Our vision at Unity is simple. We seek to be involved in "Engaging our Community with the Love of Christ."

We endeavor to accomplish this task in three ways:

LIVING
It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that makes all of this possible. The only way sinners like us are changed and come to have faith is through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The only way we can continue to change and to grow in Christ-likeness is through living together in community through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The only way we can be about the task of living, learning, and loving is through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

LEARNING
Learning should be a life-long journey, and this includes continued learning and study of God's Word.  Scripture tells us, to "Study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the Word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15). That means we are to engage in each opportunity to learn about and live out the gospel, using our spiritual gifts to build one another up in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

LOVING
We know that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16). The Gospel is the Message of Good News for all people. Having been chosen of God to experience the magnificence of His grace, it is our desire to be gracious and loving toward others (Mk. 12:31; Mt. 22:39). Further, that we would fully engage in ministries that bless our local community by showing forth the love of Christ to neighbors, friends, and coworkers. We also seek to love the world by supporting ministries that spread the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the world to every tribe, tongue, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9) all for the glory of God.

 

What is the Worship Service like?
The Scriptures teach authentic worship is composed of basically five elements:

In seeking to bring honor and glory to our Lord our services incorporate a balance of the above scriptural elements. You will find the worship environment at UBC to reflect the principles of the historic Baptist faith such as congregational singing of the hymns, psalms and songs of praise. We believe God's Word specifically teaches that corporate worship is a participatory gathering of baptized believers, not a spectator event whereby one comes to be entertained. The worship gatherings at UBC  are certainly refreshing in a time whereby so many churches have abandoned the biblical pattern of authenticity for that which is pragmatic.  

What type of Bible study is offered?
We offer Sunday School classes (Life Groups) for all ages and life situations. Our Children and Student classes are age graded while adults may choose a class based on age and/or life situation. All groups study the Word of God expositionally, which means we move through the books of the Bible covering the aspects of life applicatiion, doctrine and theology. We periodically offer new members classes on special studies concerning the specifics of what we believe as Baptists. 

How should I dress?
Please dress modestly and comfortably. Our congregation is fairly diverse and most forms of modest attire are represented; some preferring to get "all dressed up" while others prefer a more "dress-casual" attire. 

What is the music like?
God's Word encourages the vibrant and enthusiastic singing of God's people as they gather in worship of Him. Further, all music should meet the basic criteria of theological soundness and, of course, be singable! While many churches offer musical entertainment, such as one would encounter during a concert, we see no scriptural basis or biblical pattern for anything but the corporate participation of God's people singing. Therefore, we predominately sing congregational hymns and spiritual songs in our worship services that are accompanied by our instrumentalists. Periodically, choral music featuring vocalists, or our Sanctuary choir, will be inlcuded as participants in the service. Also, throughout the year, there are special musical events which are usually held on Sunday evenings or on a weeknight. Sunday morning worship services are exclusively reserved for the corporate worship of God's people.

Over the last few decades there has been a rapid departure from the historical Baptist viewpoint concerning both the harmony and the consistency in doctrinal teaching. Because of these paradigm shifts, the once robust evangelistic passion commanded in our Lord’s Great Commission has been severely weakened and has left many Baptist churches feeling the results of worldly pragmatism and the effects of easy-believism.

The soundness of biblical truth, which is best expressed through expository preaching and teaching, has been supplanted by cultural relativism and the fads of human desire. It is no wonder Christ’s church has suffered from the effects of these false notions whereby many churches are seemingly in an indentity crisis. Consequently, we affirm the foundational statements of faith which summarize the historic Christian faith:

Unity Baptist Church is compiled of people who love God’s Word and have an affinity for biblical truth.  Our congregation stands with the men and women who throughout Christian history have steadfastly stood upon the great doctrines of the Christian faith. It is these foundational truths that are not only essential for the health of believers but for the spiritual health of the church.  At Unity, we are committed to the recovery of and passion for the Gospel of Christ and to the biblical reformation of the local church. We believe that genuine faith is that which is both doctrinal and confessional. So, what have been the effects of easy believism and lack of doctrinal teaching? Well, just one century ago most children in Baptist churches would have possessed a robust working knowledge of both doctrinal truths and of church history. Today, many folks who gather in our church houses know very little concerning the God of the Bible, of His precepts, or of what the Scriptures teach conerning New Birth in Jesus Christ. Consequently, we believe it should be the high priority of the church to unapologetically teach sound biblical doctrine along with the instruction concerning the significant events and people of church history. Why is this so important? Because what one believes about God, His Word, and of Redemption will greatly impact both their testimony and their zeal for evangelism.

We recognize and agree, in principle, with the core truths and unifying spirit of The Baptist Faith and Message, as adopted by Southern Baptists in 2000. However, as our distinctive doctrinal guide, we affirm The Baptist Confession of Faith (Second London,1689) along with the summary of that confession, The Abstract of Principles. Not only has this confession of Baptist faith and practice stood for over 400 years, these were the most common confessional document(s) in place at the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845 and in the founding of the first Southern Baptist Seminary in Greenville, SC which later relocated to its present location in Louisville, KY. The Southern Baptist Seminary, along with The Southeastern Seminary and The Midwestern Seminary, still uphold the Abstract of Principles as their general Doctrinal Statement of faith and practice.

As Baptists, we also believe in the biblical pattern of church governance and in the full autonomy of the local church. While we affirm each local church should be autonomous, we also desire to fellowship and cooperate with churches who are of like faith and order. Such fellowship provides a support network for missions, theological education, medical institutions and the support of various disaster and emergency relief agencies. As an expression of that desire and support, we cooperate with the congregations making up the Southern Baptist Convention, the Florida Baptist Convention, and the Marion Baptist Association. Further, in cooperation with other sister churches who uphold the historical Baptist views on doctrinal matters we have affiliated with Founders Ministries. You can find out more information concerning these agencies on our "Affliations" page.

Perhaps the words of the 17th century Baptist theologian, Hercules Collins, in his address to his contemporaries says it best: "I have proposed three Creeds to your consideration, which ought throughly to be believed and embraced by all those that would be accounted Christians, viz. The Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, and the Creed commonly called the Apostles; The last of which contains the sum of the Gospels; which is industriously opened and explained; and I beseech you do not slight it because of its Form, nor Antiquity, nor because supposed to be composed by Men; neither because some that hold it, maintain some Errors, or whose Conversation may not be correspondent to such fundamental Principles of Salvation; but take this for a perpetual Rule, That whatever is good in any, owned by any, whatever Error or Vice it may be mixed withal, the Good must not be rejected for the Error or Vice sake, but owned; commended, and accepted." Creeds are not Scripture and do not rise to that level whatsoever. Nevertheless, they are good summaries of what one believes the Scriptures to teach concerning the most basic tenants of faith.