What is our vision?
Our vision is to make disciples of Jesus Christ, especially among English-speakers in Hong Kong.
To Know God
We want everyone to be clear about the basics of the Christian faith. Through God’s Word, we continue to grow in knowledge of Christ and live according to it.
To Grow Together
Individually and as a church, we want to continually mature in our faith. With our God-given gifts, we love and serve one another, and bring glory to God.
To Go into the World
We work to reach out to people in Hong Kong and beyond, proclaiming the good news of Jesus and demonstrating the love of Christ through acts of mercy.
Our church is shaped and formed by the following:
God’s Word – It is at the heart of everything we do together and motivates us to not only be hearers but doers of His Word (James 1v22). In our church services, small groups, youth ministry, evangelism and discipleship, you can expect to hear God’s Word read, explained and discussed.
Training and equipping – We believe all Christians are called to use their God-given gifts to build up the body of Christ and serve for God’s glory. We are committed to equipping members of the congregation further by providing opportunities to serve and grow in their gifts.
Fellowship – God shows his glory by uniting in Christ people from many different cultures, backgrounds and communities. In a city like Hong Kong, we have the unique opportunity to live this out at Ambassador, encouraging each other and being enriched through meeting informally and in small groups. This fulfils Christ’s command – that the world recognises us as Christ’s disciples as we love one another (John 13v35).
The gospel – We set our eyes on the gospel – the person and work of Christ, God’s great plan of redemption and the future new creation as revealed in the Bible. Equipped with the good news of Christ’s love and forgiveness, we reach out to those who do not yet know Him, such as our networks of friends, family and colleagues.
Prayer – Prayer is integral to our meetings as it acknowledges that our reliance is on God alone and that nothing of eternal value can be achieved without him. We believe that God delights to use the prayers of his people to grow his kingdom (James 5v16). Apart from prayers led from the front, we also have times of corporate prayer (e.g. church prayer meetings).
Music and singing – Our congregations are encouraged to sing as part of corporate worship. As we sing together, we encourage each other and express our praise and thanks to God with melodies and rich lyrics grounded in the Bible (Colossians 3v17).
What do we believe?
In common with many other evangelical churches throughout the world we believe:
1. God
There is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is unchangeable in his holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He is the almighty Creator, Savior and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to his sovereign will for his own glory.
Genesis 1-2; Exodus 15:1-18; Isaiah 45:5-18; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 96:10-13; Daniel 4:34-35; John 16:7-15; Titus 3:4-7; James 1:17.
2. The Bible
God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice.
Psalm 19:7-11; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
3. The Human Race
All men and women, being created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is to obey, worship and love God. As a result of the fall of our first parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born again, forgiven and reconciled to God in order to know and please him.
Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-24; Psalm 8:3-8; Matthew 22:34-40; John 3:1-8; Romans 1:18-32; 5:12-19; 2 Corinthians 5:16-19; Ephesians 2:1-3.
4. The Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are true. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God’s punishment for their sin, redeeming them by his blood. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father.
Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; 7:16-18; Acts 2:22-36; Colossians 1:15-22; Hebrews 2:14-18; 7:23-28; 10:11-14.
5. Salvation
Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace and cannot be earned or deserved. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all in the gospel. God in his love forgives sinners whom he calls, granting them repentance and faith. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God and receive eternal life.
John 1:12-13; 5:24-26; 6:35-51; Romans 3:21-26; Galatians 2:15-16; Ephesians 2:4-9; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; Titus 3:4-7.
6. the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship, service and mission.
John 3:1-8; 16:5-16; Romans 8:1-17; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 3:17-18; 12:1-31; Galatians 5:16-26.
7. The Church
The universal Church is the body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved belong. It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the administering of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, for pastoral care and discipline, and for evangelism. The unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel.
Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:1-6; 5:25-33; Philippians 2:1-11; Colossians 1:18
8. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual life. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all and involves no change in the bread and wine. All its blessings are received by faith.
Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:14-23; Romans 6:3-10; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
9. The Future
The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified forever.
Matthew 24:1-44; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:11-21:4; 22:1-5
(These beliefs are taken from the Statement of Faith of the FIEC, UK)