About Us
Welcome to Candlewood! Candlewood Church is a non-denominational, Bible-based, Christian church. Our church is not a building, but people committed to one another, united in the belief that God has given us a new life and a new future through our shared relationship with Jesus Christ. We are a spiritual family pursuing deep, meaningful relationships through the love God has for everyone. Whether you are here for the first time or the hundredth time, we are glad you could join us today!
Just as a church is people not a building, the Christian life is more than just a Sunday Service - it is the life we live every day, at home, at work and in our community. Our services and ministries are designed to help us be successful in God's eyes in our everyday lives. We believe God has the best solutions to the challenges we face and the problems we wrestle with. God's love and power are real, and at work in us whenever we reach out to Him. And we believe that loving and following God with all our hearts is the key to experiencing the very best life possible. We hope your experiences at Candlewood move you to walk with God through whatever adventures are in store for you this week!
Mission
To communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ by
* faithfully loving God and others
* building strong balanced families
* providing a place where individuals can realize their full potential
* genuinely caring for the needs of our community
Statement of Faith
-The Scripture-
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. It was uniquely, verbally, and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and was written without error in the original manuscript. It is the supreme and final authority in faith and life in every age.
-God-
There is but one God, infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness and love, Creator of the universe, eternally existing in three persons-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-each of whom possesses all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality.
-Man-
God created man in His own image, and man as he was originally created, was innocent before God. But man chose to sin by disobeying God, and therefore was alienated from his Creator and came under divine condemnation. Thus all human beings are born with a corrupted nature and without spiritual life, and are totally incapable of pleasing God in and of themselves.
-Jesus Christ-
God the Father, by His own choice and out of love for sinful men and women, sent Jesus Christ into the world to reconcile sinners to Himself. Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He was God in the flesh, both true God and true man. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and voluntarily suffered and died as our substitute to pay the penalty for our sins, thus satisfying God's justice and accomplishing salvation for all those who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He bodily ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, makes intercession for His own. He will return to earth personally, visibly, and bodily to judge all men and establish His kingdom.
-Salvation-
Men and women are freed from the penalty for their sins not as a result, in whole or in part, of their own works, goodness, or religious ceremony, but by the undeserved favor of God alone. God declares righteous all who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation.
-The Holy Spirit-
The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ, to convict men and women of their sins, and to impart new life to all who place their faith in Christ. He indwells believers from the moment of spiritual birth, seals them until the day of redemption, and empowers them to live a life pleasing to God.
-Assurance-
All who are born again of the Spirit can be fully assured of their eternal life from the very moment they put their faith in Christ. This assurance is not based on any kind of human merit, but upon the fact of God's election, upon Christ's complete payment for our sins, and upon the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, whom is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.
-The Resurrection of the Dead-
At physical death, the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his or her body to everlasting glory, and blessing. At physical death, the unbeliever enters into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his or her body to everlasting suffering, judgment, and condemnation.
-Baptism and the Lord's Supper-
Jesus Christ has instructed those who believe in Him to be baptized in water as a symbol of their new birth in Christ. Baptism is only for those who have personally believed in Christ. Our practice is to baptize by immersion. The Lord also instituted the Lord's Supper as a remembrance of His suffering, death, and resurrection. Neither baptism nor the Lord's Supper has any merit in helping a person obtain eternal life.
-The Church-
All true believers make up the church worldwide and should assemble together in local churches for worship, prayer, fellowship, and teaching, in order to become conformed to the image of Christ and to become equipped to carry out the ‘Great Commission' that Christ gave His followers in Matthew 28:19-20.
History
The Great Commission church movement began in 1970 with a focus on planting and building churches that are devoted to Jesus Christ and fulfilling the Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age," (Matthew 28:19, 20). This grass-roots movement began when a group of approximately thirty college-age Christians embarked on a summer-long evangelistic outreach to several university campuses in the southwestern United States. From this initial outreach several campus fellowships were formed, growing to over thirty by the end of the 1970's.
In the early 1980's, several of the pastors of these fellowships recognized the need to have a more formal association of churches on a national level. In 1983, Great Commission International was formed to provide services such as conferences and publishing for the developing association. The Great Commission church movement began in 1970 with a focus on planting and building churches that are devoted to Jesus Christ and fulfilling the Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age," (Matthew 28:19, 20). This grass-roots movement began when a group of approximately thirty college-age Christians embarked on a summer-long evangelistic outreach to several university campuses in the southwestern United States. From this initial outreach several campus fellowships were formed, growing to over thirty by the end of the 1970's.
During the 1980's churches in Great Commission were planted in U.S. communities. In 1989, Great Commission International changed its name to the Great Commission Association of Churches and today is referred to simply as Great Commission Churches. Great Commission Churches is part of a movement of churches throughout the world.
F.A.Q.
1. Is Candlewood connected with any other Churches and what do you believe?
Candlewood is associated with a group of churches called "Great Commission Churches" (GCC).
Great Commission Churches is a U.S. based fellowship of independent churches designed to equip, unite and provide accountability to churches and ministries that have a desire to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Our heart is that churches will model "New Testament Christianity in Action Today."
2. What do you believe and what is your Statement of Faith?
Our belief's can be found in the Statement of Faith section.
3. How are we organized?
Great Commission Churches (GCC) functions as an interdependent family of churches where each church is autonomous and self-governed by its pastors, but united in mission, doctrine, and core values.
4. What are GCC's roots?
GCC began in the early 1970's as a campus church movement and has since developed into an association of churches based in the community and campuses in the U.S. and throughout the world. In 1989, Great Commission Ministries (GCM) was formed to continue the campus emphasis through a staff-based support system.
5. What are your views on controversial topics such as charismatic issues?
In general our focus is on the basic gospel of Jesus Christ, the fulfilling of the Great Commission and uniting with followers of Jesus Christ to worship and serve Him. In light of this, there is a great degree of flexibility on historically controversial issues that fall within the bounds of orthodox doctrine. In this way, we as an association of churches and believers in Jesus Christ can go about doing the Lord's will in the world while at the same time working through difficult issues. Having said this, the churches in GCC are generally non-charismatic in their beliefs and practices.
6. What services does GCC provide for churches?
GCC and other GCC ministries host several conferences for pastors, couples, families, teens, and college students on a regular basis. Regional leaders provide coaching and support to pastors and churches, both to new church plants and to established churches. GCC also has a leadership development program called Great Commission leadership Institute (GCLI) that includes pastoral mentoring, local mentor groups, and extensive doctrinal study, and regional conferences. GCC also provides funding for mission efforts in the U.S. and overseas, as well as relief for churches in need. Our devotional, Faithwalkers also published quarterly for the encouragement of the churches.
7. Where are GCC member churches and ministries?
There is a listing of our locations on this site, most of which are located near major universities or metropolitan areas throughout the world.
8. Any special ministry focus?
Generally, our priority has been on reaching the youth. Historically, GCC began as a movement on college campuses in order to reach the next generation. GCM, GCC's international mission organization, provides support for all U.S. campus ministry efforts. GCM directs all U.S. campus ministry efforts. As we've grown as a movement of churches, we've planted more and more churches in U.S. communities to the point that today most of GCC's members are in community churches. As part of this community ministry a major focus has been on high schools. Finally, because of our emphasis on reaching the whole world with the gospel, we are increasingly putting more emphasis on international ministry through GCM, which also coordinates all overseas ministry.
9. What are your values?
As an association of churches, we have always cherished the Great Commission and it remains our focus today. From that common mandate, our other core values have developed, including a strong emphasis on the grace of God, reaching youth, church-based leadership development, strong families, and a devotion to God and His Word. See our Core Values (link) for a more complete listing and explanation of the values that shape our association.
Pastors
Finances
How is Candlewood financially supported?
Candlewood Community Church is supported by the gifts of those who consider this their church. But you will not see a collection plate passed during our services. Contributions are received in the blue offering box located on the Information Table. We believe God calls all who know Him to honor Him through financial giving (Proverbs 3:9-10), and that He is pleased when His followers do so cheerfully and not under compulsion (II Corinthians 9:7). God will continue to bless our church, its work, and our lives individually as we honor Him with what He has given us.
If you are interested in financial details, please contact the church office.
Our Financial Practices and Policies
* We truly desire that money given to the church be done so freely, cheerfully, and out of genuine appreciation to God.
* All members will be encouraged to give of their income both regularly and proportionately. Tithing is encouraged as a biblical principle giving us guidance as to what the proportion of our giving should be. Some members will excel in generosity and ability to give beyond their tithe.
* As a general rule, we will not use the services to share financial needs or request funds. We will annually teach on giving, conduct a fund drive for local church needs or needs in the community, and conduct an international fund drive for missions.
* We will do our best to help with genuine financial needs within the church. Notify one of the pastors of your need or another's need. Where there is repeated financial need, financial accountability and counseling may be required.
* The tithes and offerings collected for each service are counted directly after that service by at least two designated men. The ministries and vision we have as a church are supported by the tithes and offerings of our members.
* All expenses have receipts.
* Candlewood Community Church never has, nor plans to spend more than we have. All church plans, projects, and monthly routine expenses are contingent upon available funds.
* All financial decisions are made by the local pastors and the church treasurer, working together. Advice is also obtained from other members of our church in the different areas of church ministry.
* We closely maintain in our account, a minimum savings pad representing two month's church expenses. We are working toward a savings pad representing six months of expenses.
* All financial records are maintained by the church treasurer. We keep a complete record of all disbursements and expenses.