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Grace Bible Fellowship
Articles of Faith

1. Faith in the Holy Trinity - We believe in the one living and true God, both holy and loving eternal, unlimited in power,
wisdom, and goodness, the Creator and Preserver of all things.  Within this unity there are three equal persons of
one essential nature, power, and eternity -- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; Ps.  90:1-2; Isa. 40:28-29; Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; John 1:1-2; 4:24; 16:13;17:3;
Acts 5:3-4;17:24-25; I Cor. 8:4.6; Eph. 2:18; Phil. 2:6; Col. 1:16-17;1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 1:8.3:4-8;1 John 5:7.20

The Father - We believe the Father is the Source of all that exists, whether of matter or spirit.  With the Son and the Holy Spirit, He
made man in His image.  By intention He relates to man as Father, thereby forever declaring His goodwill toward man.  
In love, He both seeks and receives penitent sinners.
Ps.  68:5; Isa. 64:8; Matt. 7:11; John 3:17; Rom. 8:15; I Peter 1:17

The Son of God - We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the
Virgin Mary, truly God and truly man.   He died on the cross and was buried, a sacrifice both for original sin and for all the
transgressions of men, reconciling us to God.   Christ rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven, and there intercedes for
us at the Father's right hand.
Ps.  16:8-10; Matt. 1:21.23;11:27;16:28; 27:62-66; 28:5-9; 16-17; Mark 10:45;15;16:6-7; Luke 1:27,31, 35; 24:4-8, 23; John 1:1, 14,
18; 3:16-17; 20:26-29; 21;  Acts 1:2-3; 2:24-31; 4:12; 10:40; Rom. 5:10, 18; 8:34; 14:9; I Cor. 15:3-8.14; II Cor. 5:18-19;
Gal 1:4; 2:20; 4:4-5;
Eph. 5:2; I Tim. 1:15; 2:5; Heb. 2:17; 7:27; 9:14; 28; 10:12; 13:20; I Peter 2:24; I John 2:2; 4:14

The Holy Spirit - We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
and is of the same essential nature, majesty,
and glory, as the Father and the Son, truly and eternally God.  He is the Administrator of grace to all mankind, and is particularly the
effective Agent in conviction of sin,in regeneration and in glorification.  
He is ever present, assuring, preserving, guiding, enabling and indwelling the believer.
Matt. 28:19; John 14:16-17; 15:26;16:13-15; Acts 5:3-4; Rom. 8:9; II Cor. 3:17; Gal. 4:6

2. The Bible -We believe that the Holy Scriptures may be applied in context to the problems and situations
of our generation,
that they are profitable for teaching the purpose of God for our lives, for correction and reproof when our lives depart
from that purposeand for training all who would believe in the ways of righteousness.

The canonical books of the Old Testament are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I
Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings,  I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song
of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea,
Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

The canonical books of the New Testament are: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians,
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James,
I Peter, II Peter, I John, II John, III John, Jude, and Revelation.
Ps. 19:7; Matt. 5:17-19; 22:37-40; Luke 24:27, 44; John 1:45; 5:46; 17:17: Acts 17:2, 11; Rom. 1:2; 15:4, 8; 16:26; Gal. 1:8;
Eph. 2:15-16; II Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 4:12; 10:1; James 1:21; I Peter 1:23; II Peter 1:19-21; I John 2:3-7; Rev. 22:18-19

3. Marriage and the Family - We believe that man is created in the image of God, that human sexuality reflects that image in terms
of intimate love, communication, fellowship, subordination of the self to the larger whole, and fulfillment.  God's Word makes use of
the marriage relationship as the supreme metaphor for His relationship with His people and for revealing the truth that this
relationship is of one God with one people.  Therefore God's plan for human sexuality is that it is to be expressed only in a
monogamous lifelong relationship between one man and one woman within the framework of marriage.  This is the only relationship
which is divinely designed for the birth and rearing of children and is a covenant union made in the sight of God, taking priority over
every other human relationship.
Gen. 1:27-28; 2:18, 20, 23, 24; Isa. 54:4-8; 62:5; Mal. 2:14-16; Matt. 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9;
I Tim. 5:14; I Cor. 9:5; Eph 5:23-33;  Heb. 13:4; Rev. 19:7-8

4. Man's Choice - We believe that man's creation in the image of God included ability to choose between right and wrong.  Thus
man was made morally responsible for his choices.  But since the fall of Adam, man is unable in his own strength to do the right.  
This is due to original sin, which is not simply the following of Adam's example, but rather the corruption of the nature of every man,
and is reproduced naturally in Adam's descendants.  Because of this original sin, man is very far gone from original righteousness,
and of his own nature is continually inclined to evil.  He cannot of himself even call upon God or exercise faith for salvation.  But
through Jesus Christ the prevenient grace of God makes possible what man in himself cannot do.  
This grace is bestowed freely upon all  men, enabling all who will to turn and be saved.
Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Deut. 30:19; Josh. 24:15; Ps. 51;: Isa 64:6; Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21-23; Luke 16:15; Rom. 3:10-12; 5:12-21;1 Cor. 15:22;
Eph. 2:l-3; I Tim. 2:5; Titus 3:5; Heb. 11:6; Rev. 22:17

5. The Atonement - We believe that Christ's offering of Himself, once and for all, through His sufferings and meritorious death on
the cross, provides the perfect redemption and atonement for the sins of the whole world, both original and actual.  There is no other
ground of salvation from sin but that alone.  This atonement is sufficient for every individual of Adam's race.  It is unconditionally
effective in the salvation of those mentally incompetent, and of children under the age of accountability.  It is effective for the
salvation of those who reach the age of accountability only when they repent and exercise faith in Jesus Christ.
Isa. 52:13-53:12; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:16; Acts 3:18; 4:12; Rom. 3:20, 24-26;   5:8-11, 13, 18-20; 7:7; 8:34; I Cor. 6:11; 15:22;
Gal. 2:16; 3:2-3; Eph. 1:7; 2:13,16; I Tim. 2:5-6; Heb 7:23-27; 9:11-15, 24-28;10:14;1 John 2:2; 4:10

6. Repentance and Faith - We believe that for man to appropriate what God's prevenient grace has made possible, he must
voluntarily respond in repentance and faith.   The ability comes from God, but the act is man's.  Repentance is prompted by the
convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit.  It involves a willful change of mind that renounces sin and longs for righteousness.  
Repentance is the    precondition for saving faith, and without it saving faith is impossible.  Faith, in turn, is the only condition of
salvation.  It begins in the agreement of the mind and the consent of  the will to the truth of the gospel, but issues a complete
reliance by the whole person in the saving ability of Jesus Christ and a complete trusting of oneself to Him as Savior and Lord.  
Saving faith is expressed in a public acknowledgment of His Lordship and identification with His church.
Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32; 13:3; 24:47; John 3:16; 17:20; 20:31; Acts 5:31; 10:43;      11:18; 16:31; 20:21; 26:20; Rom. 1:16; 2:4;
10:8-10.17; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 2:8; 4:4-6; Phil. 3:9;  II Thess. 2:13; II Tim. 2:25; Heb. 11:6; 12:2; I Peter 1:9; II Peter 3:9

7. Justification and Regeneration - We believe that when man repents of his sin and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, he in the
same moment is justified, regenerated, adopted into the family of God, and assured of his salvation through the witness of the Spirit.

We believe that we are accounted righteous before God only on the basis of the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, being
justified by faith alone,and not on the basis of our own works.

We believe that regeneration is that work of the Holy Spirit by which the pardoned sinner becomes a child of God.  This new life is
received through faith in Jesus Christ and by it the regenerate is delivered from the power of sin which reigns over all the
unregenerate, so that they love God and through grace serve Him with the will and affections of the heart, receiving the Spirit of
adoption.
Justification: Hab. 2:4; Acts 13:38-39; 15:11; 16:31; Rom. 1:17; 3:28; 4:2-5; 5:1-2; Gal. 3:6-14; Eph. 2, 5, 8-9; Phil. 3:9; Heb. 10:38
Regeneration: John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 2:10-19; 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; I Peter 1:3-4; II
Peter 1:4; I John 3:1
Adoption: Rom. 8:15; Gal.  4:5.7; Eph 1:5
Witness: Rom. 8:16-17; Gal. 4:6-7; I John 2:3; 3:14, 18-19

8. Good Works - We believe that although good works cannot save us from our sins or from God's judgment, they are the fruit of
faith and follow after regeneration. Therefore they are pleasing and acceptable to God and by them a living faith may be as evidently
known as a tree is discerned by its fruit.
Matt. 5:16; 7:16-20; John 15:8; Rom. 3:20; 4:2, 4, 6; Gal. 2:16; 5:22-23; Eph. 2:8-10; Phil. 1:11; Col. 1:10;  I Thess. 1:3; Titus 2:14;
James 2:14-26; I Peter 2:9, 12

9. Gifts of the Spirit - We believe that the greatest gift of the Spirit is the Holy Spirit Himself which is given to us at the moment of
salvation.  He is to be desired more than the gifts of the Spirit which He in His wise counsel bestows upon individual members of the
Church to enable them properly to fulfill their function as members of the body of Christ.  The gifts of the Spirit, although not always
identifiable with natural abilities, may function through them for the edification of the whole church.  These gifts are not to be
exercised through human volition alone but rather exercised in love under the administration of the Lord of the church.  The relative
value of the gifts of the Spirit is to be tested by their usefulness in the church and not by the joy produced in the ones receiving them.
Luke 11:13; Acts 2:38-39; 8:19-20; 10:45; 11:17; Rom. 12:4-8; I Cor. 12:1-14:40; Eph. 4:7-8, 11-16; Heb. 2:4; I Peter 4:8-11

10. The Church - We believe that the Christian church is the entire body of believers in Jesus Christ, who is the founder and only
Head of the church.  
The church includes both those believers who have gone to be with the Lord and those who remain on the earth.
Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:41-47; 9:31; 11:22; 12:5; 14:23; 15:22; 20:28; I Cor. 1:2; 12:28; 16:1; II Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:2;
Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:9-10, 21; 5:22-33; Col.  1:18, 24; I Thess. 1:1; I Tim. 3:15; Heb. 12:23; James 5:14

11. The Sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper - We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are the sacraments of
the church commanded by Christ.   They are tokens of our profession of a Christian faith and signs of God's gracious ministry
towards us.  By them, He works within us to quicken, strengthen, and confirm our faith.

We believe that water baptism is a sacrament of the church, commanded by our Lord and administered to believers.  It is a symbol of
the new covenant of grace and signifies acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ.  By means of this sacrament,
believers declare their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.
Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; John 3:5, 22, 26; 4:1-2; Acts 2:38-39, 41, 8:12-17, 36-38;.9:18; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16

We believe the Lord's Supper is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ's death and our hope in His victorious return, as well as a
sign of the love that Christians have for each other.  To such as receive it humbly, with a proper spirit and by faith, the Lord's supper
is made a means through which God communicates grace to the heart.
Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; I Cor. 11:23-29

12. The Blessed Hope - We believe that the certainty of the imminent return of Christ  inspires holy living and zeal for the
evangelization of the world.  This coming of the  Lord Jesus Christ in the air to receive to Himself the dead in Christ and believers
who are alive at His coming is otherwise known as the rapture and translation of the  church.
Cor. 15:51-57; I Thess. 4:13-18; II Thess. 1:6-10; 2:1-12; Titus 2:11-14; Heb. 9:27-28; James 5:7-8; II Peter 3:1-14; I John 3:2-3;
Rev. 1:7; 19:11-16; 22:6-7, 12, 20

13. The Second Coming of Christ - We believe in the personal, literal return of the  Lord Jesus Christ to earth to establish His
millennial kingdom.
Zach. 14:4, 9; II Thess. 1:7-10; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:4

14. The Judgment of Mankind - We believe that the Scriptures reveal God as the Judge of all mankind and the acts of His
judgment will culminate in the final meeting of  mankind following the resurrections.  At these judgments records will be examined
and final rewards and punishments will be administered.
Eccl. 12:14; Matt. 10:15; 25:31-46; Luke 11:31-32; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom. 2:16; 14:10-12; II Cor. 5:10; II Tim. 4:1; Heb. 9:27; II
Peter 3:7; Rev. 20:11-13

15. Destiny - We believe that the Scriptures clearly teach that there is a conscious personal existence after death.  The final destiny
of man is determined by God's grace and man's response, evidenced inevitably by his moral character which results from his
personal and volitional choices and not from any arbitrary decree of God.  Heaven with its eternal glory and the blessedness of
Christ's presence is the final abode of those who choose the salvation which God provides through Jesus Christ but hell with its
everlasting misery and separation from God
is the final abode of those who neglect this great salvation.
Dan. 12:2; Matt. 25:34-36; Mark 9:43-48; John 8:24; 14:2-3; II Cor. 5:6-8; Heb.     2:1-3; 9:27-28; 10:26-31; Rev. 20:14-15;
21:1-22:5, 14-15.

Grace Bible Fellowship
History

In January of 1992, a group of people met in the basement of the Butch Lockard home.  
This was the first meeting of what is now Grace Bible Fellowship.  The families included:

Bill & Evelyn Auxier
Darrell & Linda Hopper
Bud & Lillian Jacobitz
Tom & Vicki Jacobitz
Gary & Jill Lhamon
Butch & Lynnette Locard
Greg & Roberta Lockard
Arthur & Louise Nelson
Steve & Sharon Ketelsen

In February, 1992, the fellowship was joined by Pastor Leroy Reynolds and family.

The fellowship met at the Stella Community Building and the Shubert American Legion building until April 1995.  
At that time a double-wide trailer was acquired from Central Baptist Church in Sioux City.

On November 15, 1993, the first Board of Directors were elected.  
They included Steve Ketelsen, chairman; Greg Lockard, vice-chairman; Tom Jacobitz, treasurer; and Gary Lhamon,
secretary.

In May of 1994, money was allocated to purchase a keyboard.  
The first Vacation Bible School was held that year at the Hoppers.  
In June, the first Sunday School class was started.  Julie Lockard was elected as the first Sunday School superintendent.

In July of 1996, Pastor Reynolds resigned.  A search committee was established.  
On May 3, 1997, Karl Forehand filled the pulpit and discussion began regarding accepting a call as pastor.  
In August of 1997, He and his family accepted the call.

In the Spring of 1998, the youth group was started, along with several discipleship groups.  
In the Fall of 1998, Team Kid began to minister to the younger children.

In April of 1998, Tate Jacobitz donated 3.2 acres of land one mile East of Stella to build a new church.  
In June of 1999, the Fellowship chose a 60’ X 100’ building to be erected on a concrete slab.  
In September of 1999, the building was ordered from Sentinel Building Systems.

The first services were held on Easter Sunday, April 23, 2000.  
The dedication of the new building was June 4, 2000.

What We Believe !

IHS

IHS

Designs by
Cody Blecha
One of our ministries for out
reach is our band
ONE WAY OUT - Deb is on
keys, Terry on bass
Jim on guitar; Rick & Elysia
on vocals and our soundman
Wayne.  What a great group
of folks out there sharing the
Gospel & touching lives
through music!