Please read the Our Beliefs Statement. If you have questions, contact your SAM Mobilization Coordinator. If you agree with each statement, sign below.
1. The Holy Scriptures. We believe that the Bible, consisting only of the Old and New Testaments, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is inerrant in the original manuscripts. It alone is the infallible and authoritative Word of God for all matters of faith, conduct, and doctrine.
2. God. We believe in the triune God, Creator and sovereign Lord of all that exists. He is infinite in His knowledge, presence, power, and wisdom; perfect in love, holiness, and justice. God is truly one, yet eternally self-existing in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Godhead is equal in being, nature, and power.
3. The Person and Work of Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary at the appointed time. He was fully God and fully man without sin. He was crucified, dead, buried, and on the third day he rose bodily. The shedding of His blood is sufficient for the salvation of all mankind. Now He is seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for His people, and one day He will return bodily in power and great glory.
4. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Holy Spirit is Himself God, the third person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. At the moment of conversion, the Spirit regenerates believers, indwells them, and baptizes them into the body of Christ. He is given as a guarantee of their full inheritance. He imparts gifts to each Christian, as He chooses, for the edification of the Church. He fills and empowers believers as they submit to Him.
5. Human Nature. We believe Adam and Eve were created by a direct act of God in His own image. When they disobeyed God, they were judged and punished with physical and spiritual death. As descendants of Adam, all human beings inherit this sinful condition and its consequences, are guilty before God and are totally unable to approach God or be reconciled to Him on their own merit.
6. Salvation. We believe that salvation, found in Christ alone, provides forgiveness of sin and reconciliation to God. It was purchased by the sufficient substitutionary sacrifice of Christ on the cross. It is offered by grace to all people and must be personally received by repentance and faith as God's gift, apart from any human effort. In salvation, all believers receive the righteousness of Christ and eternal life. True believers are eternally secure and persevere. Their lives are to be characterized by spiritual growth.
7. The Church. We believe that the Church is divinely ordained of God to fulfill His mission in the world. This Church, under the headship of Christ, is expressed in local congregations of fellowshipping believers committed to worship, encouragement, instruction, and the making of disciples. The Church is called by God to evangelize every nation and people and to be salt and light to this lost world.
8. Satan. We believe in the reality of Satan, a created being, the enemy of God and mankind. Although powerful in this age, he is doomed by the sacrificial death of Christ.
9. Future Events. We believe in the visible and personal return of Jesus Christ in order to culminate history. At the appointed time, the dead shall be raised and all mankind shall appear before the Lord to give an account. Believers in Christ will be transformed and enjoy everlasting life in the presence of their Lord. Unbelievers will be condemned to everlasting, conscious punishment, forever separated from God.
I affirm this doctrinal statement without reservation, and if appointed as a South America Mission missionary, I agree to serve and enjoy fellowship together with all members of SAM, based on our shared doctrinal convictions. I am aware that South America Mission may declare teaching positions in addition to the doctrinal statement. I understand that I am not required to personally hold these positions, but agree to conduct my ministry according to them.
In addition to the doctrinal statement, the Board of Directors may from time to time authorize protocols for the guidance of South America Mission missionaries in both teaching and practice. South America Mission missionaries may not be required to affirm these statements to maintain membership in the Mission, but, in all cases, they must agree to work under them.
The current protocols are listed below.
CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT
South America Mission is committed to do all that it can to maintain the unity of the body of Christ. Recognizing that it is possible to divide the body by assuming either a pro or anti position regarding the charismatic movement, South America Mission expresses these concerns:
1) The teaching that tongues (or any other gift) is the indispensable sign of the indwelling or filling of the Holy Spirit is inconsistent with Scripture and divides the body of Christ by creating two “classes” of Christians.
2) The drama of a message received in tongues tends to give it a special aura. As a result, many Latin American believers and churches have come to rely too much on this experience, thus neglecting the Scriptures. While this tendency may not be heretical, we believe it to be a dangerous error, exposing the church to a greatly increased risk of being led into heresy by those who desire to promote their own power and influence.
3) In the ministry of healing, it is often taught that it is always God’s will to heal His children. This teaching contradicts Scripture and distracts from God’s central purpose of redeeming lost people from their sinful condition.
4) Deception has often been used in healing meetings “to promote faith.” Such deception is inconsistent with the character of the Holy Spirit, who is the God who cannot lie.
As a result of these concerns, South America Mission will not consider for membership those who believe the gift of tongues is in any way the indispensable sign of any activity of the Holy Spirit. Nor will we consider for membership anyone who believes healing is the inherent right of the believer and therefore dependent only on faith and/or repentance.
The private, devotional practice of speaking in tongues is not restricted. However, South America Mission missionaries agree to exercise and not promote speaking in tongues by either practice or teaching in public as we look to the Latin American church to be the teachers and authorities for their congregations on this issue, which has been divisive in the Latin American context.
Prayer for healing of illness is encouraged, but South America Mission missionaries must refrain from any deceptive practices.
South America Mission missionaries must also refrain from unnecessarily dividing the body of Christ by either ridiculing or publicly attaching charismatics. Missionaries should refrain from condemning styles of worship which differ from their own personal preferences simply because they appear to have some similarities to “charismatic groups.”
WATER BAPTISM
South America Mission believes that baptism is an ordinance commanded by the Lord. While baptism in no way conveys salvation, it is important in that it is one of our Lord’s commands, serves as a visual statement of a special relationship in Christ and a testimony before the world. Recognizing that Christians who are clearly members of Christ’s one true church hold differing views of how this command is properly obeyed, South America Mission does not require members to affirm one specific view regarding the appropriate subjects of mode of baptism.
All those who join South America Mission should be aware that South America Mission’s historic practice has been believer’s baptism by immersion. South America Mission missionaries working in established areas agree not to attempt to change the position of an existing church or association.
South America Mission missionaries should also be aware that South America Mission is open to start new works or to work with existing associations or churches without attempting to establish believer’s baptism by immersion as the normative practice.
No member of South America Mission will be asked to officiate in a celebration of baptism according to a particular mode in conflict with his or her own personal beliefs.
PRE- MILLENNIAL RETURN OF CHRIST
South America Mission affirms that visible return of Christ in His physical body without placing a strong emphasis on the particular sequence of the events associated with Christ’s return. Missionaries are not required to personally hold to the pre-millennial position, though this issue has been divisive in the Latin American church and historically South America Mission’s teaching practice has been from a pre-millennial position.
COOPERATION WITH GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE OF SOUTH AMERICA MISSION
Cooperation with groups or individuals outside of South America Mission who do not follow these guidelines will be determined on a case by case basis on the appropriate field by the field leaders after consultation with the missionaries involved in the actual situation. No binding agreement to cooperate with any organization shall be made without prior consultation with the Executive Director.
My signature below affirms my willingness to work happily under these ministry protocols. I also understand that the Board of Directors may issue additional protocols as deemed necessary for the good of the ministry.
