About

Welcome!

Faith Presbyterian Church is a place where people can meet Jesus,
engage in life-giving community, and everyone is welcome.

We believe in creating a space where people can have authentic encounters
with Christ and with each other. Join us for our Sunday services!

Our Pastor

Rev. Rich Davis grew up in Winthrop Harbor, IL and met his wife, Shauna, there. Since receiving his M. Div. from Western Theological Seminary of Holland, MI in 2004, he has served as pastor at the Martin Reformed Church of Martin, MI, the First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, IL, and the Emmanuel Reformed Church of Morrison, IL. Pastor Rich and Shauna have three teenage children, Tyler, Kamryn, and Nathan.

Pastor Rich is passionate about proclaiming the relevance of faith to everyday life. He believes in team-based ministry and building strong relationships that model unity and service. He believes the church is a community where we are called to join together and encourage one another in a daily rhythm of faith.

Our Beliefs

Our beliefs are more than just statements about God. What we believe transforms our hearts. What we believe shapes our lives. What we believe deeply affects our relationships.

At Faith Presbyterian, we humbly stand in the long tradition of Christians who have built their beliefs upon the foundation of God’s Word as revealed to us in the Bible, the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, and the person and work of Jesus Christ. As we grow in faith, we journey together with Jesus as our example, the Bible as our path, and the Holy Spirit as our guide.

God

Jesus Christ

Jesus is God’s Son—God’s Word in human form through whom all things were created–fully God and fully human. Jesus’ earthly ministry, his teaching, healing, and miracles, revealed God’s original plan and purpose. Jesus lived a sinless life but voluntarily died a sacrificial death in order to pay the penalty for our sin. When he rose from the dead, Jesus demonstrated God’s ultimate power over sin and death, and began the process of redeeming God’s creation. Jesus ascended to heaven and will return when that redemption is complete to bring his kingdom to fulfillment. He will judge the living and the dead, who will be resurrected bodily, and his kingdom will have no end.

The Holy Spirit

The Bible

Sacraments

Baptism – God calls people to faith and to membership in the church. We believe Baptism is the visible sign of that call and of Christ’s claim on a human life. At Faith Presbyterian, we baptize infants and young children because we believe God’s love claims people even before they are able to respond in faith. We also baptize adults and older children who join the church by professing their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, believing that God’s grace calls for a response of faithfulness.

Communion – When we gather for Communion around the Lord’s Table, it is not as members of Faith Presbyterian or even as Presbyterians—we gather as brothers and sisters in Christ. At the Lord’s Table, we commune with Christ and with all who belong to him. All who confess Christ as Lord and their need for his saving grace are encouraged to partake communion. We believe that every time we gather at the Table, we remember Christ’s redeeming work, and we commit ourselves to love and serve God, one another, and our neighbors in the world. At Faith Presbyterian we celebrate Communion monthly, usually on the first Sunday, as well as on other holy days throughout the year.

Humanity

Human beings are created in God’s image, and God’s intent is for us to worship him and reflect him back into the world: surrounded by his power, astonished at the beauty and complexity of his creation, and secure in his love. But we rebel against God, ignore his plan and purpose, and reject his love. This rebellion, which the Bible calls sin, alienates us from God. Attempts at self-improvement and good works may seem beneficial, but the only way our relationship with God can be restored is through faith in Jesus the Christ

When we accept the gift God offers us through Jesus, we also willingly and gratefully seek to conform our lives to his plan and purpose through the working of the Holy Spirit. This means re-examining our choices, rearranging our priorities, and reorienting our understanding of our place in God’s world.

Our Vocation

The Church

The Bible calls the Church the “body of Christ.” It is the visible representation of Jesus in the world until he returns. While the Church is not perfect, it is called to embody the Kingdom of God in the world by living according to God’s plan and purpose, offering hope and unconditional love, and helping people be reconciled to God and to one another. The Church is made up of rebellious human beings whose lives are being transformed by faith in Jesus and the continuous work of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God the Father.

Our Vision

We see the Church sharing Faith to every generation
in order to impact the community of McHenry and abroad,
to advance Christ’s Kingdom, and glorify God’s name
as the hands and feet and heart of Christ

We see a passion-filled church resonating heartfelt praise and worship of our magnificent and loving Father.

We see a gathering of believers relishing their time together in the presence of Almighty God and invigorated to serve Him with all their mind, spirit and strength.

We see people of all generations and races hungry for the Word and daily entering this church to become educated, coached, inspired, encouraged and challenged.

We see solid scriptural teaching, intentional mentoring, small-group relationships and leadership training developing prayerful believers into devoted disciples.

We see a congregation of followers imitating the love of Christ by diligently tending to the needs of the flock and actively being good neighbors in the community.

We see a church passionately supporting outreach and missions locally and globally through direct contact and generous giving.

We see people standing firm against the enemy of this world and living an authentic faith amidst the uncertainties of life through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

We see gifts of the Spirit discovered, developed and deployed with relevant service areas inside and outside the church.

We see leadership humbly praying and fasting as they turn to the Lord for discernment regarding the life of the church.

We see visitors entering open doors, feeling genuinely welcomed and introduced to the church, and actively exploring and participating in the church’s various programs and activities.

We see the Light of the World extending into the community, reflecting a compassionate pastor and flock engaged in sharing the exciting message of the saving power of Christ.

We see a church open to innovative ways of communication, reaching out to the masses, making it easier for all to hear and understand the timeless message of the Gospel. We see Heaven on Earth, a community living in Christ Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit—all children of God through faith.

Our Core Values

We value relevant preaching and teaching of the Word of God:

We believe all scripture is inspired by God. Therefore, we hold the entirety of God’s Word as truth and a sound basis for our life decisions and practices. The Bible explains God’s plan of salvation and shapes our beliefs and behaviors as followers of Christ. We strive to equip the body of Christ through the teaching and preaching of God’s Word, seeking to reach people at their own level of spiritual maturity and encouraging all to grow in their faith. (Psalm 119:160, Eph. 4:12, II Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:105)

We value inspiring and contemplative worship:

We were created to worship our great and glorious God in spirit and truth. We value worship that focuses on our victorious Lord Jesus Christ through joyful celebration, giving Him all the honor, praise, and glory. We strive to offer experiences that edify, enlighten and spiritually refresh one’s soul through a mix of contemporary and traditional song. We worship God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in truth through prayer, corporate confession of our faith, and confession of our sins. We recognize our state of sin before a just God, who in His loving grace, abundantly forgives. We believe worship includes embracing His Holy Word as we listen and contemplate sacred truth, and worship continues as we offer our lives as living sacrifices in ways that are pleasing to our Lord. (Psalm 95:6, Psalm 105:1-3, Revelation 4:11, Ephesians 1:3-11, John 4:23-24, Romans 12:1)

We value individual and corporate prayer:

Prayer is essential to our faith, for it is through prayer we develop an intimate relationship and ongoing dialogue with our Lord. We are committed to spending meaningful time in prayer, expressing adoration and thankfulness for all of God’s goodness, confessing our sins, and asking for His grace and forgiveness. We are dependent on God for all we need and the decisions we make. We pray not only for ourselves, but also for the needs of others, and trust God to respond according to His divine wisdom and sovereign timing. We seek to provide an atmosphere that encourages each individual to deepen their intimacy with Christ through prayer and to develop a heart that truly worships our living God. (James 4:8, Psalms 145:18, Mark 1:35, I John 1:9, Romans 3:23-24, Philippians 4:6, I Timothy 2:1, Matthew 7:7-11, Isaiah 41:10, Romans 8:28)

We value nurturing and loving relationships:

We understand that God established His church as a community of believers with Jesus Christ as the head. Cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus Christ teaches us how to connect with and love others. As the Body of Christ, we are to mutually care for one another, welcome visitors, lovingly minister to each other, and build others up in Christ. By opening our hearts and minds and encouraging each other with humility, patience and forgiveness, as well as accountability, we are learning to flourish and grow spiritually as one family in Christ. Through our relationships that reflect the character and love of Christ, others will come to know the Lord. (Mark 12:30, Isaiah 41:10, Ephesians 4:2, I Peter 3:8)

We value supportive and servant leadership:

A heart of humility should characterize servant leadership. True leadership follows Jesus Christ and leads others to do the same. We believe church leaders should continually be seeking to demonstrate Christ-like character, be grounded in scripture, and be guided by the Holy Spirit. We are committed to training members to be equipped for leadership ministry so they are prepared when called to serve. All leaders should have mentoring relationships with others who can be of support in their positions. Leaders will strive to regularly communicate with the congregation about the workings of the church, as well as listen, to discern their needs. (I Peter 5:1-4, Ephesians 4:11-13, II Timothy 2:1-2, I Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, Exodus 17:10b-13)

We value healthy spirituality and Holy Spirit empowered ministry:

We value the spiritual and faith development of each individual and seek to aid and encourage the discovery of each person’s spiritual giftedness. While increasing our capacity to walk by faith, we will provide intentional teaching and training for all to grow in knowledge of His Word. We will rely on the Holy Spirit to guide our choices of ministry and provide leaders for those ministries. We will create an environment which encourages all to serve according to their God-given gifts and talents. The vitality and unity of the church will be strengthened as we accomplish the work He prepares for us to do and witness His presence, power, love, and grace among us. (Psalm 25:4-7, I Corinthians 12:4-6, Romans 12:3-8, Hebrews 10:24-24, Philippians 2:1-4)

We value nurturing and protection of family unity:

We value family unity and will strive to nurture, protect, preserve, and encourage families inside and outside of our church. We will schedule church activities in ways that are supportive of these values. We will provide ministries that foster family growth and development, including strengthening the individuals within the family. In a world filled with broken families, it is our purpose to be sensitive to their needs and provide mentors and other resources for their support and healing. (Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 5:33-6:4, Psalms 68:5-6, Psalms 127:3-5, Matthew 19:1-9)

We value missions and outreach locally and globally:

We believe God called us to reach out with the Gospel message of Salvation. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to proclaim the good news of God’s love, offering to all people the grace of God and the blessings of a transformed life dedicated to following the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christ provides all that is necessary for us to go into our neighborhoods and world to serve God. We participate in Christ’s mission to care for the needs of the sick, poor, and lonely and to bring people the joy and peace that comes from the freedom Christ offers. We walk in complete faith as we embrace, become equipped, and carry out this huge calling for us as His humble servants. (Matthew 28:19, Mark 1:17, Luke 19:10, Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Ephesians 1:7)

We value cultural and generational diversity:

We are here to connect with one another in Christ. We live this out by embracing God’s diverse creation of cultures, ethnicities, race, gender, and generations. We seek to honor and celebrate what makes us unique in our diversity, accepting those who are neglected and marginalized, while walking in our unity in Christ. We look for ways to be inclusive and interactive, so the fullness of God’s creation and Christ’s family can be expressed and appreciated as contributing to the larger kingdom of God. (Hebrews 13:1, I John 2:9, Romans 13:8-10, Ephesians 4:1-6, Psalms 133:1)

We value cheerful giving and faithful stewardship:

We are committed to the free will offering of personal time, talent and treasure in furthering the work of Christ. Our stewardship also involves preserving the purity of our body as a temple for the Holy Spirit. The world and everything in it are God’s creation and belong to Him. God has entrusted these things to our care and requires us to be faithful stewards, accountable to Him for all that we do with everything He has given us. We generously and cheerfully give what we have for the good of God’s people — all for the honor and glory of God. (I Peter 4:10, Psalm 24:1, Proverbs 3:9-10, Malachi 3:10-11, I Corinthians 4:1-2, I Corinthians 6:19-20, I Corinthians 3:16-18, II Corinthians 8:1-13, II Corinthians 9:6-11)

About

Welcome!

Our Pastor

Our Beliefs

Our Vision

Our Core Values

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