WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
The Aparchē Ekklēsia (pronounced ap-ar-khay' ek-klay-see’-ah) is a Greek phrase that denotes the assembly of God's first-fruits with Jesus Christ, the first of our kind, who is also our saviour, king, and master - The cornerstone of the universal Church. The Aparchē Ekklēsia is Christian movement or fellowship that is devoted to the fulfilment of the Great Commission, Ch
ristian discipleship, and Biblicism. Our goal is to see people saved from sin, suffering, and death through Jesus Christ. We value, seek, and promote eternal life, virtuousness, benevolence, godly wisdom, pacifism, fruitfulness, good health, and prosperity. Our ideology or philosophy is deeply rooted in New Testament Christian doctrine, beliefs, or practices and the first Christians’ acceptance and interpretation of Old Testament Scripture. We are non-political, non-profit, protestant, evangelical body. We adhere to congregational church polity and Calvinistic soteriology. We also subscribe to the New Covenant Theological position and the First London Baptist Confession of 1644 & 1646. God calls, equips, anoints, and blesses people with natural aptitude or special abilities for good works or divine responsibilities in accordance with his good pleasure. He works through us as his instruments to shape and transform individuals and society according to his will or pleasure. We hold that the fellowship, labours, activism, and cooperative efforts of born-again, zealous, diligent, wise, and devoted individuals who revere God, and love Jesus Christ is a powerful force that transforms lives and societies for good. We seek to express our ancient faith in Christlikeness, love, godly wisdom, and good works to the glory of God with the hope of receiving earthly and heavenly rewards from God. The Aparchē Ekklēsia promotes Christian ethics such as devotion to God, unconditional love, honesty, pacifism, humility, sanctity of life; and universal tenets such as: intelligence, enlightenment, religious liberty, religious pluralism, tolerance, orderliness, social justice, and the separation of church and state within the society at large. The teachings of Jesus Christ and his first apostles constitute our foundational doctrine or beliefs and shape our lifestyle. They form our “modus operandi “– the basis of our conduct in all spheres of life and in our relationships or dealings with people. The One true invisible God – Jehovah or YHWH, who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He simultaneously exists as the Heavenly Father, the Son (the Word), and the Holy Spirit. He is the origin of Life and all that exists. He is the creator, owner, and ruler of all creation. The Sovereignty of God and the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The divine inspiration, and infallibility the 66-canon Protestant Bible which serve as our reference or standard of Truth and the final authority or arbiter in all matters of Christian Faith and practice. The gift of Eternal life or Salvation by Grace alone through Faith alone in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ alone. The Eternal Justification, Redemption, Sanctification, Reconciliation, and Forgiveness of the believer through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection alone. Christian sacraments – The Lord's Supper and Water baptism. Water baptism is administered only to repentant professing believers. The Priesthood and heavenly citizenship and ambassadorship of all saved believers. VIII. The Universal Church – God's kingdom on Earth i.e. Christ's body consisting of the Elect who were predestined for salvation by God and are inhabited by the Holy Spirit to become God’s children following new birth. IX. The future resurrection of the Saints, and physical return of Jesus Christ
X. The Final judgment, and the existence of a real Heaven and a real Hell
XI. The future millennial (1000-year) reign of Jesus Christ after the Great Tribulation, the destruction of this current world, and the creation of a New Heaven and New Earth
XII. Apostolic Mission – The preservation of the authenticity within the mission and tradition of the Christian church as founded by Jesus Christ and his twelve original Apostles. viz. Christian teaching or practice according to the doctrines of the apostles or the message delivered or taught by the apostles
XIII. Monergism – Salvation is the work of God alone i.e. God, through the Holy Spirit, works to bring about effectually the salvation of individuals through spiritual regeneration (rebirth) without cooperation from the individual. XIV. The doctrines of grace or the 5 points of Calvinism - Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible Grace, Perseverance of the Saints
XV. New Covenant Theology – The abrogation and replacement of God's Old Covenant (The system of the law with its commandments and regulations mediated by Moses, the prophet) by God's New Covenant of Grace established through Jesus Christ. This includes the change in identity of "God's chosen people" who are the covenant heirs of Abraham's blessings. Christ’s Church is the eschatological Israel. XVI. Continuationism – The baptism of the Holy Spirit as a second work of Grace. This includes the continuation and relevance of the Spiritual gifts and callings of God in this age and time. XVII. The material prosperity of Saints through diligent, skilful, and productive labours as a manifestation of God's favour and His covenant promises. XVIII. Pacifism – A policy of nonviolence, non-aggression and non-participation in physical warfare with the intention to harm others or take lives. XIX. Religious Liberty – The separation of Church (God’s Kingdom) and State. The presence of religious pluralism and religious freedom in society. We hold some popular Christian leaders and historical Christian movements in high regard such as:
John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, William Tyndale, John Calvin, John Newton, William Wilberforce, John Wesley, John Bunyan, Jan Huss, Jonathan Edwards, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, John C. Ryle, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Thomas Watson, Charles H. Spurgeon, Aiden W. Tozer, Dwight L. Moody, James Hudson Taylor, David Livingstone, Ira D. Sankey, Thomas O. Chisholm, Billy Graham, Reinhard Bonnke, William Booth, George Müller, Watchman Nee, Robert Moffat, Rev. Samuel Dyer, Lord Ashley (Earl of Shaftesbury), Abraham Lincoln, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington Carver, John Locke, Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Francis Bacon, Corrie Ten Boom, Mary Slessor, Maria Jane Hudson (neé Dyer), the Lollards, the Puritans, the Waldensians, the Anabaptists, the Quakers, the Salvation Army, the Open Brethren, The Local Churches (Little Flock), and the 16th century protestant reformation. We value and appreciate their faith, achievements, charity, biblical scholarship, ministries, legacy, and their diligent labours in promoting truth and expanding God’s kingdom on earth.
