Who are the churches of Christ? The only identity we desire is to be the church you read about in the Bible, nothing more and nothing less! We are not a denomination. Our Lord came to this earth to establish His church (Matthew 16:18), not a denomination created and organized by man. We strive diligently to fulfill our role as "the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). We are not headquartered anywhere in this world. The church is the body of Christ, and He is its only head (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:22-23). We do not have a governing body that determines doctrine or policy for our congregations. Instead, following the pattern presented in the Bible, each congregation is autonomous, self-governing. We have no creed book, handbook or official statement of church doctrine. The Bible is our sole authority as to what we believe, teach and practice doctrinally (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Our worship is simple, focused on expressing our worship to God and according to His will as communicated in the scriptures. We gather every first day of the week to commemorate, through the Lord's Supper, Christ's sacrifice on the cross for our sins (Acts 20:7). We sing praises to God a cappella (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). We openly study and teach God's word (2 Timothy 4:2). We pray for God's guidance, wisdom, protection, forgiveness and blessings (1 Timothy 2:1; James 1:5; 5:13, 16). We return to God the financial blessings with which He has blessed us (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Our mission is to teach the gospel of Christ throughout the world (Mark 16:15-16). Jesus Christ is our only savior, and there is no way to God except through Him (John 14:6). Everyone is guilty of sin (Romans 3:23). The consequence of sin is spiritual death (Romans 6:23). Forgiveness and salvation are for all who are "in Christ" (Romans 8:1). The gospel is God's message of salvation through Christ (Romans 1:16). God's plan for man's salvation is simple and straightforward. It is only by God's grace through faith that we can be saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). When a person responds to God's offer of grace by repenting of their sin (Acts 3:19), confessing their faith in Christ (Matthew 10:32-33) and submitting to baptism "into Christ" (Romans 6:3), their sins will be cleansed by the Lord's shed blood on the cross (Acts 22:16; Hebrews 9:27-28). She then receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) and, with His help (John 14:26), begins a new life of faithfulness to God (2 Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 2:10). Our intention is to speak where the Bible speaks and to remain silent where the Bible is silent, to submit to God's will, as communicated in His word, in all matters of faith. "The churches of Christ greet you" (Romans 16:16).