our beliefs & values

what we believe

We Believe in God

Not just any god, but the God of the Universe. The same God who created this earth, who spoke light into existence, who created each and every star, and hung them in place. The same God who loves us so much that He eternally defeated death, not only ransoming us from our sins, but also giving us a better life than we ever dreamed (John 10:10). God is loving, fair, perfect, all-powerful, all-knowing, and is eternally present in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.


Genesis 1, Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 43:10-13, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2


We Believe in Jesus

Jesus is the Son of God; he lived a sinless life and voluntarily died on the Cross in our place as full payment for the sins of all people. But unlike anyone else throughout history, Jesus defeated the power of sin and death by rising from the dead. After he appeared to over 500 people, Jesus ascended into Heaven to provide access and reconciliation between God and people, and we now have hope through Him. When God has fulfilled His purpose with this earth, Jesus will return and reign Lord of all.


Vertical exists to point people to life in Jesus.


Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 53, Psalm 2:12, Psalm 22, Daniel 7:13-14, Mark 14:61-65, John 1:1-3, John 3:16-17, John 14:6, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Colossians 2:8-16, Hebrews 1:1-3, Hebrews 9:28


We Believe in the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, Counselor, and Helper sent for all believers. He makes people aware of their need for God and draws people into this relationship. The Holy Spirit, who lives within us at the moment of salvation, provides guidance in righteous living and understanding for spiritual truth.


John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13-14


We Believe in the Bible

We believe the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and that men were moved by God to write the very words of Scripture. Therefore, we believe the Bible is without error, and is the source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. The Bible’s truth is timeless and speaks to our everyday lives.


Psalm 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 1:13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21


We Believe in Salvation

We believe every person is disobedient to God’s desires and plans in varying degrees. Any disobedience to God, regardless of how large or small, is sin. Sin separates an individual from God, which is spiritual death, and is not God’s desire. People can be united with God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and Him alone; Jesus died for sinners. Anyone who accepts and believes in Jesus’ death for their personal sins, and desires to have Him as King of their life, is forgiven for every sin. Upon this personal decision, God re-establishes a personal relationship with that person and promises eternal life. And we believe salvation is not just for eternal life, but for this life, providing freedom and joy day to day. Therefore, every Christian should live for Christ and not for him or herself. By reading and applying Scripture, and yielding daily to the Holy Spirit, every believer should mature and be conformed to the image of Jesus.


John 1:12-13, 14:6-7; Romans 3:23, 5:1, 8, 10:9-10; Galatians 3:26; Titus 3:5; Deuteronomy 6:5; Proverbs 3:5-6; Mark 12:29-31; Acts 17:2, Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 8 & 9, 10:23-11:1


About the Church

We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the head. The members of the Church are those who have been trusted by faith to finish the work of Christ. The local church organizes Christians to reach unbelievers with the message of salvation, serve as a corporate body for worship of God, provide fellowship for Christians with each other, develop the gifts and talents of Christians for godly service, and practice baptism and communion.



Matthew 16:18, 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:32-41; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, 12:12-13; Ephesians 5:22-24; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:24-25, 13:1




what we value

  1. Relationships Make the Difference. God has placed the people who are in our lives on purpose. It is our desire that these people will meet Jesus and experience God’s love because we loved them enough to share. God reaches people through people - relationships make the difference.

  2. Love is a Verb. Love is not something we feel, it’s something we do. We show people our love in practical ways - whether it’s through serving them in our Sunday services or when we serve outside of our church. Vertical Church works hard to engage our region with the Gospel by investing, serving and taking part in our community and it’s events. We will show people God’s love in practical ways.

  3. Vibrant Worship Sets the Tone. We create Sunday morning environments that people will talk about during the week. Our worship to our Savior is loud, passionate and reflects the next generation. Our church understands that our services, while an opportunity to worship Jesus, are designed to help people who don’t like church meet God. We structure services with who we are trying to reach above who we are trying to keep.

  4. Of Not With - We are a Church OF Small Groups, Not With. There is a difference. VGroups are not another thing we do besides worship. Groups are the way that we encourage and help one another. Our care, discipleship and accountability all happen in vGroups. Our ultimate goal isn’t people sitting in rows listening to one of pastors, but rather, in circles where lives are really changed.

  5. You Can’t Outgive God. God doesn’t want something from you, He wants something FOR you. God has already given everything to us - it is spiritually impossible to give more than He gave. When we give we are trusting God in such a way that you are allowing Him to bless the rest.

  6. Pray Now, Speak Life. We believe that God longs to live and operate within the lives of all who have called upon Him for Salvation. With this in mind, we have made immediate prayer a core value meaning whenever someone asks for prayer for a situation we will pray for that person then, agreeing with them in belief and speaking words of life into that situation.