School Focus
Church Focus
Our Heart
At GMDS we want to help students to build a strong foundation for a life of passionately following Jesus. We believe that God has called all of us to be ministers, whether that’s in our workplace, out in the community, or in the nations of the earth.
While it’s great to be passionate for God now, our concern is more than that: where will we be in 10 years? 20 years? 50 years? This kind of faith requires strong foundations in the Word of God and a lifestyle of worship and prayer. It requires connection to the body of Christ — we want to see students walking out their faith in the context of their local church. We also believe that the gifts and the power of the Spirit are for today and want to help our students walk in these in a safe and encouraging environment. We’ve seen people healed and encountered by God through the ministry of GMDS students and we want to continue to grow in these things.
What to expect
GMDS is an 8 month school that runs from September through April, and our classes run 4 days a week — Monday through Thursday. There will be homework and reading assignments to complete and students will be asked to lead in other areas of daily school life. It will also be expected that students will attend our Set Free and Empower weekends and a young adult retreat. We also require students to volunteer in a church ministry in their home church. There will also be regular outreach opportunities which generally take place on Thursday. Our schedule can be filled with activities both planned as well as unexpected. Due to changes in scheduling, flexibility will be necessary. Students may have part-time jobs if they want, but should be aware that GMDS is a fairly significant time commitment and we encourage them to not over-commit.
Costs: $4000 per year, payable in two $2000 payments on the first day of each semester. (These numbers apply to the 2023-2024 school year.)
What about housing? We do not currently have our own housing. But we work with students from out of town to help them find a local place to rent (cost not included in the price of the school above).
Core Values
Establish
The greatest gift that God has given us was the invitation to be His son’s & daughter’s, where we are called children of God through Jesus Christ. Through His love he has established and secured us in Him, giving us a new identity and a new life. We are called to live life by His grace and by being rooted in God’s Word.
Galatians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Because you are sons (daughters), God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son (daughter) ; and since you are a son (daughter), God has made you also an heir.
Experience
Gods greatest desire for us is to know Him personally; to have a personal relationship with Him. We all need to be encountered by Him and we all need to experience Him through prayer, scripture, worship and community so we can live our lives to the fullest.
1 John 1:2-3 (NIV)
The life (Jesus) appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
Empower
God has called us to live a life of purpose & significance through faith – to live for His fame and for His glory. This can only happen through the empowerment of Holy Spirit – when we expect Him to show up and empower us as He did the early church.
Acts 1:8 (NIV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Gospel Mission Church
Our mission is to come alive to God and His kingdom; to be life giving
One of the first things you may see when you come to GMC is this phrase. It’s written in our bulletins, in our social media bios, and even painted on our walls.
It’s the heartbeat of the church.
Our deepest desire is to see people come alive to God. We want everyone to experience the love of God the Father, grace, and salvation, through Jesus and friendship with Holy Spirit.
But it doesn’t stop there; God also has a kingdom and we are a part of it. In his Kingdom there is freedom, healing, wholeness, there’s joy, peace and love. God works through us to bring His Kingdom to Earth. He chose us to bring this good news to others.
The last part of the phrase, to be life-giving, relates to coming alive. It’s our natural response to the goodness of God. It’s why we offer prayer after our services. It’s why we teach many different courses on Hearing God, and Understanding your gifts. It’s why we offer different retreats to help you find Inner healing, and to live an Empowered life. It’s why we go out and serve and love on our community.
Don’t just come and see, come and experience what God has for you. Our setting is welcoming and casual so come as you are!
Statement of Faith
God
We believe in one God manifested as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(Matt 3:16-17; 28:19)
We believe that God is eternal and self-existing.
(Gen. 21:33; Ex. 3:14; Isa. 40:28; 1 Tim 1:17)
We believe that God is the creator of all things
(Gen 1 & 2)
Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was God incarnate.
(1 Tim. 3:16; John 1:1-14; Col. 1:15-19)
We believe that Jesus Christ has two natures: He was both fully human and fully divine
(Matt 1:18-2:12; 1 John 5:20; Co. 2:9)
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin, Mary.
(Matt 1:18-2:12; Luke 1:30-39)
We believe that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world.
(Heb. 2:9; 1 John 2:2; 1 Peter 3:18)
We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.
(1 Cor. 15:3-4; Luke 24:36-43; Acts 2:24; 1 Cor. 6:14; 1 Peter 1:21)
We believe that Jesus ascended into heaven as our High Priest.
(Heb. 9:24-26; Rom. 8:34)
We believe in the personal, imminent return of Jesus Christ.
(1 Cor. 15; Matt. 16, 27; John 14:3; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Rev. 22:12-20; Matt 25:31-46)
The Holy
Spirit
The Holy Spirit, third Person of the Trinity, convicts the world of sin and draws people to Christ. He also indwells all believers. He is available to empower them to lead Christ-like lives, to understand spiritual truth, and to give them guidance in their daily lives. He gives all believers spiritual gifts with which to serve the church and reach out to a lost world.
(2 Cor. 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:12, 3:16; Eph. 1:13; Gal. 5:25; Eph. 5:18)
Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God.
(Gen. 1:26-27, 5:1; 1 Cor. 11:7)
We believe that the human race has fallen in the sin of Adam.
(Gen. 3:1-8; Rom. 5; 12-19; 1 Cor. 15:22)
We believe that man is a living soul.
(Gen. 2:7; 1 Thes. 5:23; Heb. 4:12)
We believe that since the bodies of regenerate man are the temple of the Holy Spirit, believers should glorify God with their bodies.
(1 Cor. 6:19-20)
Satan
We believe that evil originated with the fall of some angels in heaven.
(June 6; 2 Peter 2:4; Isa. 14:12)
We believe evil, satanic and spiritual forces try to lead man astray.
(Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor. 2:11; 11:14-15)
We believe that Satan is a personal being who is the archenemy of God and seeks eternal destruction of man.
(Job 1:6-12; John 8:44; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Eph. 6:12-16; Rev 20:1-3)
We believe that Satan was judged and defeated at the cross, and reserved for him is eternity in a lake of fire, which is his full and final judgment.
(Col. 2:14-15; Rev. 20:10)
Sin
We believe that original sin is conveyed from our first parents (Adam and Eve) onto the posterity by natural generation so that all who proceed from them in that way are conceived and born in sin.
(Rom. 3:10; Rom. 5:12; 17-19)
We believe that sin is any act or attitude by which man estranges himself from God.
(Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 14:23)
We believe that all have sinned and are in need of God’s forgiveness.
(Ecc. 7:20; Rom. 3:23; 6:23; 1 John 1:8-10)
Salvation
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ, His resurrection and His ascension constitute the only basis of salvation.
(1 Peter 1:18-19; Heb. 9:22-28; Rom. 6:4-5; Rom. 5:9-10; Rom. 4:25)
We believe that genuine faith in Jesus Christ (which includes repentance) is the only means of salvation and that it is a gift of God.
(Rom. 10:9; 6:23; Acts 2:21; Eph. 2:8; Acts 11:18)
We believe that mankind deserved death, but due to the mercy and grace of God, He has provided a means by which we may be justified.
(Titus 3:4-7; Rom. 3:24)
We believe that through faith in Jesus Christ, God justifies us, which means He delcares us righteous – innocent, perfect and pure.
(Rom. 5:1, 9; 4:25)
We believe in positional sanctification. The Scriptures teach that the moment a person believes in Christ, he is sanctified.
(1 Cor. 1:2; Heb. 10:10)
We believe in progressive sanctification. The Scriptures speak of a progressive sanctification of the believer which refers to the walk of the Christian and continues through life.
(John 17:17; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 5:25-27; 1 John 1:1-9)
We believe in the assurance of salvation. The Scriptures teach that the believer may have the assurance of possessing eternal life in Christ by faith (1 John 5:13) and that the believer is kept by the power of God through abiding faith.
(1 John 3:14; 1 John 5:13; Rom. 8:16; Jude 24-25; Gal. 3:11; 1 Peter 1:5)
Church
We believe that the church is the body of Jesus Christ composed of all those who have been born of the Spirit of God.
(John 1:13; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Col. 1:18-24; Eph. 1:22)
We believe that the Church has been organized into local congregations.
(Acts 8:1; 11:22; 13:1)
Discipleship
We believe discipleship is an essential ingredient for the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ. Christians are to be “disciples” of Christ. This includes:
Following
The example of Christ in all aspects of life – whether personal, professional or social
(1 Peter 2:21; Eph. 5:1-2; Luke 9:23)
Growing
Is maturity and Christ-likeness through personal devotions and study as well as through the edification ministry of the local church which involves teaching, worship and fellowship.
(2 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 1:2-11; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 John 3:17-18)
Sharing
the truth of the Gospel with the unsaved (evangelism), making disciples who in turn follow, grow and share.
(Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:41-47; 2 Tim. 2:2)
The Bible
We believe in the inspiration and infallibility of the Bible as the Word of God and that it is the only reliable standard for our faith and life.
(2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Rev. 22:18-19)
Marriage
We believe that marriage is instituted by God and therefore is a sacred bond in which both one born male and one born female partner seek to live together in Christian harmony.
(Eph. 5:21-31; 1 Cor. 7:1-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
We believe those who marry should share a common Christian commitment; a believer should not marry an unbeliever.