Our Church is Part of the Restoration Movement

The Restoration Movement started with the simple premise:

You can unify all Christians in a single body patterned after the Church of the New Testament.

As a part of this faith tradition, we seek to bring all Christians together in unity by returning to the simple, biblical principles of the early church. Rather than following human-made creeds or denominational divisions, we look directly to the New Testament as our guide, believing that unity in Christ is not only possible but essential.

A Movement Rooted in Unity

The Restoration Movement began in the early 19th century as Christian leaders sought to restore the church to its original New Testament foundation. Two key figures in this effort were Barton Stone and Thomas and Alexander Campbell.

  • Barton Stone led a revival in Cane Ridge, Kentucky, where his followers identified simply as Christians, rejecting denominational labels.

  • Thomas and Alexander Campbell worked in Pennsylvania and Virginia (now West Virginia), calling themselves Disciples of Christ and emphasizing the need for Christians to unite under the authority of Scripture.

Both groups believed that divisions among Christians weakened the church. They rejected creeds, arguing that the Bible alone should be the standard for faith and practice. In 1832, they formally joined together in fellowship with a handshake, symbolizing their commitment to unity in Christ.

The Foundation of Our Faith

The Restoration Movement is built on the belief that Jesus intended for His church to be one, as He prayed in John 17:21:
"That they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me."

To uphold this unity, we hold to the following biblical principles:

  • Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

  • The Lord’s Supper is observed every Sunday as a reminder of our shared faith.

  • Baptism is by immersion for adult believers, symbolizing new life in Christ.

  • We use biblical names to describe the church and its members, avoiding denominational distinctions.

  • We seek to follow the practices of the first-century church as described in the New Testament.

Our goal is not to create a new denomination, but to return to the unity Jesus desires for His followers.

Guiding Principles for Unity

Throughout its history, the Restoration Movement has upheld several guiding principles that reflect our commitment to unity:

  • “Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent.”

  • “The Church of Jesus Christ on earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one.”

  • “We are Christians only, but not the only Christians.”

  • “In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; in all things, love.”

  • “No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible, no law but love, no name but divine.”

  • “Call Bible things by Bible names.”

These statements reflect a deep conviction that Christians can and should find common ground in the Word of God, setting aside human traditions that lead to division.

The Restoration Movement Today

The principles of the Restoration Movement continue to shape churches today. While there are different expressions of this movement, they all share a common desire for unity in Christ. These include:

  • Churches of Christ

  • Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

  • Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ

As a congregation within this movement, we are dedicated to worshiping together, growing in faith, and demonstrating the love of Christ to the world.

Join us in our commitment to Christian unity. We invite you to worship, study, and walk with us as we strive to follow Jesus and reflect His love in everything we do.