Mission Statement
We exist to restore the lives of women broken by sex trafficking by providing a safe, Christ-centered home, Biblical counseling, and life skills that will provide purpose for a future.
Vision Statement
Sharing the transforming power of Jesus Christ with women broken by sex trafficking.
Statement of Faith
I. The Authority of Scripture
We believe the Bible is the complete and supreme authority in all areas. It is without error in the original writings. The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the final and complete revelation, lack nothing in doctrine or practice and are sufficient for all life and godliness.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3, 21
II. The Trinity
We believe in One God, eternal and self-subsistent existing in three persons: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Co-equal in power and glory, one nature and essence, but distinct in office and activity.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
III. The person and work of Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, never ceasing to be God, yet fully man. Tempted like every man, yet He lived a sinless life; died as a substitutionary sacrifice for every human being. He was physically raised from the dead by divine power and now dwells at the right hand of God. He is our mediator and intercessor and will one day physically return for His church.
John 1:1-3, 14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 5:5; Hebrews 4:15
IV. The Holy Spirit
We believe that God the Holy Spirit is an eternal and self-subsistent person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. He regenerates those who trust Christ as Savior and indwells the believer to sanctify, guide, equip and enable them to live in obedience to God.
John 14:16-17, 26; John 15:26; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 12:13; Galatians 5:18
V. Man
We believe that mankind was created by God and is not a product of evolution. God made both male and female in His image. Man was innocent, but was tempted and deceived into disobedience and rebellion by his own choice. As a result, all of mankind had inherited physical and spiritual death. Man is totally incapable of saving himself. His sinful nature has alienated him from God and therefore he is in need of salvation.
Genesis 1:16-27, 2:7; 3:1-7; Romans 3:10, 23; Ephesians 2:1-2
VI. Salvation
We believe that salvation is a free gift of God, given by His grace, and that man can do nothing of meritorious work to gain it. Salvation is available to all who put their trust in the finished work that Christ accomplished on the cross and by His resurrection from the dead. All who confess Christ and repent of their sins are born into the family of God and regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
John 1:12; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:17-18; Romans 10:9-10
VII. Assurance and Responsibility
We believe that God’s children (the saved), are kept by His power and are secure in Christ forever. We believe the freedom that is found in Christ, does not give license for sin in the believer. God cannot tolerate persistent sin in His children. In His infinite love He corrects them, so that they will be presented blameless, without spot or blemish. True faith in Christ is expressed by a faithful, God-pleasing life.
John 10:27-29; Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 12:6; 1 John 5:13; Ephesians 5:26-27
VIII. Angels, Demons and Satan
We believe that angels are created spiritual beings whose purposes are to serve and worship God and to minister to mankind.
Satan and a third of the angels rebelled against God and were cast out of heaven. Satan is a condemned enemy of Christ and Christians, who seeks to steel, kill and destroy. But by Christ’s finished work on the cross, Satan and his demons were defeated and will be thrown into the lake of fire to be tormented forever.
Isaiah 14:12-14; Ephesians 6:12; Hebrews 1:14, 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:9-11
IX. The Church
We believe the collective church, the “Body of Christ,” is composed of all genuine believers, past, present and future. A person becomes a member of this body by power of the Holy Spirit, the moment they trust Christ for salvation. Every believer should be involved in a local body of like-minded believers.
1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:25
X. The Future
We believe in the imminent physical return of Christ for His Church.
We believe that upon the moment of death, all believers are ushered into the presence of Christ and are kept with Him until He returns to earth. The body and soul are then reunited, to spend eternity in His presence. We believe those who die without faith in Christ in their sin, are kept in eternal torment, apart from the presence of Christ for the final judgement. At that time the lost, Satan and his demons are judged and forever cast into the Lake of Fire.
Luke 16:19-26; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:10
XI. Family
We believe men and women are spiritually equal before God, and God has ordained distinct and separate functions for each. We believe God created only male and female. He created marriage as the exclusive one man and one woman union for procreation and sexual experience. We believe that every life is created by God and life spans from conceptions until natural death.
Genesis 1:26-27; Psalms 139; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18-20
Statement of Marriage and Sexuality
We believe in providing the opportunity of restoration and redemption for women who are victims of trafficking. Freedom for these victims is a genuine possibility. Trauma and scars surround the recovery of trafficking victims. Healing in the midst of such pain seems contradictory but we believe that the love and power of Jesus brings a transformative difference.
Human sexuality must be stewarded with seriousness and compassion within our organization. It is important that each person who is part of this process hold similar views. With this in mind, the Board of Next Step Ministries Inc. has adopted this Statement of Marriage and Sexuality.
We are committed to the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God, being the basis for all matters of faith and conduct. The Bible speaks to the nature of humanity and sexuality and accordingly, it provides guidance to understand and articulate these matters. This statement addresses both belief and behavior concerning sexuality.
We believe that the bible grants two options for human sexual conduct. Marriage, meaning the “one flesh” marital relationship of one man and one woman, is promoted, celebrated and affirmed as a covenantal union. Celibacy is given by God for His glory and the good of those who receive and rejoice in this gift. Explicit in celibacy is faithful singleness to abstain from sexual relationships and as such it is equally celebrated and affirmed. Both celibacy and marriage are honored as a sign and gift from God.
We are committed to the home and family as defined in the Bible. God ordained and created marriage to exist between a man and a woman, with absolute marital fidelity. The Bible describes home and family values, which include roles between husbands and wives as well as fathers, mothers and children.
We believe the dignity of each individual is upheld by embracing the unchanging principles of Scripture.
We believe that God wonderfully creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary and unchangeable genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning—the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union. God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are in a marriage union. God commands us to refrain from sexual activity outside of marriage.
We believe that all forms of sexual immorality are sinful and offensive to God. Sexual immorality includes adultery, fornication, sexual relations between the same gender, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography.
We believe that all humans are the image-bearers of God on earth and are to be treated with respect, compassion and sensitivity regardless of their beliefs or conduct in relationship to the statement.
We believe that the values and integrity of Next Step Ministries Inc. will best be preserved through the agreement of both employees and volunteers who serve within the organizations to:
- 1) Conduct themselves according to this statement on Marriage and Sexuality and
- 2) Support these statements through their words and actions in all areas of their lives