Church 101

Part 1 – Who We Are

Church 101

Introduction

We’re so glad you are interested in learning more about becoming a member of Trinity Fellowship. This class is an introduction to our family. You’ll learn our history, core values, basic beliefs, and more about the ministries of the church.

History

In 1977, three different Bible study groups from Amarillo, Texas, came together out of a deep desire for a more intimate walk with God through His Holy Spirit. They initially met in the home of John and Donna Curry, but by the second week, the Curry’s living room was overflowing with people, so the meetings were moved to an auditorium at the Presbyterian Children’s Home.

Just six years later in 1983, Pastor Jimmy Evans became Senior Pastor of Trinity Fellowship, bringing with him fresh passion and direction for the church. An enthusiasm to seek out and follow God’s will initiated the birth of several new ministries, including prayer ministry, small groups, prison outreach, food and hospitality, and a benevolence ministry to those in need. In 1994, the church launched MarriageToday with Pastor Jimmy and Karen Evans, touching millions all over the world through television.

Over the years, the church continued to grow. We expanded our Hollywood Road facility in 2008, adding a brand-new children’s wing, youth facility, and worship center. However, even greaterexpansion was on the horizon. In May 2011, the Lord spoke to the Elders that Trinity Fellowship would become a multi-site church. Later that year, our second campus, North Amarillo, opened its doors. With the Hollywood Road expansion, opening of the North Amarillo campus, and the later additions of campuses in East Amarillo, Pampa, Wellington, Wichita Falls, and Decatur, we have been able to continue to grow and be a church where people can Experience God, Find Community, and Fulfill their Purpose.

In January 2016, after leading Trinity Fellowship as Senior Pastor for more than thirty years, Pastor Jimmy Evans transitioned leadership to Pastor Jimmy Witcher, who had been a member of the church since 1993, an elder since 2000, and an Executive Pastor on staff since 2012. Before joining the church staff, Pastor Jimmy had served in many ministry areas of the church and was an integral part of developing our prophetic ministry training.

[RV1][BP2][BP3]

Over the course of our 40-year history, which is full of growth and transition, Trinity Fellowship’s focus has never changed—we desire to hear God and follow His voice, and we have a passion to impact people’s lives by bringing them closer to God through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

At Trinity Fellowship, our purpose is to helpyou and your familyExperience God, Find Community, and Fulfill Your Purpose.

Those three things fueleverything we do at eachof our manylocations and are how we believe God intended forus to live: in His Presence, with others, being who God has called us to be and doing what He has called us to do.

[RV4]

Who We Are: Our Purpose Statement[RV5]

Trinity Fellowship is an elder-governed, biblically-based church that thrives in God’s presence by embracing the full move and expression of the Holy Spirit. We are an apostolic, missional body of believers committed to helping one another, and the Church at large, experience God, find community, and fulfill their purpose.

  1. Elder Governed
    The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. … He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.Titus 1:5, 9
    Our form of government demonstrates our passion for unity and relationship. Our Elders are appointed for life, and all their decisions are made in 100% unity.
    Theocratic church government is government that is centered under God, with the Elders focused on hearing God and obeying His will. In this form of government, Elders are elected by the existing Board of Elders.
  2. Biblically Based
    But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-17
    We believe the Bible is the perfect word of God written by God through men.

Our purpose, values, and vision are based upon the Bible, and we hold scripture as the ultimate authority in our lives.

  1. Thrives in God’s Presence
    Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, which is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God...Hebrews 10:19-22
    We believe that, as a Church and as individual believers, we have direct access into the very Presence of God. It is His Presence that defines us, empowers us, and sets His Church apart. (Exodus 33:15,16)
  1. Embracing the Full Move and Expression of the Holy Spirit
    On one occasion, while [Jesus] was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”Acts 1:4-5
    Trinity Fellowship is a charismatic church. We believe in the contemporary operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as described in 1 Corinthians 12. While it can occur at the point of salvation, we believe the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience.
  1. Apostolic Body of Believers
    For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. Galatians 2:8
    Apostle means sent oneor messenger. We believe part of our calling as a church body is to share what God has given us with other churches and communities.
  2. Missional Body of Believers
    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.Acts 1:8
    We have a mission to spread the love of God, focusing first on our cities, then our regions, onto our nation, and finally to the entire world.
  1. Committed to Helping One Another & the Church at Large Experience God, Find Community and Fulfill Their Purpose .
    I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.John 10:9,10

Find Community[RV6]

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.Acts 2:42-47

We were not created to exist alone. In fact, an essential quality of life and key experiences with God are only found when we share our lives with others. The early church called this mutual sharing koinōnia (fellowship). The word means more than simple relationship. Going beyond acquaintance and friendship, it implies a sharing of one another’s lives.

Three Benefits of Healthy Koinōnia:

  1. Relationship

The connection of one or more individuals sharing common purpose, interest, or activities is the basis for relationship. Choosing to be vulnerable, to invest, and to care for another are all key aspects of healthy relationship.

  1. Discipleship

Christ commanded his followers to go and make disciples,teaching them to obey all that He had commanded them. His commands were to love – the Father, their neighbors, their enemies, and one another. Thus, discipleship is the process of teaching people how to love. As we share our lives with one another, we learn how to love.

  1. Accountability

Accountability is giving another person permission to check up on us. When we share our lives through koinōnia, we open ourselves up to having others monitor our physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual health. Proper accountability is not intrusive or controlling and is mutually reciprocal in nature.

Two Primary Ways to Connect into the Community Life of Trinity:[RV7]

  1. Dream Team

The Dream Team is the heart of community life at Trinity Fellowship. Having completed all four classes of Growth Track, church members are invited to participate on the Dream Team, serving in a wide range of ministry opportunities. It is in serving others that we experience true koinōnia, fulfill the call of God on our lives, witness his majesty, and see his kingdom expand.

It is our goal to have our Dream Team volunteers serving in every possible aspect as their gifts, talents, and time allow. The staff exists primarily to equip individuals for the work of the ministry,not to do the ministry.

  1. Groups

Small Groups are a key aspect of community life at Trinity Fellowship. Our groups are based upon the “free market” model and can be centered upon any common interest or activity. To be considered a small group, at least one of four activities must be present at each meeting: Bible study, prayer, worship, or sharing of testimonies. Each group has a leader who is connected with the leadership structure. Groups operate on a trimester system.

Fulfill Your Purpose[RV8]

God created within every individual the need to find purpose. We each were wonderfully made for a specific time and a specific reason. It is the role of the church to assist individuals in identifying their gifts, equip them for acts of service, and motivate them to engage. True joy and fulfillment is found when we are doing what God created us to do.

The journey to walking in our identity is an iterative process involving discovery, personal experience, and training. One of the ways the church provides this is through the Growth Track.

Growth Track[RV9]

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20

Disciple : mathēteúsō - means not only to learn, but to become attached to one’s teacher and to become his follower in doctrine and conduct of life

The Growth Track

  1. Church 101 – Learn the story and structure of Trinity, and find out how you can get connected and become a member of the church.
  2. Essentials 201 – Review the 10 essential steps that every Christian needs to find success in their walk with Christ.
  3. Discovery 301 – Learn about yourself—your personal identity, where it comes from, and why it’s important.
  1. Dream Team 401 – Join the Trinity Fellowship Dream Team by learning about different areas of ministry and finding one that best fits your design.

Church 101

Part 2 – Belong

What We Believe: Our Statement of Faith[RV10]

  1. In our essential beliefs, we have unity .
    There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6
  2. In non-essential beliefs, we have liberty .
    Accept those whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat everything, but another person, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted that person. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master they stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.Romans 14:1-4
  3. In all our beliefs, we show charity .
    If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
    1 Corinthians 13:2

Statement 1 – We believe in the Trinity.

Both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible show that there is one God, and that He exists forever and in three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

God the Father is the creator and sustainer of everything. Jesus Christ is God and is the Son of God. He is the living Word of God, and through Him all things were created—He is completely God and completely man. The Holy Spirit is God, and He is the Giver of life.

Statement 2 –We believe the Bible is the perfect word of God, written by God through man.

The Bible—being both the Old and New Testaments—is the only infallible Word of God. It is the single source of all doctrine, instruction, correction, and reproof, and is the all-inclusive guidebook on how to practically live a godly life.

Statement 3 – We believe Christ’s death and resurrection made salvationpossible.

When Jesus died for us on the cross, He paid the penalty for all of man’s sins. Redemption is received through the personal acceptance of Christ as Savior and Lord.

Statement 4 – We believe salvation is a free gift.

We did nothing and could never do anything to deserve salvation. But when Jesus died on the cross, His goodness allowed us to be saved if we would have faith in Him and make Him Lord.

Statement 5 – We believe the Christian life is a life of knowing and loving Christ.

It is the combination of the new life God gives us at salvation, and the truth He teaches us as we live it. The Holy Spirit guides us through various circumstances in life—always revealing to us truths about Him and ourselves in the process. Faithfulness is trusting Him through it all and learning to submit our personal desires to His perfect will.

Statement 6 – We believe the mission of the Church is to make disciples.

The Church doesn’t just exist to get people into heaven, but also to train and equip them so that they are complete in Christ and able to live for Him here on Earth.

Statement 7 – We believe in baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

These two practices were instituted by Jesus when He was on earth and are continued by His church to this day. Water baptism is the outward sign of the inner work God has already done in individual lives. The Lord’s Supper is done in honor and remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice until His return, and is a sign of our participation in Him.

Statement 8 – We believe Jesus is coming back.

And when He comes, all those who serve Him will reign with Him.

Statement 9 – We believe that biblical marriage is between a man and a woman.

We believe the term “marriage”, has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which is the joining together of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive covenant as defined in the Bible.

Statement 10 – We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as maleor female. [RV11]

These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

Becoming a Member of Trinity Fellowship

Everyone is welcome to attend Trinity Fellowship. We reserve membership for those who have determined in their heart to commit to and join in with the ministry of the church as we, together, advance the Kingdom of God in our communities.

The ThreeBenefits of Church Membership

  1. Spiritual Covering

The leadership of Trinity Fellowship, both staff and elders, take responsibility in praying for and pastoring the congregation and its members.

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.Proverbs 11:14 (NKJV)