The People of Oak Forest United Methodist Church
We believe that God has great plans for Oak Forest United Methodist.
"We can't see the future and some of us may
not get there, but I believe this community of faith's future is good. God has a plan for this church. God keeps blessing our medical
ministries. We are the only United
Methodist Church in the state of Arkansas to my knowledge that has a medical
clinic, dental clinic and now a vision clinic. Corporations are blessing us, foundations are reaching out
to us and now it is time for our congregation to continue reaching out. I need you to bring in people to our
community of faith. You have
neighbors, family and friends who do not have a church home. Invite them to worship with us on
Sunday. " --Pastor Russ
Help people in their community
Accept you for who you are
Offer a place to belong
Care for and support each other
Show respect for other religions
Support people facing difficulty
Welcome diverse opinions and beliefs
Guide others to find deeper meaning.
Look to the Lord and His strength. Seek His face
always. __ Psalm 105:4
What We Believe
United Methodists share with other Christians:
- The belief in the triune God—Father, Son and Holy
Spirit.
- A faith in the mystery of salvation in and through
Jesus Christ.
- The belief that God’s redemptive love is realized in
human life by the activity of the Holy Spirit, both in personal experience
and in the community of believers.
- The recognition that the reign of God as both a present
and future reality.
- The recognition of the authority of Scripture in
matters of faith and practice.
- The celebration of the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy
Communion.
Our Distinctive United Methodist Heritage and Beliefs
As United Methodists…
- Grace is central to our understanding of Christian
faith and life. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement,
described God’s grace as threefold: prevenient grace, justifying grace and
sanctifying grace.
- We understand the Christian life as one in which faith
and love are put into action.
- United Methodists insist that faith and good works
belong together.
- Because of what God has done for us, we offer our lives
back to God through a life of service.
- United Methodists maintain a balanced view in their
ways of thinking through Christian doctrine and is often referred to as
the “Wesleyan Quadrilateral.” United Methodists believe that the living
core of the Christian faith is revealed in scripture, illumined by
tradition, enlivened by experience and confirmed by reason.
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