Windsor Road Christian Church began in May, 1973 as the Congregational Christian Church. In 1974 the church changed its name to Windsor Road Christian Church, and in 1976 moved to a 200 seat worship center at the current property. From 1976 to 1988 the church grew to around 280, and in 1984 completed a building addition that now houses our children's ministries. A second worship service was added in 1987. Randy Boltinghouse was called as the Sr. Minister in July of 1989. Between 1989 and the present, several full and part time staff have been added. In addition, the church has built and expanded a new auditorium and nursery area and remodeled the older portion of the building. Since 1989, Windsor Road Christian Church has grown from an average attendance of 269 to a little over 1,000 today.
The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. The sixty-six books which constitute the Bible are without error in their original writings and are the complete revelation of God's will for the salvation of mankind. Being entirely reliable and truthful, the Bible stands as the central authority over our lives, our faith, and the direction of our church. (2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 5:18)
God
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three persons eternally share the Divine Nature. God is both self-existent and personal. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29; John 14:10, 26; 15:26)
Jesus Christ, the Son, is fully God and fully human. He was born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, died for the sins of humanity, was resurrected bodily on the third day, ascended into heaven and is coming again as King and Judge. Jesus Christ is the only provision that God has given for people to be reconciled to Him. Jesus' life on earth also serves as the model for the Christian life. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-8; Isaiah 7: 14, Romans 8: 34, Acts 1:10)
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God. He came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. He indwells us at the moment we place our faith in Christ and enables us to live a life that is pleasing to God. The Holy Spirit also endows each believer with a unique spiritual ability to serve the church and the world. (John 14:16, 15: 26-27, 16:9-14; Romans 8: 9; 1 Corinthians 3: 16; 1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 5: 22-26; Ephesians 1:13-14)
Salvation
Salvation is reconciliation with God through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. God offers us salvation by His grace alone and we receive it as a gift through personal faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. This right standing before God must be received and cannot be earned. God freely offers salvation to all people, and our salvation is secure when personally appropriated through repentance and faith in Christ. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior should be obedient to Him by repentance, confession, baptism and lifetime faithfulness to Him. (John 3: 16; Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 8:38,39; Ephesians 1:13; 2:4-5; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9, 10; Romans 6:1-4; Revelation 2:10)
Mankind
We believe that every person has worth as a creation of God, but that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. According to Genesis, human beings are created in the image of God. As such, we are unique among all of God's creation. Through Adam's sin and the abuse of our God-given free will, we have turned against God and this has resulted in spiritual death for all humankind. Humanity lives in a state of alienation and profound need which can only be satisfied by reconciliation with God through Christ. Without this reconciliation, all people stand under God's righteous judgment. Humanity, although fallen, maintains the image of God and is, therefore, still dignified and unique. God continues to love us and reach out to us, even though we are hostile to Him. Believers in Jesus Christ receive a new nature that becomes the foundation for a process of transformation. (John 3:16; Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
The Church
The church is the community of believers throughout history who place saving faith in Jesus Christ. God wants all Christians to live out their spiritual lives in a corporate context. This context of Christian love relationships is a crucial feature of our witness for Christ as it reflects God's character to the world. The church is the body of Christ on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and God's chosen instrument through which the message of salvation is spread to all peoples. This mission is the central purpose for the church. We are to carry the good news locally and worldwide and demonstrate God's love by relevant social action. (John 13:34, 35; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Matthew 28:19)
Ordinances
We believe water baptism and communion are ordinances to be observed by the church during the present age but they are not to be regarded as a means of salvation. We baptize by immersion as was practiced in the Bible. (1 Corinthians 11; The Book of Acts)
The Second Coming
This age will conclude with the personal, bodily return of Christ. At that time, He will complete God's plan to reestablish His just and righteous rule over all humanity. He will reign forever as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 20)
The Afterlife
At physical death the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting glory and blessing. Those who have responded to Jesus Christ with saving faith will receive the eternal life in Heaven they have already been promised, while others will live under eternal judgment in Hell. Therefore, because eternal issues are at stake, there is a critical need to communicate the gospel. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10)
Our Values
1. The absolute authority of the Bible.
2. Prayer is fundamental to everything we do.
3. Every Christian is a minister.
4. It is the personal responsibility of every believer to grow in his or her relationship with Christ.
5. Every Christian is needed to help the church be the kind of community God desires.
6. Patience is important -- people grow at different paces.
7. We have a deep concern for those who are without Jesus Christ, for they will be lost eternally.
Why We're Here
In Matthew 22, Jesus responded to a question about purpose by stating, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...and love your neighbor as yourself". These words summarize our mission and purpose at Windsor Road Christian Church.
Five descriptive words further define Jesus' statement and give us handles on which to hang our ministries: Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and Evangelism. Each of these five purposes carries equal weight at Windsor Road. Each is critically important, but none is more important than the others.
We often say that we grow stronger through worship, warmer through fellowship, deeper through discipleship, broader through ministry and larger through evangelism. Each part of our purpose is well grounded in the Bible, and is carried forward by the elements of our vision and strategic plan.