Vision & Statement of Faith

In the spirit of love, hope and inclusion, Penhurst Retreat Centre has adopted an amended version of the Evangelical Alliance statement of faith, to act as an anchor and inspiration for our spiritual identity and belief. Inspired by the life, teaching and mission of Jesus, it is our policy to welcome all as our guests regardless of their personal position or beliefs. We believe in the ministry of hospitality and this extends to both those we agree and disagree with. Relationship is by far the most powerful way of persuading anyone and we reach out in love to everyone.

we have a clear spiritual identity shaped by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and seeks to retain this through succeeding generations; to that end we ask trustees and senior staff to agree the statements below are true and should be expressed in love.

We believe that the central Biblical message is the c oming of God s kingdom , with Jesus enthroned as our loving King and we as His people. Everything we do is aimed at building this kingdom.

Our Statement of Faith

In particular we believe in:

1. The one true loving God who lives eternally in three persons the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
2. The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world.
3. The divine inspiration and supreme authority of Jesus expressed in the Old and New Testament scriptures, which are the written word of God fully trustworthy for our mission, faith and conduct.
4. The dignity of all people, made male and female in God s image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgement.
5. The incarnation of God s eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary; truly divine and truly human, yet without sin.
6. The atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross: dying in our place, paying the price of sin and defeating evil, so reconciling us with God.
7. The bodily resurrection of Christ, the first fruits of our resurrection; His ascension to the Father, and His reign and mediation as the only Saviour of the world.
8. The justification of sinners solely by the grace of God through faith in Christ.
9. The ministry of God the Holy Spirit, who leads us to repentance, unites us with Christ through new birth, empowers our discipleship and enables our witness.
10. The Church, the body of Christ both local and universal, the priesthood of all believers given life by the Spirit and endowed with the Spirit s gifts to worship God and proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, promoting justice and love.
11. The personal and visible return of Jesus Christ to fulfil the purposes of God, who will raise all people to judgement, bring eternal life to the redeemed and eternal condemnation to the lost, and establish a new heaven and new earth.
12. That God ordained good works for all His children to do, therefore true faith and belief must be worked out in deeds.
13. That truth should never be separated from love, so we seek to do nothing unless it be loving. 1 Corinthians 13 is our shield and inspiration, that we may never insist on truth apart from love.