We accept the Bible as the Word of God without requiring logical or observational proof. The Bible claims to be the perfect Word of God, and since we accept the Bible we must accept this claim.

We consider the belief that God exists to be so obvious to every observational and rational faculty and to every culture in history, that such belief is not necessary to state. The pivotal concept is that God exists as He is revealed in the Bible. All other items in the Doctrinal Statement are drawn from an examination of the Scripture.

Doctrine

The Bible

We believe that the BIBLE is the WORD OF GOD, and that it is divinely inspired. We believe in the plenary, verbal inspiration, that it is the only complete and final revelation of the will of GOD to man, and the supreme, infallible authority in all matters of faith and conduct. We use the King James Bible for all teaching and preaching in English. II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20,21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31,32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32

God

We believe in the Trinity, the unity of the Godhead. There are three persons: The FATHER, The SON, and The HOLY SPIRIT. They are equally perfect in every divine quality, and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (A) We believe in GOD the FATHER (B) We believe in JESUS CHRIST (C) We believe in the HOLY SPIRIT. Genesis 1:1,26; John 1:1,3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19,20; Ephesians 4:5,6

The Father

We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Luke 10:21,22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; I Timothy 1:1,2; 2:5,6; I Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6

Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus Christ is God. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; 8:46; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9,10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:28; I Timothy 3:16

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. John 14:16,17,26; 15:26,27; John 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26

Man

We believe that all men by nature, choice and practice are sinners, but that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We believe, therefore, that those who repent of their sins and by faith receive Christ as Lord and Savior will rejoice forever in God’s presence, and those who refuse to receive Christ as Lord and Savior will be forever separated from God. John 3:14,16; 5:24; John 5:30; 7:13; 8:12; 10:26; Romans 9:22; II Thessalonians 1:9; Rev. 19:3,20; 20:10;14,15; 21:18; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14; Romans 3:19; 5:19; Proverbs 28:13; I John 1:9; John 3:16; John 1:13; II Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1

Eternal State

We believe in a literal Heaven, the eternal home of the redeemed. We believe Heaven to be the literal place where the saved will live forever in the eternal bliss and blessings of God. We believe in Hell, the Christ-less eternity for the lost, where there will be burning and tormenting for those without salvation, who have refused to receive the gospel and Jesus Christ as Lord. We believe that Hell, unbelievers, Satan and all the fallen angels shall be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night forever and forever. Matthew 13:41-43 Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-24; John 14:2; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Revelation 21-22

Salvation

We believe salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5.

Baptism

We believe in baptism by immersion after salvation with no merit for salvation in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Spirit). We reject infant baptism and any form of sprinkling for infants or adults.    Baptism is an outward expression of our faith in Jesus Christ and simply a public testimony of what God has done by His grace. Romans 6:1-5; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 2;41; Matthew 3:16; Matthew 28:19-20.24; John 14:2; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Revelation 21-22

The Church

We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of professing, born-again believers in Jesus Christ, immersed on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that to those local churches we are committed, for perpetual observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and that God has laid upon these churches the task of proclaiming to a lost world the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and the enthroning of Him as Lord and Master. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:42; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-26; Ephesians 2:19-22; Ephesians 5:19-21; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 10:23-25.

The Relationship between Church and State

We believe that every human being is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and autonomous and must be free from any ecclesiastical or political authority; therefore, Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions with each fulfilling its duties free from the dictation or patronage of the other. Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25; Acts 5:29; I Timothy 2:5; Romans 13:1-7; 14:7-9,12

Spiritual Gifts

We believe that spiritual gifts are given to the church for the express purpose of winning the lost and edifying other believers. The Holy Spirit is given to each believer upon acceptance of Christ and His purpose is to exalt and bring people to Christ. Speaking in tongues was the least important of these gifts and was given as a sign for unbelieving Jews. That is why Vision Baptist Church does not teach or practice speaking in tongues. John 7:37-39; 14:17; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 1:22; 3:16-17; 6:19-20; 12-14

Eternal Security

We believe in the eternal security of all blood-bought individuals or believers and that such inheritance is incorruptible, and undefiled, and that each believer is kept by the power of God and nothing can separate us from Him, ourselves included. We believe that believers can lose the joy of fellowship with God, can grieve God and can quench the Spirit of God in him or her, but not lose his/her salvation. John 3:16; 5:24; 6:37-39; 10:27-30; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 5:11-13; Jude 24

World Evangelism

We believe that the apostolic office ceased with the death of the Apostles. We believe that it is His church that He promised continual existence, to continue the work He started until He comes again. We believe that the ministry of reconciliation is committed to every believer and all are saints/priests of God. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. Matthew 16:18; 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10

Second Coming

We believe in the literal return of Jesus Christ to the clouds to take all saved people from the earth before the beginning of the Tribulation period. We believe in his bodily visible return with his saints at the close of the Tribulation period to rule and reign for a thousand years on earth. We believe that unbelievers will face God and be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment according to their works, not for salvation, but for their proper and rightful places in the lake of fire. I Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 4:1, Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Phil. 3:20; Thessalonians 4:15; II Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 4:5; I Corinthians 15; II Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:4-6,11-15

Biblical Separation

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God. II Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1-2, 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1

Ecumenicalism

We believe that doctrinal purity is essential to gospel harmony and that the Bible commands us to not associate ourselves with someone who is preaching another gospel, or teaching contrary to sound doctrine. Romans 16:17-18; II Corinthians 6:14-18; 11:1-4; Galatians 1:8-9; Ephesians 4:14-15; 5:11; Philippians 3:1-2; Colossians 2:8; II Thessalonians 3:14; I Timothy 1:3; 6:3-5; II Timothy 3:5,13; Titus 1:10-14; 3:9-11; II Peter 2:1-3; 3:17; 2 John 7-11; Jude 3; Revelation 2:2,6,14-16,20-23

Our Testimonies

Jeff

I was saved in 1993 at a tent revival in my home church in MO. The next summer, 1994, I went on my first missions trip with my youth group to New Mexico.  It was there, seeing the need and being involved, that God began to touch my heart. One evening in the meetings we sang “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back”. I began to think, “I am saved, but have I ever decided to follow Jesus totally in my life?”  I went back to the dorm room after the service and began to read and pray. God was touching my heart and as I began to read Is. 41:9-20, God spoke to my heart about being a missionary for Him. That night I gave my life totally to Him. I was 16 at the time. I went back home and my pastor began to encourage and work with me.

I finished high school and then went to Crown College. During my second year I went to Peru for 6 months and God taught me many things about missions. I went back and finished my studies at Crown, praying God would direct me exactly to the country He would have me to go. After much prayer and study, God placed Argentina on my heart. He also led me to the girl that I was to marry, Mindy.  We both graduated from Crown in May of 2000 and got married a couple weeks later.  The Lord was gracious and we were able to finish deputation in 18 months. We then left for Peru for almost 2 years for language and preparation.

We arrived to La Plata, Argentina on January 21, 2004 and stayed in a hotel while looking for a house, vehicle, and church building. God gave us everything we needed in a short amount of time and on March 21, 2004 we held our first service at the Lighthouse Baptist Church in La Plata.

In September 2004, God gave us the opportunity to begin the Grace Baptist Church in Quilmes, a city 45 minutes away from La Plata.

In March 2005, we began the first classes in the Argentina Bible College with a group of young people who desired to prepare for God’s service. In 2010, the Berean Baptist Church was started by one of the Bible college graduates and in 2011 the Hope Baptist Church was started by another college graduate. The Lord is continuing to do a wonderful work in Argentina with the Bible college students.

In May of 2012, the Lord opened doors and after prayer and counsel, we accepted the position of General Director of Vision Baptist Missions in Alpharetta, Georgia.  As Director, we have the opportunity to not only help the missionaries that are with VBM, but to raise up a new generation of missionaries for a needy world without Christ. We currently base out of Alpharetta, GA and travel preaching missions conferences, counseling missionaries, teaching in the Our Generation Training Center and entering all the doors God opens to encourage everyone possible in the area of world evangelism.

Mindy

I grew up in a Christian home in Brownsville, Indiana. I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 8 years old. In my childhood I don’t remember wanting to be anything but a missionary. When I was 14, I surrendered publicly to the mission field the first time I heard about surrendering, even though in my heart I had surrendered a long time ago.  Through the years God has  tremendously blessed in Argentina and we are now excited about what the Lord has called us to do as we work with young missionary families and students who are will be the next crop of future missionaries.  We have 4 daughters and one son and are thankful for the wonderful family God has given us.   I enjoy spending time with my family, reading books of spiritual growth and blogging about what the Lord is doing in our life on the Women Behind the Scenes blog, a group blog of missionary friends from around the world.