OUR BELIEFS
Our Story, Culture, & Values
Our Story
Through these years God continues to be faithful and good. His work continues regardless if we see it or not. God calls many people, but not too many say “yes”. He may have already asked you to do something, but even if He hasn’t we urge you to give God your “yes”! Even though we have not seen everything happen yet or how we envisioned it in the proper time frame, we do not regret our “yes” to God.
We will continue to rely on His direction and lean even closer to hear Him whisper. Our future is bright with hope because God is in our future. We came to realize that the vision for this house came into existence in the heart of God long before He entrusted it to us. We are grateful we gave God our “yes” before we even knew what God had for us.
Sergio + Masha Fesiuk
Founding Pastors
We will continue to rely on His direction and lean even closer to hear Him whisper. Our future is bright with hope because God is in our future. We came to realize that the vision for this house came into existence in the heart of God long before He entrusted it to us. We are grateful we gave God our “yes” before we even knew what God had for us.
Sergio + Masha Fesiuk
Founding Pastors
Our Culture
Our Beliefs
We live in shifting times but are rooted in eternal truths and the teachings found in the Holy Scripture. Here at AVL City Church we are guided by these foundational beliefs and shaping values.
GOD. Scripture tells us in the Old and New Testaments, with the Christian Church affirming, that God is Triune, co-equal and One. The biblical revelation testifies that there is only one God and that He is eternally existent in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We also believe God is Spirit who is Holy, all-powerful, ever-present, all-knowing, and limitless. Even though God is Sovereign, and the Creator and Ruler of the universe, He is also relational.
Father is God not only the Father, He is also our Father because He has adopted us into His family. We are no longer slaves, but sons and daughters. We can now call Him “Abba” just as Jesus did while teaching his disciples to. Jesus represented the Father on earth and said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father,” and “I and the Father are one.” God the Father is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and He created the universe in love. He created man in His own image for fellowship and called man back to Himself through Christ after the rebellion and fall of man.
Jesus Christ is eternally God and the Son of God. He was together with the Father and the Holy Spirit from the beginning, and through Him all things were made. For man’s redemption, He left heaven and became incarnate by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. According to His promise, He will return to the earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. The dead will be raised and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. Jesus is forevermore, one Christ with two natures—God and man—in one person.
The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He is the gift the Father gives to all who believe the revelation of the Son of God and surrender their lives to Him. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and moral guidance. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily. The Holy Spirit is God, the Lord and the Giver of life, who was active in the Old Testament and given to the Church in fullness at Pentecost. He empowers believers for service and witness, cleanses man from the old nature, and conforms us to the image of Christ.
THE BIBLE. The Bible is God's Word to all humanity. It is a collection of 66 accounts, which we refer to as books and letters. It was written by over 40 human authors under the supernatural guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit over thousands of years. Because it wasn’t written in modern languages spoken across the world, but rather in ancient Hebrew, Koine Greek, and Aramaic, we depend on the best English translations available that retain the authorial intent and divine revelation of the original manuscripts. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth and is always relevant. Its authority is ultimate, final, and eternal. It cannot be added to, subtracted from, or superseded in any regard. The Bible is the source of all doctrine, instruction, correction, and reproof. It contains all that is needed for guidance in godliness and practical Christian conduct. It is also the foundation of our faith and the ultimate authority over our lives. His word is living and active. The bible is God-breathed, meaning that it’s the breath of God on paper and when we read it, we are transformed. His Word never returns void and will accomplish all it is designed to accomplish.
HUMANITY. Humanity was created by and made in the image of God. We humans are the supreme object of God's creation, designed to live forever in relationship with God. Although humanity has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience towards God called “sin." As a result of Adam’s disobedience, we are born into this broken world and the sinful nature has been passed onto us as descendants. This inherited attitude separates humanity from God and is marked by physical and spiritual death. We believe that man, in his natural state, is a sinner - lost, undone, without hope, and without God.
REDEMPTION. Man was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression he fell; his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21
REGENERATION. Regeneration is the impartation of divine life which is manifested in that radical change in the moral character of man, from the love and life of sin to the love of God and the life of righteousness. Another word for regeneration is rebirth, related to the biblical phrase “born again.” 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23
SANCTIFICATION. Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life. I Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, Romans 8:29, 12:1-2
JESUS’ BLOOD. The Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death, once and for all. I John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29
JESUS CHRIST INDWELLING BELIEVERS. Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives over to him thus making Jesus the Lord of their life as well as Savior. They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead. John 1:12; John 14:17, 23; John 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelation 3:20
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters. Hebrews 2:4; Romans 12 :4-8; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; I Corinthians 12,14; I Peter 4:10
RESURRECTION. Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body in three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; those that are saved to the resurrection of life and those that are lost to the resurrection of eternal separation. Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21
HEAVEN. Heaven is a real place where we will see God face to face. There will be no more tears, pain or death because we will be in God's presence forever. Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; I Peter 1:4
HELL. After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally separated from God. There will be Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8
SECOND COMING. Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures. Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64;;I Thessalonians 4:15-17; Acts 1:9-112 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7
MARRIAGE. We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one man and one woman, instituted by and publicly entered into before God. Matthew 19:4-6
HEALING OF THE SICK. Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign, which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus’ work on the Cross and one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28; Romans 11:29
PROVISION. The Father’s ability to provide is without limit. God delights to give us more than we can ask, think, or imagine, and always gives us what we need. This will look different for every person. We can be content as we ask for His abundant provision in every circumstance, and use everything given to our hands to glorify Him and to better serve others. Matthew 6:8-13,19-33; 2 Corinthians 9:7-12; Joshua 1:8; Philippians 4:11-19
GOD. Scripture tells us in the Old and New Testaments, with the Christian Church affirming, that God is Triune, co-equal and One. The biblical revelation testifies that there is only one God and that He is eternally existent in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We also believe God is Spirit who is Holy, all-powerful, ever-present, all-knowing, and limitless. Even though God is Sovereign, and the Creator and Ruler of the universe, He is also relational.
Father is God not only the Father, He is also our Father because He has adopted us into His family. We are no longer slaves, but sons and daughters. We can now call Him “Abba” just as Jesus did while teaching his disciples to. Jesus represented the Father on earth and said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father,” and “I and the Father are one.” God the Father is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and He created the universe in love. He created man in His own image for fellowship and called man back to Himself through Christ after the rebellion and fall of man.
Jesus Christ is eternally God and the Son of God. He was together with the Father and the Holy Spirit from the beginning, and through Him all things were made. For man’s redemption, He left heaven and became incarnate by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. According to His promise, He will return to the earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. The dead will be raised and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. Jesus is forevermore, one Christ with two natures—God and man—in one person.
The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He is the gift the Father gives to all who believe the revelation of the Son of God and surrender their lives to Him. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and moral guidance. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily. The Holy Spirit is God, the Lord and the Giver of life, who was active in the Old Testament and given to the Church in fullness at Pentecost. He empowers believers for service and witness, cleanses man from the old nature, and conforms us to the image of Christ.
THE BIBLE. The Bible is God's Word to all humanity. It is a collection of 66 accounts, which we refer to as books and letters. It was written by over 40 human authors under the supernatural guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit over thousands of years. Because it wasn’t written in modern languages spoken across the world, but rather in ancient Hebrew, Koine Greek, and Aramaic, we depend on the best English translations available that retain the authorial intent and divine revelation of the original manuscripts. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth and is always relevant. Its authority is ultimate, final, and eternal. It cannot be added to, subtracted from, or superseded in any regard. The Bible is the source of all doctrine, instruction, correction, and reproof. It contains all that is needed for guidance in godliness and practical Christian conduct. It is also the foundation of our faith and the ultimate authority over our lives. His word is living and active. The bible is God-breathed, meaning that it’s the breath of God on paper and when we read it, we are transformed. His Word never returns void and will accomplish all it is designed to accomplish.
HUMANITY. Humanity was created by and made in the image of God. We humans are the supreme object of God's creation, designed to live forever in relationship with God. Although humanity has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience towards God called “sin." As a result of Adam’s disobedience, we are born into this broken world and the sinful nature has been passed onto us as descendants. This inherited attitude separates humanity from God and is marked by physical and spiritual death. We believe that man, in his natural state, is a sinner - lost, undone, without hope, and without God.
REDEMPTION. Man was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression he fell; his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21
REGENERATION. Regeneration is the impartation of divine life which is manifested in that radical change in the moral character of man, from the love and life of sin to the love of God and the life of righteousness. Another word for regeneration is rebirth, related to the biblical phrase “born again.” 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23
SANCTIFICATION. Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life. I Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, Romans 8:29, 12:1-2
JESUS’ BLOOD. The Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death, once and for all. I John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29
JESUS CHRIST INDWELLING BELIEVERS. Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives over to him thus making Jesus the Lord of their life as well as Savior. They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead. John 1:12; John 14:17, 23; John 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelation 3:20
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters. Hebrews 2:4; Romans 12 :4-8; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; I Corinthians 12,14; I Peter 4:10
RESURRECTION. Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body in three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; those that are saved to the resurrection of life and those that are lost to the resurrection of eternal separation. Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21
HEAVEN. Heaven is a real place where we will see God face to face. There will be no more tears, pain or death because we will be in God's presence forever. Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; I Peter 1:4
HELL. After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally separated from God. There will be Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8
SECOND COMING. Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures. Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64;;I Thessalonians 4:15-17; Acts 1:9-112 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7
MARRIAGE. We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one man and one woman, instituted by and publicly entered into before God. Matthew 19:4-6
HEALING OF THE SICK. Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign, which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus’ work on the Cross and one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28; Romans 11:29
PROVISION. The Father’s ability to provide is without limit. God delights to give us more than we can ask, think, or imagine, and always gives us what we need. This will look different for every person. We can be content as we ask for His abundant provision in every circumstance, and use everything given to our hands to glorify Him and to better serve others. Matthew 6:8-13,19-33; 2 Corinthians 9:7-12; Joshua 1:8; Philippians 4:11-19