MISSION AND VALUES

As an educational institution of evangelical persuasion and Pentecostal/charismatic heritage, SUM affirms the following statement of faith.
Click here to view SUM’s Statement of Faith.

This Statement of Faith is intended simply as a basis for belief, fellowship, and cooperation among us. The phraseology employed in this statement is not inspired, but the truth set forth is held to be essential to a truly Pentecostal ministry. No claim is made that it contains all biblical truth, only that it covers our need for these essential doctrines.

1. THE INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. Divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the original writings, insuring their entire trustworthiness (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21).

2. THE ETERNAL GODHEAD
We believe in the unity of the one true and living God who is the eternal, self-existent One, and has revealed Himself as one being in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19).

1. God the Father
   We believe in God the Father, the first person of the triune Godhead, who exists eternally as the Creator of heaven and earth, the Giver of the Law, to whom all things will be subjected, so that He may be all in all (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 15:28)
2. The Lord Jesus Christ
   We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person of the triune Godhead, who was and is the eternal Son of God; that He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary. We believe in His sinless life, miraculous ministry, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, triumphant ascension, and abiding intercession (Isaiah 7:14; Hebrews 7:25-26; 1 Peter 2:22; Acts 1:9; 2:22; 10:38; 1 Corinthians 15:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
3. The Holy Spirit
   We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the triune Godhead, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and is ever present and active in the work of convicting and regenerating the sinner, and sanctifying the believer into all truth (John 14:26; 16:8-11; 1 Peter 1:2; Romans 8:14-16).

3. THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that humankind was created good and upright. However, voluntary transgression resulted in their alienation from God, thereby incurring not only physical death but spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:16-27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).

4. THE SALVATION OF MAN
We believe in salvation through faith in Christ, who died for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead on the third day. By His atoning blood, salvation has been provided for all humanity through the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross. This experience is also known as the new birth and is an instantaneous and complete operation of the Holy Spirit whereupon the believing sinner is regenerated, justified, and adopted into the family of God, becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus, and heir of eternal life (John 3:5-6; Romans 10:8-15; Titus 2:11, 3:4-7; 1 John 5:1).

5. DIVINE HEALING We believe that deliverance from sickness is provided in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).

6. THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION
We believe that the church is the body of Christ and the habitation of God through the Spirit, witnesses to the presence of the kingdom of God in the present world, and universally includes all who are born again (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:22; Romans 14:17-18; 1 Corinthians 4:20). We believe that the mission of the church is to (1) proclaim the good news of salvation to all humankind, (2) build-up and train believers for spiritual ministry, (3) praise the Lord through worship, and (4) demonstrate Christian compassion to all who suffer (Matthew 28:19-20; 10:42; Ephesians 4:11-13).

7. THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
We believe that baptism in water by immersion is expected of all who have repented and believed. In so doing they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4). We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a proclamation of the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, to be shared by all believers until the Lord returns (Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:20-34).

8. SANCTIFICATION
We believe that a sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. In experience, it is both instantaneous and progressive. It is produced in the life of the believer by his appropriation of the power of Christ’s blood and risen life through the person of the Holy Spirit. He draws the believer’s attention to Christ, teaches him through the Word, and produces the character of Christ within him (Romans 6:1-11; 8:1-2,13; 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 10:10,
14).

9. THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the bestowing of the believer with power for life and service for Christ. This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the new birth, is received by faith, and is accompanied by the manifestation of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance as the initial evidence (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 8:15-19; 11:14-17; 19:1-7).

10. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the present-day operation of the nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit (1\ Corinthians 12) and the ministry gifts of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13) for the edification and expansion of the church.

11. THE END OF TIME
We believe in the premillennial, imminent, and personal return of our Lord Jesus Christ to gather His people unto Himself. Having this blessed hope and earnest expectation, we purify ourselves, even as He is pure, so that we may be ready to meet Him when He comes (John 14:1-3; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 John 3:2-3; Revelation 20:1-6). We believe in the bodily resurrection of all humanity, the everlasting conscious bliss of all who truly believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that everlasting conscious punishment is the portion of all whose names are not written in the Book of Life (John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:22-24; Revelation 20:10-15).