Who We Are

 

OUR STORY

Old church

In 1896, three different congregations (Christian, Lutheran, and Presbyterian) met for worship in the house of a man named Ed May.  Each congregation had their own Sunday each month.  A little over a year later, in 1897, the congregations decided to merge forming Union Chapel Church and to build a church.

In 1954, Union Chapel joined the Missionary Church. The Missionary Church is an evangelical denomination committed to church planting, world missions, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

In 1964, a new sanctuary was built and in 1987, Union Chapel built the Family Life Center, a multi-purpose facility.  A gymnasium, kitchen, baptismal, and classrooms were included in the plan.  It now houses 4 Sunday School classes and our youth room, the Oasis.  It is also used during the week for other outreach activities.  In 2011, a new nursery and office facility was completed and the sanctuary was updated, including new seating, lighting, sound, and restrooms.

 
 

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Scripture is our authority!

GOD.  There is but one eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere-present Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who is the creator and sustainer of all things (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; I Timothy 2:5).

JESUS CHRIST.  He is God incarnate, yet human.  He lived a sinless life, died to make atonement for the sins of all mankind, was bodily resurrected and is now mediator at the right hand of the Father.  He is assuredly coming in power and glory for His believing followers, and is the only Savior of men (John 1:1; Titus 2:11-14).

HOLY SPIRIT.  He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement, regenerating all who repent of their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  He sanctifies, empowers, teaches, guides and comforts believers (John 16:7,8,12-15).

BIBLE.  The Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God and thus authoritative in all matters it addresses (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20,21).

SALVATION.  Salvation is the result of genuine repentance of sin and faith in the atoning work of Christ.  It brings forgiveness to the penitent, makes him a partaker of the divine nature and gives peace with God.  We call this new birth (Titus 3:5; I Peter 1:3-5).

CHURCH.  We believe in the invisible and universal Church as an organism.  It is composed of all believers in the Lord Jesus who have been united by faith to Christ, its living Head and sovereign Lord (Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 12:22-24).

ORDINANCES.  We believe the Christian ordinances are two: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  We believe they are outward rites appointed by Christ to be administered in each church, not as a means of salvation, but as a visible sign and seal of its reality (Acts 2:36; I Corinthians 11:24-34).

Our Denomination

We are part of the Missionary Church.  Below is a great video that shares what the missionary church is all about.
 

Pastoral Orientation: Vision from Missionary Church on Vimeo.

 

MISSIONS

We support many missionaries, financially and through prayer.  We support 41 different missionary families on 6 continents.  We support 15 local organizations, including Heartbeat of Lima, Lima Rescue Mission, WTGN, and WTLW.  

The two organizations below are especially close to our hearts.  We support them more than just financially.  Click on the pic to go to the websites.