“Independent Fundamental Baptist" - Wow, now that’s a mouthful... but what does that mean at Bible Baptist Church?
First of all, we are a congregation that is self-governed. Though we fellowship with other churches and Christian ministries, we are not governed by them. We believe that Christ is the head of this church. It is led by our Senior Pastor and his pastoral staff. Also the deacons and trustees, who are church-elected, meet with the Pastor and pastoral staff to examine and discuss church related needs, issues and matters of concern. This not only creates a wonderful atmosphere of team cooperation, but it also builds a foundation of strong accountability and effectiveness.
Second, we believe that the Bible is God's inspired Word. By that we mean that when the Bible speaks, God speaks. We use it as the very foundation of all our beliefs and practices. It is fundamental to all that we preach, teach and minister.
Third, we are unashamedly a Baptist church. This title is not one of affiliation but rather one of conviction and of direction for this church body. As a Baptist church, we believe that the Bible is our sole authority. We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who came to be man's Savior. We believe that God’s forgiveness is a gift offered to a sinful world (Jesus died for all, but all must individually believe in Him as Savior). We believe that God is no respecter of persons, but that He loves all equally. (This is not the same as saying that He approves of or accepts all that we may do.) We believe that Christians are to live godly and holy lives - not to earn God's forgiveness, but to glorify God for the forgiveness He has given to us. We believe in two ordinances for the church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that scriptural baptism pictures one's faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Thus, we believe one should only be baptized after he has believed in Jesus Christ as his Savior. We believe that there are two biblical offices in the church: Pastors and Deacons.
Our worship services are alive, exciting, and most importantly, God centered and Christ honoring. We have a time of congregational singing, often supplemented with soul-stirring special music provided by our members. Conservative, godly music is very important to our worship, but we do not believe that it is paramount. We believe that the preaching of God’s Word should be the strength of every worship service. Therefore, preaching is given the most prominent place in our worship. Most of the preaching and teaching at Bible Baptist Church is expositional, focused on reading, explaining, and applying whole passages of God's Word in the power of God's Spirit and with the passion deserving of the most important Book in the world
To become a member at Bible Baptist Church, one must first give a clear testimony of having received Christ as Savior. One must also be baptized in a Baptist church of like-faith and express confidence that it is God's will that they become a part of this church body. Those considering membership are encouraged to speak to Pastor Zimmerman of their desire. This gives them an opportunity to get better acquainted with our pastor, as well as giving him an opportunity to answer any questions they may have.
One reason we use only one version of the Bible is because of our strong emphasis on teaching what the Bible says. Our members are encouraged to bring their Bibles to every service and have them open throughout the sermons because our pastors and teachers frequently call their attention to what is written - the actual words and statements. By using only one version of the Bible, everyone can follow what is being taught without feeling left out, lost, or confused. We use the King James Version in particular because we have confidence in its accuracy and authority. We believe it is the inspired, preserved Word of the Living God, and God powerfully blesses its use in all our services.
Giving is not a church's way of raising money. Purposeful, willing, joyful giving is God's way of accomplishing His work in the world. We know that money is needed to run a ministry, but we also know money is not the center of a healthy ministry. Our primary aim is helping Christians discover and apply the life-changing principles of God's Word to every area of life. To that end, our pastor periodically teaches what the Bible says about financial stewardship, handling this topic, as he does all topics, both biblically and appropriately. What an individual decides to do financially is solely between himself and God.
We as a ministry have strong checks and balances so as to protect this ministry from misappropriation and waste of the Lord's finances. Accurate and up to date records are made available for all members.