Salem Gospel Ministries is a Bible based Christian fellowship in the Silver Spring area. This congregation of devoted Christ followers is affiliated with the Baptist Convention of Maryland & Delaware and the District of Columbia Baptist Convention.
Salem is a microcosm of the Kingdom of God where people of all nations, all race, all tribe, all tongues, and all culture come together as one body to worship The One Who saved us and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Revelation 7:9; Colossians 1:13) . Our ultimate goal as a church, is to win all people for Christ and make disciples eager to grow more like Christ (Matthew 28: 19-20; 2 Peter 3:18) .
Vision
Salem's vision is to step beyond our comfort zone to win people of all nations for Christ and ensure that the whole of man (body, soul, and spirit) is impacted by Christ.
This holistic vision is rooted in Jesus Christ's pastoral recommendation to Peter. (John 21:15)
The gospel should be preached beyond our comfort zone: God's grace should not exclude anyone. This takes courage, obedience, and faith. (John 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:9; Joshua 1:9; Gen 12:1-3)
Christ's mandate for the church is to bring the gospel to all nations. (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8.; Mark 16:15)
Christ is and remains the model for our pastoral approach. Christ healed the sick, restored human dignity, fed the hungry, and reconciled people to God. (John 21:15; John 8:1-11)
Mission
The Salem congregation is committed to fulfilling the Great Commission, while living and pursuing the great and new commandments.(Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 22:36-40; John 13:34)
Beliefs
We believe that there is only one God, eternally existing in three distinct yet united persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.(Luke 3:21-22; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
We believe that the Bible, including the Old and New Testament scriptures, is inspired by God, indisputably true, and therefore serves as the ultimate and supreme authority in matters of faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
We believe, in accordance with the Scriptures, that Jesus Christ sacrificed His life to pay for our sins, that He arose victorious from the grave, that He ascended to heaven to prepare a glorious dwelling place for those He redeemed, that He will return to gather them for the feast of the Lamb, and that all those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ are saved and will spend eternity with Him. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 14:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 19:7-9; Romans 10:9-11; Ephesians 2:8-9; Matthew 13:43)
We believe the Father sent the Holy Spirit into the world to guide and help believers understand and apply the scripture; to give them power to witness the Lord Jesus Christ, to and convict them of sin. (John 16:8; John 14:16-17, 26; John 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14; Acts 1:8)
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We believe that baptism is a public declaration before God and people of one's desire to follow Jesus, to live by faith in life, and to overcome sin. (Acts 2:38; Romains 6:3)
We believe that God has blessed us with different spiritual gifts and talents that we must use in unity to edify, support and bless the church, since we form one body in Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:1–31)
We believe we can share the Good News about God's love and forgiveness through evangelism, mission, and social action. (John 3:16; Actes 10:38; Acts 13:47; Marc 16:15)
We believe that the local church serves as God's primary channel for growing and grooming disciples through worship, prayer, fellowship, sharing, and mutual encouragement. (Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 4:11-16, Proverbs 27:17)
Our core Values
We refer to our church's values to remind us of how God is working through and within us.
Prayer
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!
Individual prayer life is critical to cultivate daily communion with God through Worship, Praise, Thanksgiving, Repentance, Supplications, Warfare. (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Luc 18:1-8, 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; 1 Peter 5:9)
Fasting and Personal retreat are encouraged to allow Christ to build, strengthen, and transform our inner man into the same image from one degree of glory to another (Colossians, 2 Corinthians) .
Corporate prayers are crucial for bringing unity to the body of Christ and strengthening weakened faith (Acts 2:40-47, Proverbs 27:17) . When people pray together, they develop a sense of love and caring for one another as well as for God's mission.
Meditation of the Word of God
READ YOUR BIBLE!!!
Obey the word of God.
Have faith in the word of God.
Read faith-based books to learn how God is at work in the lives of your fellow Christian to build your faith and increase your intimacy with God.
Spend time in the word of God to feed your soul and spirit.
Fellowship
Live together and in harmony with brothers and sisters God has blessed you with. Our local church, Salem provides plenty opportunities to grow in our relationship with Christ and in our relationships with others in a casual environment.
Evangelization
Evangelization involves spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to those around us. Churches exist to serve as witnesses to the Gospel. The world around us is filled with people who have never heard that God loves them and desires to give them abundant life. As Jesus himself commanded, we must evangelize.
We believe that evangelization is not the sole responsibility of pastors, evangelists, teachers, apostles, or prophets, but of every born-again Christian with the Holy Spirit inside of them (Acts 1:8) . It is God's desire that many of our colleagues, patients, customers, and friends will come to Christ through the witness of our lives.
Ministry
We have been uniquely gifted to serve for the expansion of God’s Kingdom, to build up the body of Christ, and to equip the saints. (Ephesians 4:12)
Service enhances our biblical understanding and demonstrates the authenticity of our faith. The saints, equipped by their church leader, must all use their gifts and be actively engaged in the ministry areas God has called them to.
Generosity
Christ-followers are blessed with the special privilege of giving. Indeed, our giving is a response to the blessings God gives to us through Jesus Christ. Giving is an act of worship, an outpouring of a grateful heart. The Bible says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” True joy lies in giving rather than receiving.
Giving starts by worshipping God with our tithes, the first ten percent of our income. We then cheerfully give above and beyond our tithe, an offering to show our obedience, love, and generosity to The One Who first loved and gave us.
We believe it is God's will for each of us to give generously, consistently, proportionately, and sacrificially throughout our lives as believers.
Sanctification
Sanctification means being set apart. In other words, it is the process by which the Lord separates us from sin and sets us apart for us to live a holy life. Sanctification makes us more like Christ in our conduct and character because our body, soul and spirit are preserved blameless. The will of God is for us to be sanctified. Therefore, as Christians, we should strive to towards it. Without sanctification no man shall see the Lord! (Hebrew 12:14)
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