Statement of Faith
LEAD confesses the historic evangelical faith of the Church, summarized in the Apostles’ Creed, and proclaims Jesus Christ as our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King.
LEAD comes alongside leaders in Africa, in their own context, to equip them for faithful service. Our theological convictions are closely aligned with those of The Christian and Missionary Alliance. These convictions shape what we teach, how we train, and whom we partner with.
The Historic Confession of the Church
With Christians of every age and nation, LEAD affirms the Apostles’ Creed as a faithful summary of biblical truth.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
We use “catholic” in its historic sense: the one universal Church of all true believers in Jesus Christ.
What We Believe
The Scriptures
We believe the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament are the inspired Word of God. As originally given, they are infallible and inerrant. Scripture is the complete revelation of God’s will for our salvation and the final authority for Christian faith and practice.
2 Tim. 3:15–17; 2 Pet. 1:20–21The Triune God
We believe in one living and true God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect. He exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are one God, equal in power and glory.
Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; Rev. 4:11Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and performed miracles. He died on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners, the Just for the unjust. He rose bodily from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He intercedes for His people as our great High Priest.
Luke 1:34–38; Phil. 2:6–11; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 Cor. 15:3–4; Heb. 8:1The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. His work of regeneration is essential for salvation. He indwells every believer to guide, teach, gift, empower, and produce His fruit.
John 14:16–18; 16:7–13; Acts 1:8; Gal. 5:22–23Humanity and Sin
We believe man and woman were created in the image of God. Through disobedience they fell, bringing both physical and spiritual death. Every person is therefore born with a sinful nature and separated from the life of God.
Gen. 1:27; Rom. 5:12; 6:23; Eph. 4:18Salvation
We believe salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all people. Those who repent and believe in Him are justified by grace through faith, not by works. They are born again by the Holy Spirit, transferred into the Kingdom of God’s Son, adopted as children of God, and given eternal life.
John 1:12; Rom. 3:21–25; Eph. 2:8–9; Col. 1:13; Titus 3:4–7Jesus Christ: Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King
At the center of our faith and our training is Jesus Christ Himself. We proclaim the fullness of who Jesus is and what He offers every believer.
Savior
We believe Jesus alone saves. Through His shed blood, all who believe in Him are forgiven, justified, and reconciled to God. There is no other name by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:9; 1 John 2:2Sanctifier
We believe it is God’s will that every believer be filled with the Holy Spirit and sanctified wholly. This means being separated from sin and the world and fully surrendered to the will of God. It brings power for holy living and effective service. Sanctification is both a crisis and a progressive experience in the believer’s life, following conversion.
Acts 1:8; Rom. 6:1–14; 1 Thess. 5:23Healer
We believe Christ’s redemptive work makes provision for the healing of the whole person: body, soul, and spirit. Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in Scripture as privileges of the Church in this present age. We pray in faith and trust God’s sovereign goodness in every outcome.
Isa. 53:4–5; Matt. 8:16–17; James 5:13–16Coming King
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly, in power and glory, to establish His Kingdom of righteousness and peace. His coming could be at any time, so we live ready. Faithful believers hold differing views on the timing and order of end-time events, but we are united in this blessed hope. It moves us toward holy living, faithful service, and urgent mission.
Isa. 9:6–7; Luke 21:27; Titus 2:11–14; Heb. 10:37The Church and Its Mission
The Church
We believe the Church consists of all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed by His blood, and are born again by the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of His Body, the Church.
Eph. 1:22–23; Col. 1:18The Local Church
We believe the local church is a body of believers joined together in love for worship, teaching of the Word, prayer, fellowship, and proclaiming the gospel in word and deed. It observes the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Acts 2:41–47; Luke 4:18–19The Great Commission
We believe Christ has commissioned His Church to make disciples of all peoples. LEAD exists to serve this mission by equipping leaders who will serve the Church faithfully in their own context.
Matt. 24:14; 28:19–20; 2 Tim. 2:2The Last Things
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all people. The Lord Jesus Christ will judge with perfect justice. The unrepentant and unbelieving will be raised to eternal separation from God. Believers will be raised to the unending joy of eternal life with God.
John 5:28–30; Acts 17:31; 24:15; Rev. 20:15; 21:1–4Unity and Partnership
We hold these convictions firmly and extend them with humility. In essentials we seek unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity.
LEAD gladly partners with ministries that share the historic evangelical doctrines above, even where they differ from us on secondary matters. Our curriculum partner, Third Millennium Ministries, affirms the same core truths of Scripture, the Trinity, the person and work of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and final judgment. Its fuller doctrinal standard is the Westminster Confession of Faith.
