About Us

The sole basis of our belief is the Bible — the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe Scripture in its entirety originated with God and He revealed it to chosen authors. It speaks with the authority of God while reflecting the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of these human authors. We hold that the Scriptures, in their original manuscripts, are infallible and inerrant; they are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice.

We believe there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three equal persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the beginning, God demonstrated His power, wisdom, and goodness by creating the world and everything in it. Through His divine power and providence, God continues to sustain His creation, operating within history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.

The central purpose of God's revelation in Scripture is to call people into fellowship with Him. Originally created to be in relationship with God, humans defied Him by going their own independent way, resulting in alienation and the inability to please God. The salvation of humanity is completely a work of God's free grace; it is not the result of human works or goodness. Each person can receive salvation by repentance and faith, and God assures believers that He will continue His saving work in them forever.

Jesus Christ, the eternal second person of the Trinity, was fully united with a human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived in perfect obedience to the Father, voluntarily paid the price for the sins of all people by dying on the cross as their substitute, and satisfied divine justice. After His physical death, He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father as the only intercessor between God and humans. He promises to return to earth, personally and visibly, to fulfill the eternal plan of God.

People in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ are to live in holiness and obedience as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. Sent by the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit applies Christ's saving work, renews and indwells each believer upon salvation, and becomes their source of assurance, strength, wisdom, and gifting for building up the church. Appropriated by faith, His power empowers believers to lead a life of Christ-like character and bear fruit for the Father's glory.

Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. All humanity will experience a bodily resurrection and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Having rejected God, unbelievers will suffer eternal condemnation apart from Him. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life.

All who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are united with Him as members of His body, the one true church. Scripture commands believers to gather for worship, prayer, fellowship, and the teaching of the Word; to observe Baptism and Communion; and to serve the body through the development and use of their gifts and outreach to the world. Cared for and led by Elders and leaders, church members work together in love and unity for the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.

In all matters of faith and practice, Scripture is the final authority. In matters where Scripture is silent, believers should conscientiously seek to be led by God, because it is to Him alone that each one is ultimately responsible.

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward commitment to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. GOC believes the decision to be baptized is up to the individual, and that he or she must fully understand what it means to be a Christ follower.

During Jesus' last days, He gathered the disciples and asked them to consume bread and wine “in remembrance” of Him. Two thousand years later, we regularly observe the act of consuming bread and grape juice as a community for the exact same reason: to remember our Savior, who sacrificed Himself for our sins.