Bringing Christmas Cheer into the Community! (860) 581 - 3867
What We Believe
Statement of Faith
First, Christmas Caroling Ministry Tour, Inc. ("CCMT") is a free standing 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization all it's own. CCMT is NOT connected to or sponsored by any church, school, other nonprofit or para-church organization. However, we are willing to partner with and support other nonprofit organizations, churches and schools that the Board of Directors agree and see fit to do from time to time. The Board of Directors have the final say on who we partner with.
With that being said, we do have core beliefs that line up with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and one of the best summaries that we found that lines up with ours come from VOX Church in New Haven, Connecticut. We reached out to Vox Church and asked permission to adopt their core beliefs as those of CCMT and graciously, the Executive Board granted their permission to us. Thank you Vox Church!
The core beliefs are reproduced below.
CORE BELIEFS
At CCMT, three core behavioral values shape the way we make decisions and practice our faith. These values inform and direct our organization. We practice them when it's popular and when it's out of fashion. We filter everything through these core values.
JESUS AT THE CENTER
We believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important truth in life. Jesus lived a perfect life, died a substitutionary death, and rose from the dead. This one truth changes every other part of life.
“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”
(1 Cor 15:3-4)
The good news of Christ creates an entirely new dynamic for life. For everyone who believes, all their sins are forgiven! God treats you as his child. He judges you on the merits of Jesus. CCMT is committed applying this life-changing truth to every corner of our hearts and lives. We want the good news of grace to reshape how we see God, how we see ourselves, and how we see the world. This is our first and central value.
INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY
Community is how God does things. We are told in scripture that God is one in essence and three in person (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). God has designed humanity in such a way that we need each other in order to know and experience God fully. It’s true that each of us should have a personal relationship with God, but it’s equally true that there are aspects of God we can never know until we invest in deep relationship with people. This type of community does not happen by accident. We must be intentional about growing it and sustaining it.
CCMT MISSION
CCMT is a group of children and adults who desire to bring Christmas Cheer into the community(s). We tour the state of Connecticut and ring doorbells to sing Christmas hymns and carols to people who have suffered some sort of loss or tragedy over the past year. We also sing to those who struggle more than most in caring for others or themselves to lift their spirits during the Christmas season. We want people to know that the Lord Jesus has not forgotten about them amidst of what they are going through. We love bringing Christmas cheer to community / public servants such as firefighters, police, veterans, nursing homes, schools and churches!
We want to echo the truth of Christ in every corner of our world through sharing the gospel, serving the poor, helping those in need, seeking the good of the city, partnering with other churches and organizations, and participating in global missions.
THE SCRIPTURES
The Bible, both the Old Testament and the New Testament, is God's Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired (bold)) by God, the Bible is truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to our daily lives. Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11; 119:89; 119:105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1- 2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 3:16
THE GODHEAD
God has existed in relationship with Himself for all eternity. He is a triune God, one God revealing Himself in Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority. Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 5:21-23; 14:10; 14:16; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8-10; James 2:19
GOD THE FATHER
God is great: He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present everywhere at all times, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and He is holy. It is in Him that we live, move, and exist. God is good: He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises. Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4
GOD THE SON
Jesus Christ is completely human, but at the same time completely God. He is the only plan for bringing people who are enemies of God back into a right relationship with God. He lived a perfect life so that He could be a substitution for us in satisfying God's demands for perfection. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we could have life. Isaiah 7:14; 7:53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1; 1:14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19- 21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9;
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is fully God, the Third Person of the trinity, and assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God's righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and makes us more like Christ. Psalms 51:11; 139:7; Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Luke 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 13:2; Romans 8:9-11; 14-16; 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:17
HEAVEN AND HELL
Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence. Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. John 3:16; 3:36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15
HUMAN BEINGS
Man is made in the image of God and is the supreme object of His creation. Man was created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, man cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love. Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7; 2:18-22; 2:3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18; 3:23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19; 15:21-22; Ephesians 2;
SALVATION
The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death, (burial) and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. Salvation is a gift from God, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts. The victorious work of Jesus on the cross provides freedom from sin, lies, sickness, torment and all the power of the devil. Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-28; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16; 36; 5:24; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:24-28; Revelation 3:20
THE CHURCH
The global Church is a living organism made up of all born again followers of Christ from every age, race, and nation. The local church is a regional community of baptized believers unified through faith in Christ. It is committed to the teachings of Christ, to obeying all of His commands, and it seeks to bring the gospel to the world. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 21:2-3
THE RETURN OF CHRIST (added by CCMT )
We believe in the personal and bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivating the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission. Christ is coming back for His Bride, the church (believers in Him). He is coming to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end. Matthew 24: 1 – 50; 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 1:33; 1 Corinthians 15: 50 – 58; 1 Thessalonians 2:19 -20; 3: 11 – 13; 4:13-18; 5:1-11; 5:23; 2 Timothy 4:1 – 5; Revelation 3:7 – 13; 22:1-2