Vision
The vision of SHILOH-Bridging the Gap is to assimilate into an existing neighborhood-based service network designed to address the spiritual, employment, housing, physical and mental health, education, transportation, and survival needs of persons who are temporary or permanent residents of Downtown Columbus, Ohio, and who may be in a transitional period in their lives.
Mission
The mission of SHILOH-Bridging the Gap is to engage our target audience through a systematic ministry of evangelism, discipleship, and advocacy that addresses their spiritual needs during a transitional period in their lives.
STATEMENT OF FAITH AND PRACTICE
The following Biblically based beliefs form the basis of faith and practice at SHILOH-Bridging the Gap. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our aim is to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance in applying these beliefs to our daily lives.
1. WE BELIEVE IN THE ONE GOD,
Who is the Everlasting and Sovereign Ruler of the universe. He is the Eternal King, the infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity, He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory.
• See Deuteronomy 33:27; Romans 1:20; Psalm 95:3; Isaiah 43:15; Psalm 147:5; Job 11:7-9; James 1:17; John 4:24; Matthew 5:48; Isaiah 6:3; I Peter 1:15-16; Psalm 104:24; Proverbs 2:6; Isaiah 28:29; Exodus 33:19; Psalm 63:2; 31:19; 33:5; 89:14; Isaiah 30:18; Exodus 15:6; I John 4:8; Isaiah 43:13; 45:5; I Corinthians 8:4; Psalm 42:2; 84:2; Jeremiah 10:10; John 1:1, 14, 18; 10:30; 14:9, 16-17, 26; 15:26; II Corinthians 3:17-18; John 1:1, 14; II Corinthians 3:17; Matthew 28:19-20; II Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4; 5:13; Ephesians 3:14-21.
2. WE BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE,
Which is the inspired, unchanging, and unmistakable Word of God. It is our source for instruction, guidance, correction, and training in righteousness. Men who were moved upon by the Holy Spirit originally wrote the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. The Bible, then, is 100% the word of God and 100% the word of man.
• See II Timothy 3:16-17; Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3; II Peter 1:21.
3. WE BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST,
Who is the everlasting King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the full expression of the invisible God in visible and bodily form. Jesus is both fully God and fully man, yet without sin.
• See Matthew 1:1, 17; John 1:1-3, 14; Philippians 2:6-8; Colossians 1:15, 19; 2:9; Hebrews 4:15; Revelation 19:16.
4. WE BELIEVE IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST.
He lived a sinless life, died for our sins, was resurrected bodily from the grave, and ascended into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us. Through His own death at Calvary, Jesus Christ conquered sin, Satan, and death, and brought the Kingdom of God upon the earth.
• See John 3:16; 11:25-26; 12:31; Genesis 3:15; Matthew 12:28-29; Luke 10:17-20; Acts 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3-4, 50-58; Ephesians 4:9-10; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 7:25; 9:12; 10:12; I Peter 1: 3-4; I John 3:8; Revelation 1:18; Daniel 2:44; Matthew 3:2; 4:17, 23.
5. WE BELIEVE IN THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN.
This is a condition in which all of humanity is by nature, outside of fellowship with God. As God’s enemies, we deserve punishment and eternal judgment and can only be saved by the spotless blood of Jesus Christ.
• See Romans 3:9, 23; Matthew 26:17-28; Mark 14:22-24; John 3:16-17; 14:6; Ephesians 2:1-10; Acts 4:12; I Corinthians 11:23-25; Hebrews 9:11-15.
6. WE BELIEVE IN GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION.
A sinner may receive the gift of salvation by repenting of his/her sins, and by believing and confessing that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord of his/her life.
• See Matthew 3:1-2; Mark 1:4; 16:15; Luke 3:1-9; 24:47; Romans 10:8-11; Ephesians 2:8-9.
7. WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT,
Who are our Comforter and the Spirit of Truth? He has come to live within us and to empower us to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ in the course of our daily lives. The Holy Spirit now convicts the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment.
• See John. 14:17, 20; 16:5-12; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 3:16; 12:1-2; II Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17; Philippians 2:5-11.
8. WE BELIEVE IN THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH.
It is the Body of Christ, made up of believers in Jesus Christ, who are called to be and make disciples for Christ throughout the world. Within the Church, we are to be equipped to give loving service to the world, practice our commitment to Jesus Christ and to others within Christ’s Body, and extend the Kingdom of God throughout the earth.
• See Romans 12:4-5; I Corinthians 12:12-14, 18-20, 27-28; Ephesians 1:22; 4:4; 5:23; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Titus 3:4-7; Matthew 10:38; 16:24-25; Mark 8:34; Luke 14:27; John 13:34-35; 15:13.
9. WE BELIEVE IN WATER BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER.
Jesus Christ commanded that the Church practice these ordinances. Through water baptism, believers confess our commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we are commemorating the historical fact of Jesus’ blood sacrifice and affirming our fellowship with Him and one another.
• See Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts 2:37-38; 8:36-38; 10:47-48; 19:3-6; Luke 22:19-20; Matthew 26:20-30; Mark 14:17-26; John 13:21-30; I Corinthians 11:25-26.
10. WE BELIEVE IN THE GREAT COMMANDMENT.
In it, God requires that we love Him with all our beings and that we love others. We verify our love for God by worshiping Him, by loving others in Christ’s Body, and by participating in efforts to relieve the suffering of humanity throughout the world.
• See Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:29-30; Luke 10:25-28; Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 10:42; John 13:34-35; 15:13; Hebrews 6:10.
11. WE BELIEVE IN THE GREAT COMMISSION.
In it, Jesus Christ commands that we take the gospel of the Kingdom of God throughout the world. We serve as disciples of Jesus Christ by witnessing for Him through our obedience to the Word of God and by sharing the gospel with the lost.
• See Matthew 4:17; 6:10; 10:7; 24:14; 28:18-20; Mark 1:14-15; 16:15-16; Luke 10:9; 24:47; Acts 1:8.
12. WE BELIEVE IN THE BIBLICAL REALITY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
The Bible teaches that God is sovereign and that, even in this evil Age, His Kingdom, His rule and reign, has already begun. God’s Kingdom has come initially through the ministry and finished work of Jesus Christ, it continues to come in the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the Church, and will be fulfilled completely in the glorious, visible and triumphant appearing of Jesus Christ, when He returns to the earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
• See Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14; Matthew 4:23; 12:28; 6:10; 10:7-8; 24:14; Mark 13:11; John 15:26-27; Romans 14:17-18; Mark 13:26; Acts 1:9-11; II Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:11-16; Matthew 25:31-32; I Corinthians 15:23-25, 51-52; Revelation 20:10-11, 15; 21:5, 27; John 5:28-30; Matthew 25:31-46; I Corinthians 15:24-28; I Timothy 6:13-16; II Peter 3:13; I Timothy 1:17; Revelation 7:9-12.
