So you've read the rest of the site and want to know more about New Life Church?
Or perhaps you're thinking of joining us and want to know more about what we believe on certain issues?
This section contains some more information about specific issues, what we believe and what we do!
If you have any questions about information here or elsewhere on the site then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Cell groups
Currently we operate 5 cells (sometimes called home groups or relational groups). These are in Wickford, Basildon and South Woodham Ferrers.
Each cell meets weekly and has a leader and trainee leader. All cell members are actively encouraged to participate within the meeting.
Cells play a very important part in the pastoral care of New Life Church members. Consequently, all members are encouraged to be affiliated to a cell.
Discipleship
Every member of New Life Church is encouraged to be discipled. This is worked out through cell groups and a one-to-one discipleship programme.
Discipleship provides:
- Someone to be accountable to
- A safe place to share anything
- Prayer support through issues of life
- Objective input into situations
See also Matthew 28 v 19-20 and Romans 8 v 29 for further guidance on discipleship.
Intercession
New Life Church believe that prayer changes things. We are committed to praying regularly.
Dutch Sheets, a christian author defined intercessionary prayer as
"...an extension of the ministry of Jesus through His Body, the Church, whereby we mediate between God and humanity for the purpose of reconciling the world to Him, or between Satan and humanity for the purpose of enforcing the victory of Calvary"
Wow! Powerful stuff. When we pray we are acting as a mediator between God and mankind. Through our prayers God can bring the world closer to Him and Satan is pushed further away. That's why we pray.
Prayer walking
New Life Church is committed to taking the good news of Jesus outside the walls of the Church building.
We believe part of this is regularly praying for the people and community around us.
We regularly walk along the streets surrounding the church building praying for those who live and work there.
Currently we walk Jersey Gardens, Guernsey Gardens, Alderney Gardens and Swan Lane.
What we believe
We believe in:
- The one true God who lives eternally in three persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
- The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world.
- The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God - fully trustworthy for faith and conduct.
- The dignity of all people, made male and female in God's image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgement.
- The incarnation of God's eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ - born of the virgin Mary, truly divine and truly human, yet without sin.
- The atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross: dying in our place, paying the price of sin and defeating evil, so reconciling us with God.
- The bodily resurrection of Christ, the firstfruit of our resurrection; his ascension to the Father, and his reign and mediation as the only Saviour of the world.
- The justification of sinners solely by the grace of God through faith in Christ.
- The ministry of God the Holy Spirit, who leads us to repentance, unites us with Christ through new birth, empowers our discipleship and enables our witness.
- The Church, the body of Christ both local and universal, the priesthood of all believers - given life by the Spirit and endowed with the Spirit's gifts to worship God and proclaim the gospel, promoting justice and love.
- The personal and visible return of Jesus Christ to fulfil the purposes of God, who will raise all people to judgement, bring eternal life to the redeemed and eternal condemnation to the lost, and establish a new heaven and new earth.
