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
And because we understand these tenants rest in this, we are committed to relationship. First with Jesus, secondly with each other, finally to the world. We are called to be in the world, but not “of” the world.
Beliefs
Statements of belief are tricky things, because many of us have (generally narrow) platforms we think others need to believe in as well. So, without intentional insult to any, or quibbling over denomination biases, doctrinal differences, theological conundrums, historical hostilities, or ideological idiosyncrasies, we embrace the classic statements of Christian faith as a shorthand way of expressing our broad beliefs. As a “nondenominational” Kingdom-oriented portion of the Body of Christ, we think John Wesley said it well: “But as to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think.”
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, I believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God the Father, the Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being [substance] with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen