What We Believe

We believe the entire Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God and should be the supreme and final authority in our lives and faith. [2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21]

We believe in one God who exists and reveals Himself in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. [Deuteronomy 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:14]

We believe that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, was raised from the dead and is at the right hand of the Father as true God and true man. [Matthew 1:18-25, Romans 9:5, Hebrews 12:2]

We believe that all mankind was created in the image of God, but fell from relationship with God by voluntary disobedience. Only through accepting Jesus Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice of His shed blood for our sins, can we be forgiven and restored into fellowship with God. [Genesis 1:27, Romans 3:23; 5:1; 6:23, Ephesians 1:7]

We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord and the following bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, with everlasting joy for the saved and everlasting, conscious punishment of the lost. [Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15]

We believe the Pastor is the overseer and under shepherd of the local Church. Corporately, he might be shown on the organizational chart as Chief Executive Officer. Spiritually, he is the caretaker of God’s flock and has been entrusted with the souls of God’s people.

We Believe that the Church is comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior and that scripture instructs believers to identify and regularly assemble with other believers to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Bible, fellowship, and works of service. [Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2:42-47; 16:5]

We believe that water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the authority of Jesus’ name, should be followed by all believers as a public profession of their faith in Christ. [Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38; 8:36-38]

We believe that the holy ordinance of Communion should be received by believers walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ as a remembrance and celebration of what Christ accomplished for them on the cross. [Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29]

These purposes are grounded in our belief in One God, who is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omni-present and manifest in three persons – the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. We also believe in the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God and in the observance of the Ordinances of Baptism and Communion. The objectives of Olive Branch are: To be a spiritual organism empowered by the Holy Spirit; To share Christ Jesus with as many people as possible in our church, community, and throughout the world; To be a worshipping fellowship, experiencing an awareness of God, recognizing His power and responding in obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leadership; To help each individual to grow in the knowledge of God and man, and to maximize their God-given talents and gifts; To be a church whose Senior Pastor and associate ministers are Spirit-led, give unselfishly to the Church and community, and lead by example, rightly dividing the Word of Truth; To be Christ-like in our daily living by emphasizing dedication, total commitment of life, personality, and possessions to the Lordship of Christ; and To demonstrate Christ’s love and compassion through charitable activities that promote the physical, mental and spiritual health of the poor, the elderly, or the disadvantaged, whether believers or non-believers.