Statement of Faith
What In Jesus’ Name Ministries believes — drawn directly from the Bible, held without compromise, and lived out in every small group, every home, and every life we touch.
Rooted in the Word
IJNM is Non-Denominational. We are bound to Jesus Christ alone — and to the Bible He left us. Our doctrines are not the traditions of men; they are the plain teaching of God’s Word, studied faithfully in both the Old and New Testaments according to the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.
We hold these beliefs not as obstacles to community but as the foundation of it. Every group, every meeting, every act of ministry is built on what is written below. We invite every member, Ally, and visitor to know what we believe and to search the Scriptures themselves.
A Nondenominational Ministry that Loves our Lord Jesus and Worships Him in Small Groups
PO Box 43 • Lugoff, SC 29078
Who God Is
The Trinity — One God in Three Persons
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal, co-eternal, and one in essence. They are not three gods, nor three manifestations of one god — they are one God in three persons, as Scripture plainly teaches. This is the bedrock of all Christian faith and the foundation on which every other belief rests.
1 John 5:7 • Matthew 28:19 • 2 Corinthians 13:14 • John 10:30
Jesus Christ — The Way, the Truth, the Life
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God — Fully Divine and Fully Human, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, taught with authority, performed miracles, and willingly went to the cross to bear the penalty for the sins of all humanity. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. We center everything we do, every meeting, every ministry, every name, on Him alone.
John 14:6 • Acts 4:12 • 1 Timothy 2:5 • Philippians 2:9–11
The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, died, and was buried — and that on the third day He rose bodily from the dead, conquering sin and death forever. His death is the full payment for the sins of humanity. His resurrection is the proof of His victory and the guarantee of ours. This is the Gospel, the good news that changes everything. We do not add to it and we do not subtract from it.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 • Romans 5:8 • John 11:25–26 • Acts 1:3
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit — the third person of the Trinity, given by the Father through the Son to dwell in every believer at the moment of salvation. The Holy Spirit teaches, convicts, guides, empowers, intercedes, and distributes spiritual gifts to the body as He wills. He is not a force or a feeling, He is a person, and we welcome His presence and submit to His leading in every meeting and every life.
John 16:13 • Acts 1:8 • 1 Corinthians 12:11 • Romans 8:26–27
Angels
We believe in the existence of angels — personal, spiritual beings created by God, holy and powerful, sent to serve and minister on behalf of those who are heirs of salvation. They are real, they are active, and they are part of the biblical witness from Genesis to Revelation. We do not worship angels, but we acknowledge their biblical reality and their role in God’s purposes.
Hebrews 1:14 • Psalm 91:11 • Matthew 18:10 • Luke 1:19
God’s Word
The Old Testament
We believe the Old Testament is the fully inspired, authoritative Word of God. The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings are not obsolete — they are foundational. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the same God we serve today. The Old Testament prepares us for Jesus, reveals the character of God, and provides the pattern for holy living. We study it faithfully alongside the New Testament.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 • Romans 15:4 • Matthew 5:17–18 • Luke 24:27
The New Testament
We believe the New Testament is the inspired record of Jesus Christ — His birth, life, teaching, death, resurrection, and ascension, and the Spirit-led story of the early church. The Gospels, the Letters, and the Revelation together reveal God’s completed plan of redemption and the full pattern for the church. Jesus is the center and the fulfillment of all Scripture.
Hebrews 1:1–2 • John 20:30–31 • 2 Timothy 3:16–17 • Revelation 22:18–19
Interpretation of Scripture
We believe the Bible is best interpreted in the context of the whole — one passage at a time, in light of the surrounding text, the full counsel of both Testaments, and the witness of the gathered community. We study Scripture according to its original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek foundations, with reverence and accountability. No private interpretation that contradicts the plain meaning of the text or the discernment of the body is accepted.
2 Peter 1:20–21 • 2 Timothy 2:15 • Nehemiah 8:8 • Acts 17:11
How We Are Saved
Salvation by Grace Through Faith
We believe that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and that salvation is the free gift of God — received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. No work, ritual, payment, or religious performance earns salvation. It is given freely to all who confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead. Salvation is not the beginning and end of the journey, it is the door through which the walk begins.
Ephesians 2:8–9 • Romans 3:23 • Romans 10:9–10 • John 3:16
Salvation and Sanctification
We believe that sanctification — being set apart, growing in holiness, and being conformed to the image of Christ, is entirely a work of God’s grace. It cannot be purchased, earned, or accelerated through any payment. No member of IJNM will ever be charged for teaching, spiritual access, ministry blessing, or any step of their growth in Christ. The gifts of God are free. The door is always open. Salvation and sanctification belong to God alone to give.
Isaiah 55:1 • Romans 6:22–23 • 1 Corinthians 6:11 • Titus 3:5
From Sin to Sanctification
We believe in the whole Christian life: from the acknowledgment of sin, through genuine repentance and faith, to ongoing sanctification and holy living in Christ. This is the arc of every believer’s life — and the content of our teaching. IJNM exists not just to point people toward salvation, but to walk with them through the ongoing growth in Christ. Those who have been set free from sin are uniquely called to lead others through the same door.
Romans 3:23 • 1 John 1:9 • 2 Corinthians 5:17 • 1 Peter 1:15–16
How We Gather
Small Groups as the Biblical Pattern
We believe that the small group is not a ministry preference — it is the biblical pattern for the church. Jesus gathered twelve. The early church met in homes. Where two or three are gathered in His name, He is present. Groups of twelve or fewer allow for genuine accountability, personal discipleship, real community, and the kind of intimate worship that cannot exist in a crowd. This is how the church grew in Acts, and it is how we grow today.
Matthew 18:20 • Acts 2:42–47 • Acts 20:20 • Romans 16:5
Worship in Small Places
We believe that a living room, a rented hall, a garage, or a modest ministry building is a completely valid and holy place of worship. God does not require grandeur. He requires the gathered hearts of His people. IJNM meets wherever the community can gather — in homes, in shared buildings, and in rented spaces, because the presence of Christ is not contained in any building. He is present wherever His people meet in His name.
Matthew 18:20 • Acts 2:46 • John 4:23–24 • 1 Corinthians 3:16
Regular Bible Study and Corporate Worship
We believe the people of God are called to devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching — not occasionally, but consistently. The early church met daily in the temple courts and from house to house. IJNM holds multiple sessions throughout the week because the church is not a once-a-week event, it is a way of life. We commit to regular worship, regular study, and regular community as the foundation of spiritual health.
Acts 2:42 • Hebrews 10:25 • Acts 17:11 • Joshua 1:8
Sunday as the Lord’s Day
We believe Sunday is the primary day of corporate worship — the Lord’s Day, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While we gather throughout the week in small groups, training sessions, and prayer meetings, Sunday remains the anchor of our corporate life together. We honor it as the day the church has gathered since the earliest believers first met the risen Lord.
Acts 20:7 • 1 Corinthians 16:2 • Revelation 1:10 • John 20:19
Unity Among Servants
We believe that unity among Ministers, Assistant Ministers, and Members is not optional — it is essential to the health and testimony of the body. Divisions rooted in pride, competition, or personal ambition have no place in IJNM. Every servant leads by serving. Every leader submits to one another in love and to Jesus Christ as Lord. We are one body, with many parts, all working together for one purpose.
Ephesians 4:3–6 • Psalm 133:1 • Philippians 2:1–4 • John 17:21
Biblical Correction — The Matthew 18 Model
We believe in addressing sin and conflict within the community according to the pattern Jesus established in Matthew 18 — first privately between those involved, then with witnesses, then before the church if necessary. This process is not punitive; it is restorative. The goal is always the recovery of the person and the health of the body. We are a community of accountability as well as a community of grace.
Matthew 18:15–17 • Galatians 6:1 • 2 Thessalonians 3:15 • James 5:19–20
Baptism
We affirm baptism as a biblical command and a meaningful act of public faith. Baptism is the outward declaration of an inward change — a public commitment to follow Jesus, identify with His death and resurrection, and enter into the community of His people. We discuss its specific form and application within our community in accordance with Scripture and in submission to the whole counsel of God’s Word.
Matthew 28:19 • Acts 2:38 • Romans 6:3–4 • Galatians 3:27
How the Spirit Works
Spiritual Gifts for the Body
We believe that God gives every believer spiritual gifts and natural talents — not for personal glory, but for the building up of the body of Christ. Preaching, teaching, singing, giving, serving, leading, mercy, and more, all are gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit as He wills. No gift is unimportant. Every member of IJNM is expected to discover, develop, and use their gifts in service to the community.
1 Corinthians 12:4–7 • Romans 12:6–8 • 1 Peter 4:10–11 • Ephesians 4:11–12
Prophecy Within the Church
We believe that the gift of prophecy — speaking forth the Word of God for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of believers, operates within the body of Christ. All prophecy is subject to Scripture, accountable to leadership, and tested by the community. We do not allow disorder; we permit the Spirit. True prophecy will always align with what is written in the Bible.
1 Corinthians 14:3 • 1 Thessalonians 5:20–21 • Acts 2:17 • 1 John 4:1
Speaking in Tongues — With Interpreter
We believe in the biblical gift of speaking in tongues as a genuine work of the Holy Spirit. We also hold firmly to the clear biblical order established by the Apostle Paul: when tongues are spoken in a corporate gathering, an interpreter must be present. Without interpretation, tongues are kept between the individual and God. We do not forbid this gift — we receive it with the order and accountability that Scripture requires, so that everything done in our gatherings is for the building up of the whole body.
1 Corinthians 14:27–28 • Acts 2:4 • 1 Corinthians 14:39–40 • 1 Corinthians 14:5
Encouragement and Mutual Edification
We believe that believers are called to stir one another up toward love and good works — to actively encourage each other toward preaching, singing, serving, leading, and stepping fully into their calling. IJNM does not allow gifted people to sit idle. Every member is seen, every gift is recognized, and every person is actively called forward by the community around them.
Hebrews 10:24–25 • 1 Thessalonians 5:11 • Romans 1:12 • Acts 18:27
How We Live
Love for All People
We believe that God is love, and that His command to love one another is not a suggestion — it is the mark of a true disciple. IJNM extends the love of Christ to all people regardless of background, race, history, or circumstance. The same love that found us is the love we carry into every group, every relationship, and every encounter. Where love is absent, the Gospel is not present. We love because He first loved us.
John 13:34–35 • 1 John 4:7–8 • Mark 12:30–31 • 1 Corinthians 13:1–3
Teaching Within Demographic Groups
We believe that effective, relatable teaching meets people where they are. Scripture establishes that older men are to teach younger men, and older women are to teach younger women. In IJNM, teachers minister within and alongside their own demographic — men leading men, women leading women, young people leading young people. This is not division; it is intentional discipleship. Teaching that comes from shared experience builds trust and produces lasting fruit.
Titus 2:1–8 • 1 Timothy 4:12 • Proverbs 27:17
The Family of God
Marriage According to Scripture
We believe that marriage is a sacred covenant established by God between one man and one woman. It is the first human institution in Scripture, ordained before the Fall, and held up throughout both Testaments as a picture of Christ’s love for the Church. We uphold this definition as given in God’s Word. IJNM celebrates marriage and supports married couples through dedicated groups, pastoral care, and community.
Genesis 2:24 • Matthew 19:4–6 • Ephesians 5:25–33 • Malachi 2:14
Marriage Counseling and Support
We believe the church has a responsibility to support married couples — before, during, and through the challenges of marriage. IJNM offers pastoral counseling and care for couples through designated ministry leaders. No couple should have to navigate the weight of marriage alone. The community of the church exists to support the family, and we take that responsibility seriously.
Proverbs 11:14 • Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 • James 5:16 • Galatians 6:2
Financial Integrity
Giving as an Act of Worship and Community
We believe that giving is a biblical act of worship, community, and stewardship — not a transaction or an obligation imposed on the poor. IJNM operates on four forms of giving: General Donations (for essential operating expenses), a Building Fund (for Ministry Buildings), Tithing (directed toward orphans, widows, and those in need, as Scripture commands), and Church Vote Offerings (for specific needs approved by the congregation). All significant expenditures are reviewed and voted on by the church body. Members are always informed how funds are used. There are no hidden fees and no financial pressure on any member.
2 Corinthians 9:7 • Deuteronomy 14:28–29 • Malachi 3:10 • Acts 4:34–35
The Early Church and House Churches
We believe that the Early Church met in the Temple and synagogues but eventually moved to House Churches due to persecution. IJNM follows that same pattern.
Romans 16:3–5 • 1 Corinthians 16:19 • Colossians 4:15 • Philemon 1:1–2 • Acts 2:46 • Acts 20:20
Loving Correction
We love because He first loved us. Love also includes correction — whether it comes from God or from the Church — for God corrects those He loves.
Proverbs 3:12 • Hebrews 12:6
Preaching at IJNM
Nondenominational and Denominational Christian preachers may preach at IJNM Ministry Buildings with the permission of the Lead Minister and/or Assistant Minister. Members may suggest other ministers to teach or preach, but it must be approved by the Lead Minister and/or Assistant Minister.
Mark 9:38–40 • 1 Corinthians 14:26
Caring for the Poor and Needy
We believe that tithing and other general funds for the poor and needy should be handled by the members personally, as an act of love and stewardship.
James 1:27 • Galatians 2:10
These Are Not Just Words
Every one of these beliefs is lived out in our groups, our schedule, our finances, and our relationships. We invite you to come and see — not just read.