About Us

We believe that Christ died for all of us while we were still sinners; He took the punishment for our sin. With His own blood, He purchased salvation and redemption for all who believe in Him (John 3:16; Isaiah 53:5; Titus 2:14)

Salvation is totally an act of God's grace that is accessed through faith in Jesus Christ. No person can be good enough to earn salvation, and "being good" does not contribute to receiving God's love and favor (Ephesians 2:8, 13)

Adam and Eve, the precursors of the entire human race, were created in the image of God; however, they disobeyed God and became sinners. Through Adam, all people inherited sin's nature and consequences, and all are in need of a Redeemer (Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12, 19)

When people repent for their sins and accept Chris, they are justified through Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. To repent means to be sorry for sins, but it also means to turn away from a sinful lifestyle. Accepting Christ means believing in Him as the only Savior. To be justified means being declared "not guilty" in regards to sin (Romans 10:9; 1 John 1:9)

People who have been born again grow in sanctification, meaning they separate themselves from the value system of the world and embrace and live according to the values of the kingdom that Jesus proclaimed. As they do so, they increase in holiness, faith, power, prayer, love and service (2 Corinthians 7:1). 

Tithing (giving 10% of earnings) and offerings (amounts determined by the individual) are God's instruments to carry on His ministry, spread the gospel, and release personal blessing (Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2). 

Evangelizing and making disciples is the primary "business" of the church; every hindrance to worldwide evangelism should be removed (James 5:20; Mark 16:15). We believe that Christians should avoid excess and that their moderation should be obvious to others. Their commitment to Christ should be deep and sincere, but they should not indulge in or lead others into extremes of fanaticism. Christians should be well thought of, balanced, humble and self-sacrificing, reflecting Christ's grace and character in all areas of their lives (Colossians 3:12, 13; Philippians 4:5)

It is essential for all believers to join with and become part of a congregation of other believers. It is important to worship together, observe the ordinances of the church, encourage and support one another, and owrk together to advance the Lord's kingdom (Hebrews 10:24-25). Civil government is established by divine appointmnet; civil laws should be upheld at all times except when they are in opposition to the Word of God (Romans 13:1-7)

The bible is the inspired Word of God; it is absolutely true, enduring, and unchangeable (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Matthew 24:35). Born-again believers should be people who pray and who allow the Holy Spirit to shape their values and behaviors every day; their lives should exemplify love, honesty and sincerity (Ephesians 4:30-32). 

We believe in the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The three parts of the Trinity are coexistent and coeternal, they have always existed and always will exist together: they are coequal in divine perfection, no person of the Trinity is more powerful or more perfect than any other person in the Trinity (1 John 5-7). 

The Foursquare Tradition of water baptism and the Lord's supper has a sacramental perspective towards these two practices. The work sacrament comes from the Latin word that refers to an oath of allegiance. In Church terminology, it refers to the practice of a sacred ritual as a declaration that trust is being placed in the potential power of that exercise and that faith is being made manifest by the action taken. These sacraments do not add or confirm our salvation that is afforded to us in Christ, but they acknowledge the real presence of Christ on a person or people. Each action of obedience in these practices lead to a declaration of spiritual freedom. Water baptism is the action that one is committing to live their lives in dependence on Christ. The Lord's table is the power of the gift of remembrance of what Jesus' work on the cross offers to us in our present life situation. 

Jesus Himself was baptized and instructed His followers to be baptized. Baptism also confirms that Christ is the Lord and King in each believer's life (Romans 6:4). We believe in observing the Lord's supper (communion) just as Jesus instructed. Born-again believers take the broken bread and the fruits of the vine as a remembrance and celebration of the new life that is theirs because of Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection. It is also looking forward to His return as Triumphant King (1 Corinthians 11:24-26). 

The Holy Spirit gives ministry gifts to believers; the Holy Spirit gives people special abilities for ministry. These gifts will build up groups of believers and help them amture in Christian faith (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). Spirit-filled believers should show the spiritual "fruit" that has been given to them; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control (Romans 12:6-8; Galatians 5:22-25). Jesus Christ heals people who are sick. God does not change; He is still willing and able to heal the body, as well as the soul and spirit, in response to faith (Mark 16:17-18; James 5:14-16). 

The second coming of Christ is personal and imminent; we are as certain that His second coming will occur, as we are that His first coming is a historical fact. No one knows the exact time of His coming, but believers will continue to spread the gospel around the world until He does come again. At that time the Lord Himself will descend from heaven, the dead Christians will be resurrected, and believers will be taken up to meet the Lord in the air (Matthew 24:36, 42, 44; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). We believe that everyone will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Born-again believers will be sent to a place of everlasting life (Heaven), and non-believers will be sent to a place of everlasting punishment (Hell) (Revelations 20:11-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10). 

We believe that heaven is the habitation of the living God and the eternal home of born-again believers (John 14:2, Revelation 7:15-17). Hell is a place of darkness, deep sorrow and unquenchable fire, which was not prepared for man but for the devil and his angels; it will become the place of eternal separation from God for all who reject Christ as Savior (Matthew 13:41-42; Revelation 20:10, 15).

We believe Scripture speaks very directly to the appropriate expression of human sexuality. God designed sex to be shared exclusively between one man and one woman who are united in the covenant of marriage (Genesis 2, Mark 10, 1 Corinthians 7). All other expressions of sexuality stand outside of God's declared will, including premarital sex, extramarital sex, homosexual sex, and habitual engagement of pornographic materials (Romans 1, Matthew 5, 1 Corinthians 6). All human persons are created in the image of God and derive their primary value from that truth as listed in Genesis 2. Regardless of marital status, gender preference, sexual preference, or sexual orientation, we choose to submit our life under God’s design and created intention. As such, all persons should be loved unconditionally, welcomed enthusiastically, and served without hesitation. We call all persons to align all areas of their life to God’s will as it is expressed in the Bible.

We believe that God’s calling and gifting to pastoral ministry is not limited by gender. We observe in scripture that God has seen fit to use women in key leadership roles in the history of His people in the Old Testament, in the community of followers of Jesus during His earthly ministry, and in the creation of the New Testament church through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We are aware of the biblical passages (1 Corinthians 14; and 1 Timothy 2 most notably) which would seem to prohibit women from teaching men or functioning as pastors. However, we understand those instructions to be linked to some identifiable cultural realities in the churches or a possible specific individual, that allows us to view these scriptures and others (Acts 2, Philemon, Galatians 3, 1 Corinthians 11, Romans 16, Judges 4, 2 Kings 22:14-20, Matthew 28,) in a deeper and a more contextual and holistic biblical view to which Paul wrote that does not violate in any way God’s creative order and purpose for men and women.  

We believe that we are part of the greater Body of Christ and that we are participating in God’s bigger story which is the Kingdom of God. We are committed to the understanding that the church is an agency of reconciliation of the Kingdom on planet Earth and in El Dorado County. We are in partnership with the other Christ-Honoring churches in our county to serve the King together. New Hope Fellowship is not in competition with other churches but instead we are in partnership with other churches to see the Kingdom of God advanced in our County and in our world. Because of this we pray for our sister churches and leaders that God would make them fruitful in all of the endeavors as they advance the Mission of Christ. 

1. We will honor and affirm each other as people created in God’s image. (Rom. 12:10)  

2. As this is the Lord’s work we will determine to pray, so that we are in step with Him. (Acts 2:42)  

3. We will strive to be respectful of each other’s point of view and gracious in the manner of communication. We will listen with compassion and understanding to another’s idea or position and with an open mind to the opinions, ideas, and concerns of others. We will strive to respond with thoughtfulness and sensitivity and will focus on issues not personalities. (Ephesians 4:1-3)  

4. We will maintain a posture of openness and humility toward one another, giving one another the benefit of the doubt, always seeking to build each other up and not tear down. To this end:   We make positive investments in one another’s lives.   We seek to communicate clearly and completely, listening charitably and sharing honestly, without assumption or gossip. (Phil.2:3-4, Col. 3:12-17, James 1:2-4:19)  

5. We will honor and support the office of Pastor and lay leaders, always seeking to discover what is best for our church as a whole, not what may be best for any one individual or small group in the church.  

6. We accept conflict as a normal and natural part of life in community. We understand conflict is an opportunity to grow in Christ and in healthy authentic relationships with one another. As a Christian community we do not fear or ignore conflict, but with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit we work through conflict toward resolution. In this regard, we will seek to deal constructively with disagreements or conflicts by utilizing one or all of the following (Matthew 18:15-17):    Going directly to the person with whom there is a disagreement or conflict.   Having an agreed upon third party meet with the conflicted persons.   Agree to meet with an assigned Pastor or Pastors and/or Church Council members to work out the disagreement or conflict.   The goal of our process through conflict is maintaining our healthy bond and restoring relationship. (Galatians 6:1-2).   

7. God gives us leaders as a gift; we will pray for them and extend to them honor and trust. (Heb. 13:7-17-18)   

8. We will each take responsibility for peace and unity, while also recognizing it is not our responsibility alone. (Rom.12:18, Eph. 4:3)   

9. We will refuse to create factions within our group or the congregation. (I Cor. 10:1)   

10. As we have been forgiven, we will choose to forgive each other. (Eph. 4:32)   

11. We will speak the truth in love to one another. (Eph. 4:15)   

12. We will maintain the confidentiality of our team. We will not share what is spoken within our team unless it involves the possibility of harm to oneself or others. (Proverbs 11:13)