We Hope You’ll Join Us!
With deep roots in the St. James neighbourhood of Winnipeg, we are a church with a heartbeat for community. The people of Ness are from all walks of life; we are an inter-generational church family, blessed with many kids, from the little ones all the way up to the oldest kids, our seniors. We love to serve together, eat together, worship together, and reach out beyond our walls together. A stones throw from the 17 Wing Canadian Forces Base in Winnipeg, we are blessed with many military families. This is our eclectic DNA, a church family founded in 1969, looking forward to the future.
Come and experience God, with us.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
THE WORD OF GOD
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; and as such, it is the supreme, eternal and final authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
Psalm 19:7-11; Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17; Luke 21:33; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21.
THE GODHEAD
We believe that there is only one living and sovereign God; Holy, perfect in thought, word and deed, eternal, infinite, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternally coexisting in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet without division of nature, essence or being. They are equal in every divine perfection, and They execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.
Isaiah 55:8-11; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19-20; John 16:7-15; John 14:9, 11, 26; John 15:26; Romans 1:20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2 Peter 1:2.
GOD THE FATHER
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; just in all His ways. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 64:8; Malachi 2:10; Matthew 6:9; John 3:16; John 4:24; John 14:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that He was begotten of the Holy Spirit, God incarnate and Creator of all things. He was born of a virgin and is one person with two natures, fully God and fully man. He was sinless and accomplished our redemption through the shedding of His blood and sacrificial death on the cross. His death was voluntary, substitutionary, propitiatory (i.e., He suffered the wrath of God on our behalf), and redemptive. He was crucified and died, was buried, and resurrected, after which He ascended to heaven. He is at the right hand of the Father where He now mediates as our Advocate, Intercessor and High Priest, while we await His return.
Luke 24:39; John 1:1-3; John 1:14; John 3:16; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Romans 3:25; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:16,17; Colossians 2:9,10; Hebrews 1:2,3; Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1;
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the personage and Deity of the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, and imparts new life to them. Upon regeneration He indwells, baptizes into the body of Christ, fills, empowers, comforts, guides, teaches, sanctifies , produces Christ-likeness in, and seals all Believers unto the day of redemption. He gives gifts to all Believers for the edification of the body and the proclamation of the Gospel.
John 3:6; John 14:16-18; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 12:7, 12, 13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:18.
MAN
We believe God created man free from sin, in His image and likeness. Through Adam's sin of disobedience to God, man lost his innocence and became totally depraved , incurring the wrath of God and the penalty of physical, spiritual, and eternal death. In his depravity man is hopelessly lost, unable to choose or do that which is acceptable to God. We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice; and as such, are under God's condemnation.
Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 51:5, Psalm 53:3; Isaiah 53:6; 64:6; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:10-12; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23
REGENERATION (SALVATION)
We believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. Salvation and forgiveness of sin are wholly by God's grace, through personal faith on the basis of Christ's redemption and the merit of His shed blood, plus nothing. Believers are the Elect; regenerated by the Holy Spirit; justified by God; sanctified: positionally, progressively and ultimately secure in Christ.
1 John 1:3-7; John 3:16-18; John 1:12-13; Romans 3:10; 3:23; 6:23; 10:9-13; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:8, 9; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 23.
SATAN
We believe that Satan was created a perfect being who authored sin and rebelled against God. He leads a host of evil angels and is an enemy of God, the redeemed of God, and the good angels. As the deceiver, slanderer, murderer, prince of the power of the air, and the Father of lies, he wields great power; but God limits it. He was judged and defeated at the cross and will be sentenced for eternity to the Lake of Fire.
Ezekiel 28:12b-17; Isaiah 14:12-15; Daniel 10:12, 13; Matthew 25:41; Luke 10:18; John 8:44; John 12:31; John 16:11; Ephesians 6:11, 12; Colossians 2:14, 15; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 12:7-9; Revelation 20:10.
THE CHURCH
We believe in the Universal Church which consists of all true Believers; a living spiritual body of which Christ is the Head. We believe in the local Church, a company of Believers growing in Jesus Christ, who are baptized on a credible profession of faith; and who partake of the Lord's Supper. The local Church gathers to worship God and edify Believers through worship, prayer, teaching, service, and fellowship.
We believe that God has given members of the local Church the primary task of presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
Acts 2:41; 2:47; Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 18:1; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:27; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Peter 2:5.
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in the personal return of Christ for His Church, when the dead in Christ and living Believers will be translated to meet Him in the air. After the tribulation the personal, visible return of Christ with His Saints will occur. He will then establish an earthly millennial rule.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; James 5:8; Revelation 11:15.
THE FUTURE STATE OF THE DEAD
We believe that after death the souls of all men and women continue in conscious eternal existence, separated from their earthly bodies; the Believers with Christ in Heaven, the Unbelievers in torment in Hades. The Believers await their bodily resurrection to everlasting life at the rapture of the Church. Unbelievers await their bodily resurrection at the Great White Throne, to judgment and eternal torment in the Lake of Fire.
Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 16:22; John 5:24; John 14:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:7, 8.
CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
We believe that as Christians, we should live for the glory of God and the well being of our fellowmen, and that our conduct should be blameless before the world and our families. We should be faithful stewards of our spiritual gifts and possessions (time, talents, and treasure), and we should seek to realize for others and ourselves the full stature of maturity in Christ.
As a result, within the context of today's society, the Church needs to take a strong stand against all sin, including gossip, anger, sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10:8; Galatians 5:19, 20; Ephesians 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7), adultery (Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27-28; Hebrews 13:4), and homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26, 27). It is clear in Scripture that sexual sins committed outside the realm of marriage of a man to a woman are not part of God’s plan for life and holiness because these areas of sin penetrate to the very soul of mankind in a way that other sins cannot. However, in the process of taking a stance on any sins, we need to love those entangled in sin with the same love that Christ has shown us (Romans 3:23).
We are further admonished in the Scriptures with these words: “Dear friends, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself” (Galatians 6:1 NLT).
In matters of civil law, Believers must submit to the government.
1 Corinthians 10:23; 10:31; 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 2 Peter 3:14; Romans 1:26-32; Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10; Galatians 5:19-21; 6:1; 2 Corinthians 12:20; 1 Peter 2:9-20; Romans 13:1-7
MARRIAGE
We believe that marriage is a divine gift to society whereby a man and a woman are joined together in a lifelong commitment to faithful companionship, extended family connectedness, and in the sovereignty of God - the blessing of children.
Our understanding stems from our reading of the Bible, our source of faith and behaviour. We believe that the marriage of a man and a woman reflects the original intent of God in creation (Genesis 2:24, 25).
To that end, the Church cannot endorse marriages of same sex individuals as this practice is inconsistent with what the Bible teaches. Therefore, our Pastor(s) are not permitted to perform same sex marriages. We consider this to be a pastoral statement giving spiritual guidance to our Pastors and People.
We realize that not all of Canada understands life in the same way. We will respect the mosaic of pluralism called Canada. We will try to live lives filled with grace and forgiveness. However, faced with many choices in life, we call Canadians back to this Divine gift.
ORDINANCES
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the Church, namely, baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe and teach that Christian baptism is the immersion of a Believer in water, in the name of the Triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death and is to be observed by Believers only. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of our Lord Jesus Christ
Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19; Romans 6:1-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24; Acts 2:38.
UNITY OF BELIEVERS
We believe that a born again Believer must be baptized in obedience to Christ. Our belief as a Church is that Scripture clearly establishes the precedent that all born again Believers should be baptized by full immersion and we will follow this practice. Exceptions for medical reasons will be made which will allow for baptism by pouring or sprinkling.
HOW WE LIVE OUT WHAT WE BELIEVE
How we live out what we believe.
GATHERING TOGETHER
A pillar of the church community is realized when we gather for worship. In Hebrews 6, there is a warning against ceasing to do this, but we choose to approach this from the positive. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote;
"God has willed that we should seek and find God’s living Word in the testimony of other Christians, in the mouths of human beings. Therefore, Christians need other Christians who speak God’s Word to them. They need them again and again when they become uncertain and disheartened because, living by their own resources, they cannot help themselves without cheating themselves out of the truth. They need other Christians as bearers and proclaimers of the divine word of salvation. They need them solely for the sake of Jesus Christ. The Christ in their own hearts is weaker than the Christ in the word of other Christians. Their own hearts are uncertain; those of their brothers and sisters are sure."
So we gather together; to worship, to encourage, to build into, and to be the hands and feet of Christ to each other. If you are feeling plagued by doubt, or weak of faith, maybe that is a call to you this week to join us so we can engage in life together. We've been there too, and many of us still are, but it is in doing life together that we are the full body of Christ.
BAPTISM
Romans 5:20-6:4:
“God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. “
Baptism portrays what happened to us when we became Christians. This is what happened to us: we were united to Christ. His death became our death. We died with him. And in the same instant, his life became our life. We are now living out the life of Christ in us. And all this is experienced through faith.
This is what it means to be a Christian - to live in the reality of what our baptism portrays: day by day we look away from ourselves to God and say, "Because of Christ, your Son, I come to you. In him I belong to you. I am at home with you. He is my only hope of acceptance with you. I receive that acceptance anew every day. My hope is based on his death for me and my death in him. My life in him is a life of faith in you, Father. Because of him I trust your working in me and for me. The same power and glory that you used to raise him from the dead you will use to help me. In that promise of future grace I believe, and in that I hope. That is what makes my life new. O Christ, how I glory in what my baptism portrays! Thank you for dying my death for me and giving new life to me.
CHILD DEDICATION
Children are a gift from God. Psalm 127:3 proclaims that "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children are a reward from Him." As believers we are called to recognize that children belong first and foremost to God. God in his goodness gives children as gifts to parents. They not only have the awesome responsibility of caring for this gift, but also the wonderful privilege of enjoying the gift. Because children belong to God and are given by grace as gifts to parents, it is only proper and appropriate that children be dedicated back to God.
Dedicating a child acknowledges God's sovereignty not only over the child, but also the parents. Parents present their child before God and His people asking for grace and wisdom in carrying out their responsibilities. Parents also come praying that their child might one day trust Jesus Christ as Savior for the forgiveness of sin.
Child dedication is part of a Sunday morning service, as the church family stands with the parents and commits to help teach and train the child in the ways of the Lord so that he might one day trust Him as Saviour and Lord.
If you are interested in child dedication please contact Pastor Jeremy.
SERVING
We believe serving in the church is both a privilege and an act of worship. Through volunteering, we are able to fellowship with our church family, grow spiritually and help others connect to Jesus and one another. There are many ways to get involved at Ness. The following is a list of our ministries and their leaders and ways that you can serve.
Where will you serve?