Who We Are

The Bible is the special revelation of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, in order that people might come into the knowledge and love of God. The words of the Bible were written in various literary fashions, by imperfect people of different cultures and languages. Therefore, we at First Pres Maumee utilize all the resources of scholarship in order to interpret the meaning of God’s Word for the church today. We believe that the Bible is trustworthy and absolutely reliable.

God is three yet one, taking the form of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Scripture teaches that “God is love;” therefore, we understand love to be the defining characteristic of the Trinity. In love, God creates, redeems, and sustains. In love, God the Father created all that is, has been, and ever will be. In love, God the Son became incarnate, died on the cross, and rose again for our salvation. In love, God the Spirit resides in the heart of God’s people and empowers us to live the Christian life.

We are broken and rebellious, in desperate need of a Savior. Mercifully, God offers us salvation, which is the reunion of people with their Creator through Christ Jesus. Crucified on a cross, Jesus offered himself as our substitute, bearing the penalty of death for our sin. Rising from the grave, Christ conquered death, offering the promise of eternal life and establishing God’s Kingdom on earth. Salvation cannot be earned, only received as a gift by choosing to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  

Having received this gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit enters into our lives declaring us holy and righteous in God’s sight. The Holy Spirit kindles within us the desire to follow Jesus and uses us to build God’s Kingdom. As we wait for the return of Jesus our king, we seek to become more like him.  

The Sacraments are holy ordinances given by Christ to his church as visible signs of God’s love and grace. They are means by which Christ remains present with his people until his return. Jesus instituted the observance of two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the sign of the New Covenant instituted by Christ, symbolizing his washing away of our sin. In the midst of worship, baptism celebrates a person’s joyful entrance into the community of faith. In the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, bread and juice are offered as a way to remember the sacrificial love of God, and they become for us a means of grace and the presence of Christ. All persons who are followers of Jesus Christ are invited to receive the Lord’s Supper.

The Church universal is the body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit and made up of God’s followers from every “tribe, tongue and nation.” Jesus is Lord and head of the church and the church is committed to following His will. The great mission of the church is to make disciples of all nations. As a part of Christ’s church since 1820, our congregation’s primary purpose has been to live as a testimony of God’s love to our community and world. Each member of our church is endowed by the Holy Spirit with gifts of ministry and is responsible to steward those gifts for the benefit of all.

We will work to equip our church family, to disciple each other in new ways, in order to fulfill the mission of the church. This will happen through our small group ministry-"Covenant Groups" which are focused on Scripture, intentionally small, focused on relationship, and committed to meeting together.  Find out more under the Connect drop down menu.  

We will communicate the gospel using digital platforms to help make our mission as accessible as possible.  We have a church Facebook page, Facebook community group, Instagram, and our online services, which can also be found on Youtube following each Sunday. 

We will promote a culture that exclusively lifts up the Gospel and extends it to include all people.  We will work to do this through our various ministries and missions, along with intentional educational opportunities and dialogue.  

We will develop and strengthen our missional opportunities to love and serve our local and global neighbors, so that they encounter Christ.  Our mission partners can be found under the Serve drop down menu.