Where we are Set free to live free
Greetings Aspen Springs Neighbor! We wish to introduce you to Pastor Mark and his wife Adrienne. We believe God has called us to this community to share the love of God, the grace of Jesus, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. You are invited to come and see Amazing Grace Community Church. We are a down to earth Christian church with a contemporary expression of worship and music. This is blended with a conservative Biblical doctrine and grace-filled preaching from the Bible. We understand it can be uncomfortable to visit a church you know nothing about. This booklet is our effort in bridging that gap for you. We welcome your questions. As a church, we desire to excel in grace and Christian love. We desire to worship God and give glory to His name. If you feel called to serve in the church, we welcome you. If you simply want to know God better, we welcome you.!2
Meeting Times We meet each week on Sunday mornings starting at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays evenings. You are invited without reservation or qualifications. We love children and they are welcome. We gather as a large family and welcome the children in the main service as well as providing a children s church for younger children. Amazing Grace Community Church of Pagosa is an independent local Christian church for the community of Aspen Springs. Jesus Christ is the head of our church. We identify with Christ and label ourselves simply as Christians. We are called by Christ to be His followers and disciples. MINISTRY VISION Evangelism - Touch the lost, broken, hurting, undernourished, seeking. Discipleship - Make disciples through the Word, the gospel, and grace. Transformation - Transform the Redeemed into grace filled, joy filled, energetic believers. Equipping - Equip the Redeemed to reproduce grace in others.!3
OUR FOUR CORNER POSTS Truth: The Bible as Truth. Jesus as Lord. Faith Walk: Love, grace, mercy, hope. Passion: Passionate about worship, life, the Word, love for others, prayer. Outdoors: Love of God s Creation. CHURCH FOUNDATION STONES Ephesians 2 <>< Hebrews 1 <>< 1 Peter 4 MINISTRY SERVICES Church retreats, camps, and conferences, Pastoral counseling for individuals Outdoor recreation ministry, Bible classes for the maturing Christian, Conservative Bible discipleship tendered with grace, joy, mercy, expecting spiritual fruit. A Full Joy church. We recognize that you may have questions about Christianity or of a new church in the community. We ve prepared short answers to the most frequently asked questions.!4
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF FAITH The following is a short version of the beliefs of Amazing Grace Community Church of Pagosa. We are an independent local Christian church for the community of Aspen Springs. Jesus Christ is the head of our church. ABOUT GOD THE FATHER We believe that there is one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all. We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in Holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ. ABOUT GOD THE SON We believe in Jesus Christ, God s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit.!5
We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teaching, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth. We believe in the personal, visible return of Christ to the earth and the establishing of His Kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. ABOUT GOD THE SPIRIT We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; and to regenerate, sanctify and empower all that believe in Jesus Christ for ministry. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He gives to the believer. These gifts are defined in the Bible and exercise thereof is under the control of the gifted.!6
ABOUT MAN S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD We believe that all people are sinners by nature and choice and, therefore, are under condemnation; that God regenerates by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. We believe that Jesus is the only way, the only truth, the only life. There is no other way. It is through Jesus that we are accepted and justified by the Father in Heaven. We believe that Jesus Christ baptizes the seeking believers with the Holy Spirit and empowers the believers for service, often subsequent to regeneration. ABOUT THE BIBLE We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired, without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. We believe God s Word is living and active. The Scriptures when prayerfully read in faith are illuminated in the reader s heart by the Holy Spirit.!7
The written language or translation itself does not determine truth. We believe in answering life s questions by asking, What does the Bible say?. Not what does the church say, what does the pastor say, what does the denomination say, or what do people say. The answer must be found in the bible and rooted in a biblically supported principle. ABOUT THE REGULAR WORSHIP SERVICE We believe the Bible shows the purpose for gathering is to edify and encourage one-another. Members of the church are to love one another, extend grace and hospitality to not-yet believers. We believe worship is the tool we should bring to church service. It unlocks our fellowship with God. A main purpose is to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Our attitude of worship should be one of fervent joy and sincerity. The songs we sing should give praise to He who is Worthy. The preaching should be from the Bible, moving the hearer to belief and application. The sermons should be anointed by the Holy Spirit.!8
God loves and allows for many postures of worship (within a Biblically mandated order). Worship consists of singing, confession, praying, offering, Scripture reading, sharing testimonies, and preaching. The object of worship is the Lord. God is the audience of our worship service. The pastors and worship team are prompters for the congregation. Members are participants, not the audience nor actors. The Holy Spirit is present when 2 or more are gathered in one accord in the name of Jesus. They are unified in the one Lord, one Faith, and one Baptism. He inhabits the praises of the people. The Bible does not dictate the style of music nor the types of instruments to be used. We are moved to use contemporary music styles which penetrate and move the worshippers spirit. ABOUT THE LOCAL CHURCH We believe in the universal church, the living Spiritual body, of which Christ is the head, and all regenerated persons are members.!9
We believe that the local church is God s ordained body for local believers. It is the regular gathering of born-again Christians that make up this local church. We believe that Jesus committed two ordinances to the church: 1) Baptism and, 2) the Lord s supper. We believe in baptism by immersion and communion open to all believers. We believe also in the laying on of hands for ordination of pastors, elders and deacons; for receiving from the Holy Spirit, through the believer, physical or spiritual healing; for receiving a touch by the Holy Spirit, through the believer, as an expression of His love and care for the one being prayed for. We believe the Bible instructs that the church be led by men who are called by God as elders for that local church. The pastor is one of the elders. The congregation is to select men and women to serve as deacons and deaconesses who are then confirmed by the elders. We believe the Bible instructs that women are to serve the church in areas of hospitality, praying, teaching younger women and children, being a!10
helpmeet to their husband, as deaconesses for the church, and as part of worship teams. ABOUT THE PASTOR, ELDERS, LEADERS We believe it is God who calls men into the ministry of elder, pastor, teacher, prophet, evangelist, apostle. It is their duty to equip the saints for the work of service and building up of the body of Christ towards a unity of faith and true knowledge of the Son of God. Elders and deacons should meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:5-16 as measured by other biblically qualified men. The elders are to hold the pastor accountable and to regularly give him counsel. The elders are to pray for the church. The pastor is called to be the shepherd of the local church. He is a servant and is responsible to God for the members spiritual life. He is not a hireling. ABOUT THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH It is the believer s responsibility to desire to earnestly seek God through regular worship, bible study, godly living, and tithing. He or she is to!11
extend grace and love to other members. Christians are to pray for their enemies. The church member should endeavor to grow in their reflection of Jesus. It is an every day way of living not Sunday only. The church member is to live under grace. He or she is freed from the Law. The church member is to learn of the commands of Christ and to desire to live under them. His commands are not burdensome. His commands are found in the Bible.!12
ABOUT THE PASTOR AND FAMILY Mark and Adrienne originally met in in California and have been married since 1992. They moved to Colorado in 2005. They share a love of outdoors, animals, and wildlife. They have two adult children Savannah (daughter) and Daniel (son). After pastoring at Cornerstone Community Church in Del Norte, CO. for five years, God has set the Disbrows on this new journey and new season. Short Bio for Pastor Mark S. Disbrow Education: Associate of Arts Business Administration Bachelor of Arts Pastoral Studies, Master of Arts Christian Education, Doctorate of Ministry Pastoral Studies Vocational: 12 years experience as a pastor (focused on evangelism, discipleship, life restoration) 8 years experience in para-church and church ministry concurrent with many overseas mission trips.!13
Pastoral Philosophy I believe that God has called me as a pastorshepherd. I believe my purpose of pastoring is to equip the saints to do the ministry in building up the Body. This means encouraging people to be the toe or the hand or whatever part God has assigned them. I don t think I know the Bible better than everyone to the point where I am unteachable. I don t boast in my faith wherein I cannot be inspired by the faith of others. In public prayer, I don t babble on in prayer thereby cutting out others who want to pray. I m called to shepherd in all that the vocation means. I am to lead by example and by serving. I am to counsel with truth and love, to love and inspire others to love, to protect, to live a life of grace towards all. Start with grace and end with grace. Grace never fails.!14
Amazing grace How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I'm found Was blind, but now I see 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed My chains are gone I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy rains Unending love, Amazing grace.!15
Mark and Adrienne Disbrow Savannah and Daniel Disbrow Amazing Grace Community Church 970.444.2111 77 Navajo Cir. (Aspen Springs) www.amazinggracecc.org mark@amazinggraceco.org Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Wednesdays at 6 p.m.!16