The Church and It's Mission

The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven ( Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23 ). Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the priority reason-for-being of the Assemblies of God as part of the Church is:

To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world ( Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16 ).

To be a corporate body in which man may worship God ( I Corinthians 12:13 ).

To be a channel of God's purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son ( Ephesians 4:11-16; I Corinthians 12:28; I Corinthians 14:12 ).

The Assemblies of God exists expressly to give continuing emphasis to this reason-for-being in the New Testament apostolic pattern by teaching and encouraging believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience:

Enables them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs ( Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31; Hebrews 2:2,4 ).

Adds a necessary dimension to a worshipful relationship with God ( I Corinthians 2:10-16; I Corinthians 12, 13, and 14 ).

Enables them to respond to a full working in the Holy Spirit in expression of fruit and gifts and ministries as in New Testament times for the edifying of the body of Christ ( Galatians 5:22-26; I Corinthians 14:14; Ephesians 4:11,12; I Corinthians 12:28; Colossians 1:29 ).