Our purpose is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in worship and to proclaim the gospel of God and His sovereign grace and mercy to undeserving sinners. Since the Bible alone is the Word of God, we look to it as our final rule of faith, practice, and authority.
One of our founding pastors, Elder Hassell Wallis, issued the following vision for Ripley Church many years ago. It is this vision that our congregation, though admittedly imperfect, continues to pursue.
"My primary concern is to regain the spirit of first century Christianity ... those vigorous years, a period before Christianity conformed itself to the image of this world; an era when believers were smitten with a vision of Christ which controlled their lives.
A time when every non-Christian was aware that a new force was entering the world:
One of a revolutionary nature
One of an uncompromising character
One with the radical claims of the gospel
One with sweeping demands on the faithful
One with intense love of the truth
One with a vision that encompasses a large sweep
One with initiative that was bold and daring
One that could answer the call of hungry hearts
One with a compelling dynamic that pushed its convictions from Jerusalem to Rome for 34 years against strong opposition.
I long to be a part of a little group who ache in their hearts to emerge in the midst of latter-day religious confusion, and self-gratification, and pleasant complacency to exhibit the faith and obedience set forth by the disciples of Christ in the first century.
I desire to be a pioneer in pulling away from a sleepy-time religious atmosphere.
I long to be gripped with the reality of God to the degree that all complacent assumption might be washed away from my life."
Does this vision resonate in your heart? Do you also long to be “gripped with the reality of God?” We invite you to join us in worship as we explore the vast display of the love of God, of the grace of Christ, of the communion of the Holy Spirit, and the sufficiency of Scripture for all of life.