Our Vision

As a church we are continually striving to be a God-centered, Biblically-based, soul-winning church reflecting God's love to all people by fostering personal relationships with Christ through prayer, evangelism, discipleship, worship, fellowship and ministry in such a way that God is glorified and we are known as His people.

Our Statement of Faith

Our Statement of Faith

In essential beliefs - we have unity.

" There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called - one Lord,
one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Eph. 4:4-6

In non-essential beliefs - we have freedom.

" Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable
matters. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master
he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him
stand. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. So whatever
you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is
the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves."
Rom. 14:1,4,12,22

At Oakland Woods we believe that Christianity is about relationships
and not about a bunch of do's and don'ts.

The Essentials We believe:

God is the creator of Heaven and Earth. He is eternal, immortal, omniscient,
and omnipotent. He is the one true God in all the universe and the only
hope we have for a meaningful life. God is love. He desires for all men
to be reconciled to Himself through repentance and faith.

Jesus Christ is the eternal only begotten Son of God and as the second
person of the trinity, He is God in the flesh. He became a man through
a virgin birth. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross of Calvary
to pay the penalty of man's sin. After being buried, He rose from the dead.
He appeared to many of His disciples and ascended to the right hand of
the Father. He will return to earth and will judge all of it's inhabitants.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and is the Spirit of
Christ. He is promised to all believers by Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit
guides God's children and convicts people of the sin in their lives.

Salvation is God's plan of redemption for man. Man's salvation depends
upon his response to Jesus Christ. The only response acceptable to God
is for man to confess that he is a sinner, repent, and ask for forgiveness.
He must believe that Jesus Christ died for his sins and rose from the dead,
and trust Christ as his Savior by inviting Him into his heart through prayer.

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is completely true without any
mixture of error. All faith, teaching, and practice must be based upon
the Bible. It provides direction for our lives, answers to life's problems,
and revelation about who God is and what He has done for us.

Man is a sinner. He cannot save himself. He is in desperate need of a Savior
to reconcile him to God.

The Church consists of all people who have experienced new birth by having
confessed their sin, repented of it, and put their trust and hope in Jesus
Christ alone.

Baptism and the Lord's Supper are taught and commanded by the Holy Scripture.
Baptism is for believers only. It symbolizes death with Christ. Like Christ
we should be baptized by immersion. The Lord's Supper is, likewise, only
for believers. It memorializes the death and sacrifice of Christ.

Our denomination: Oakland Woods Baptist Church is a member of the Convention
of Southern Baptists in Michigan and the Southern Baptist Convention.

What is the Southern Baptist Convention?

It is the largest association of Christian churches in America. One out
of every 10 churches in America is affiliated with the SBC.
(45,000 churches and 15 million members)

It is the most diverse association of churches. SBC churches include every
race, nationality, and ethnic groups. Each Sunday, services are held in
over 80 languages in the U.S.

It is one of the fastest growing groups. The SBC baptizes over 1,000 new
Christians a day in the U.S. and begins nearly 5 new churches a day.

Why not just be an independent church?

We are an independent church! Every SBC church is completely independent.
There is no denominational control or hierarchy, as there is in most other
denominations. Each church is self-governed and determines its own affairs.
For example: every SBC church chooses its own pastor, every SBC church
owns its own buildings and assets, and every SBC church determines its own programs.

What are the advantages of affiliation with the SBC?

It allows us to identify with other Christians around the world who are
known for their commitment to the Bible. Unlike other groups, the SBC has
no man-made "creed". The Bible is our only authority.

It allows our church to participate in the largest missionary organization
in the world. Through the SBC "Cooperative Program" we help support
over 8,500 missionaries in 136 countries around the world.