In essential beliefs - we have unity.

“ [There] [is] one body and one spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all,”   Ephesians 4:4                                                                                                                                                    

  In nonessential beliefs - we have liberty.

“Receive one who is weak in the faith, [but] not to disputes over doubtful things… Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls… So then each of us shall give account of himself to God… Happy [is] he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.”  Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22

In all our beliefs - we show love.

“And though I have [the] [gift] [of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”  I Cor. 13:2

 The Essentials We Believe

 1.      About God

God is the Creator and Supreme Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and are one God.

 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Gen. 1:1

 “Then God said ‘ Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His Own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”  Gen. 2:26, 27

 2.      About Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is coequal with the Father. Jesus lived in a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

 “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,'Behold the virgin shall be with child and bear a Son and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated "God with us."  Matt. 1:22, 23

 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isa. 9:6

 3.      About The Holy Spirit

 The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son of God.  He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ.  He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation.  He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.  He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved.  As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.

 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”  John 14:16, 17

 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”  I Cor. 2:12

 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”  I Cor. 3:16

 4.      About The Bible

The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.

 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” II Tim. 3:16

 “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”  Psa 119:105

 “The words of the Lord are pure words, [Like] silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.”      Psa. 12:6

 5.      About Human Beings

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Because of sin all are separated from God and in need of salvation.

 How We Practice What We Believe

 Beliefs are not worth much unless they are translated into actions. Based on what the Bible teaches, we feel strongly about the following seven practices:

 1.      Bible As Our Sole Authority

“All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”   II Tim. 3:1

 Since God’s word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, we accept the Bible as our manual for living. Our first question when faced with a decision is “What does the Bible say?”  We practice daily Bible reading, Bible study, and Bible memorization. The Bible is the basis for all we believe.

 2.      Autonomy Of Each Local Church

“And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in              all things He may have preeminence.”  Col.1:18

 Christ is the recognized head of the church, not any person, group, or religious organization. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians, we believe every local church should be self-governing .

 While we are not a church Westside Ministries operates and functions on this principal. Our existence is greatly determined by associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians. We believe that a Great Commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will grow a Great Church.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.”   Matt 22:36-38

 3.      Priesthood of Every Believer

“...and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him [be] glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  Rev.1:6

 “But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  I Pet.2:9

 The Bible teaches that every Christian is called to “full-time” Christian service, regardless of his or her vocation. We practice the truth that every believer is a minister by encouraging every member of the local church to find a place of service and ministry. We encourage believers to go out under the leadership and with the blessings of their local pastor and church.

 We believe that each member’s ministry begins when they walk out of their front door each day. Our ministry as believers is not completed until we have gone into all the world sharing the Good News serving and ministering to others. Thereby fulfilling the Great Commission.

 4.      Tithing                                                

“And all the tithe of the land, [whether] of the seed of the land [or] of the fruit of the tree [is] the Lord’s.            It [is] holy to the Lord.”  Lev. 27:30

 Westside Ministries encourages each believer to practice tithing into and for the support of the local        church as God commands.

 “Every man [shall] [give] as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.”  Deut. 16:17

 “Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.”  Acts 11:29

 Our belief is that God will supply the needs of Westside Ministries with gifts and offerings through individual believers and the local church, which is the body of Christ.

 5.      Baptism

“...buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with [Him] through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”  Col. 2:12

 When opportunities present themselves we practice water baptism — the way Jesus was baptized, and the way the Bible commands.

 6.      Spirit-Led Living                                        

(Jesus said) “I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5

 We believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God’s power within us. So we seek to practice a daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable us to do what is right.  

 “..for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for [His] good pleasure.”  Phil. 2:13

 "And do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”  Eph. 5:18

 7.      Telling Others About Christ                             

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always [be] ready to [give] a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.”  I Pet. 3:15

 It is the responsibility of every Christian to share the Good News with those God brings us into contact with. Our ministry is to enable more people to be in contact with more people to share the Good News.