The Purpose of Holyoke First Baptist Church is to glorify God through: Evangelism, Worship, Fellowship, Edification, and Service.
OUR CORE VALUES
We unashamedly and uncompromisingly strive to be:
Biblically Based – God’s Word is our guide, authority and conscience in everything. We stand firm where Scripture stands firm and remain flexible where it is flexible. It is through the teaching and preaching of God’s Word where we have knowledge of the Gospel, where sinners are convicted, where hearts repent, and where people are moved to serve Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:16).
Passionate About Prayer – We believe the attitude and action of prayer is essential to everything we do as individuals and as a corporate body. Nothing of eternal significance or value is ever accomplished apart from prayer. It is through our prayers that we align our hearts to listen to God’s Spirit, we declare the goodness of God, give God thanks, seek forgiveness, find supplication and abide in His presence (Psalm 45:18, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Matthew 6:9-13, Colossians 4:2).
Committed to those far from God- We believe that lost people matter to God; therefore, they matter to us. Jesus came to seek and save the lost and has left us here, in part, to do the same. Our individual lives and corporate efforts will reflect this conviction to pursue the dead churched, de-churched, and unreached in our community and beyond with the love of Jesus Christ and the hope of the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 19:10, Rev. 2-3).
Invested With Our Gifts – We believe that each believer has been employed by the Holy Spirit with at least one spiritual gift and many God given talents in order to serve the body of Christ. Believers are called to be good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Spiritual giftedness and maturity determines where and how a believer serves. We believe excellence honors God and reflects His character. We strive for excellence without compromise in all areas of our ministry and lives. (1 Peter 4:10; Colossians 3:17).
Committed To Community – Belonging to our community requires a commitment to being intentionally involved with others in accountable, encouraging relationships. We believe life-change happens best in the context of abiding relationships that together are pursuing spiritual growth in Jesus Christ. In clusters of caring people, participants share and encourage each other toward spiritual growth. (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Relevant in Ministry – We believe that to be biblical we must be traditional. We also believe that to be effective in our ministry, we must share those traditions in a manner that engages our culture and in a way that they understand. The Bible does not tell us to use only certain styles of music, or to present our message only through words. The Bible does make it clear, however, that we are to find ways to effectively bring the message “into all the world” in order to make disciples. We believe this will require careful scrutiny of everything we do – new practices and old – and a willingness to change when necessary within biblical parameters, in order that we, “by all possible means might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 3:6; Ephesians 4:11-16).
Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.