What We Believe
The Bible
The Bible is the self-attesting, infallible Word of God and is the complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks.
Trinity
God is the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are co-equally God and co-eternally God.
God the Father
God the Father is the first person of the Trinity. God the Father is the grand architect and wise designer of creation, redemption, and consummation. The Father sent the Son to perform the work of redemption on behalf of sinners and the Father raised His Son to life so that sinners will have the victory over sin and death. One day the Father will send the Son again to usher in the new heavens and earth.
God the Son
Jesus, second person of the Trinity, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one Person forever. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. On the third day He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Mediator.
God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, and has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior, indwelling our hearts. He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.
Salvation
Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace. God credits His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justifies them in His sight. Only those born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life.
The Church
The church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ. The Church finds expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached and the sacraments are administered, where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained.
The Christian Life
The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the gospel through all that they say and do. The Christian life is lived in complete loyalty to Jesus through prayer, study of God’s Word, active service to the church, Christian fellowship, faithful participation in corporate worship and sharing the good news of Jesus in their communities and the world at large.
Return of Jesus
Jesus Christ will come again to the earth personally, visibly, and bodily—to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. He will usher in and establish the new heavens and new earth where His saints will reign with Him eternally.
Who We Are
Our Mission Statement
“FPC is a Bible-believing church whose purpose is to win souls for Jesus Christ by reaching up, reaching in, and reaching out in the context of 2025 and beyond.” By “reaching up,” we mean that we place our greatest priority on worship, prayer, and cultivating a growing relationship with God. Jesus is the reason we are here and gives purpose to all we do. By “reaching in,” we mean that we prioritize Bible study, interpersonal relationships, and nurturing believers to become disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. By “reaching out,” we mean that we prioritize the Great Commission and the Great Commandment as Kingdom-builders, seeking to glorify God in all we do here in greater Haines City and throughout the world.
Our Vision
Local Evangelism and Ministry:
• Be God's feet, hands, and voice to our surrounding communities, purposely reaching out to new and growing developments within 15 miles radius of the church.
• Continue to minister, preach, and teach God's Word, to the existing congregation and community, winning souls for Christ, both on and off campus, including widows, widowers, and seasonal residents. We also wish to give special emphasis to the growth of our young adults and families.
• Evangelize and minister to the surrounding Hispanic and Latino population to establish a greater presence at FPC Haines City. We will also seek to deepen our partnership with our existing Hispanic and Latino congregation.
Global Evangelism and Ministry:
• Develop and expand our offsite (digital) congregation who are connecting with us via live-streaming and technology.
• Continue to demonstrate a missional approach by expanding and supporting our commitment to global ministries, missionaries, and mission organizations.
Discipleship and Spiritual Growth:
• Continue building and maintaining relationships through small groups.
Worship:
• Provide sound, reliable, Biblical teaching and preaching.
• Offer music that glorifies God and inspires personal participation in worship.
• Create a worshipful environment that is enhanced by the warmth, hospitality, and friendliness of our congregation.
We Are Evangelical
The word “evangelical” comes from a Greek word that means good news and thus those who place a high priority on the sharing and proclaiming of the good news of Jesus are those who are evangelical. We seek to make Jesus known to all.
We are Presbyterian
The word “Presbyterian” comes from a Greek word that means “elder”. We believe that the Bible teaches that the local church should be led by a plurality of elders. The Presbyterian church has its roots in the Protestant Reformation and Reformed Theology. You can find out more about Reformed Theology here.
We are ECO
We belong to the ECO Presbyterian denomination. ECO stands for: Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians. You may find out more about our denomination at www.eco-pres.org