Proverbs 9:1 says, “Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars."
Using that image as a framework, South Butler Assembly of God can describe its culture as being built on seven pillars foundational principles that support everything the church is and does. These pillars are rooted in the doctrine of the Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths, the biblical mission of the church, and the five functions of the church: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism.
At South Butler Assembly of God, we believe that a healthy church is not built merely on programs, personalities, or traditions, but on biblical principles that shape our culture. Inspired by Proverbs 9:1, we see our church as a spiritual house supported by Seven Pillars' core values that define who we are and who we are becoming. These pillars guide our relationships, our worship, our ministry, and our mission.
1. Biblical Truth
We are built on the authority of God’s Word.
Scripture is our foundation for faith, doctrine, and daily living. We believe the Bible is inspired, trustworthy, and fully relevant for today. Every ministry, decision, and message must align with God’s Word.
We do not adapt Scripture to culture; we allow Scripture to shape our culture.
2. Christ-Centered Worship
Jesus is the center of everything we do.
We exist first to glorify God. Our worship is passionate, reverent, Spirit-led, and centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ. We pursue God’s presence because transformed lives flow from genuine encounters with Him.
We are not spectators in worship; we are participants in His presence.
3. Spirit-Empowered Living
We depend on the power and work of the Holy Spirit.
As a Pentecostal church, we believe the Holy Spirit still fills, empowers, heals, speaks, and gives spiritual gifts today. We desire both the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit to be evident in our church.
We refuse to live or minister in human strength alone.
4. Authentic Community
We do life together as the family of God.
The church is more than a weekly gathering—it is a spiritual family. We cultivate meaningful relationships marked by love, unity, honor, accountability, and mutual encouragement across generations.
People should be known, loved, and supported here.
5. Intentional Discipleship
We are committed to spiritual growth and maturity.
Salvation is the beginning, not the finish line. We help people grow in biblical understanding, spiritual disciplines, obedience, holiness, and Christlike character so they become fully devoted followers of Jesus.
We are not called merely to make converts, but disciples.
6. Servant Ministry
Every believer is called to serve.
God has uniquely gifted every believer for ministry. We encourage every member to discover, develop, and deploy their spiritual gifts to strengthen the body of Christ and serve others with humility and excellence.
Ministry is not reserved for a few; it is the calling of every believer.
7. Missional Outreach
We are sent to reach our world with the Gospel.
We exist not only for those inside the church, but also for those outside it. Locally and globally, we are committed to evangelism, missions, compassion, and making Jesus known until He returns.
We are blessed to be a blessing and sent to make disciples.
Closing Statement
At South Butler Assembly of God, these seven pillars form the culture we seek to build and protect. They shape the atmosphere we cultivate, the ministry we provide, and the legacy we leave. As we remain rooted in biblical truth, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and committed to Christ’s mission, we believe God will continue building His church for His glory.
1. The Scriptures Inspired
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man - the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; I Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
2. The One True God
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM”, the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew 28:19).
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
(a) His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35)
(b) His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22)
(c) His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38)
(d) His substitutionary work on the cross
(1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
(e) His bodily resurrection from the dead
(Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4)
(f) His exaltation to the right hand of God
(Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3)
4. The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” How-ever, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical
death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God
(Genesis 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).
5. The Salvation of Man
The only hope of redemption for man is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
(a) Conditions to Salvation
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life. (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
(b) The Evidences of Salvation
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16).
The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).
6. The Ordinances of the Church
(a) Baptism in Water
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4).
(b) Holy Communion
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements – bread, and the fruit of the vine – are the symbols expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians11:26); and is enjoined on all believers “till He come!”
7. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9). With the Baptism in the Holy Ghost come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost (Mark 16:20).
8. The Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Ghost
The baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 28), but different in purpose and use.
9. Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1,2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command, “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:5). Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 6:1-11; 8:1,2,13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12,13; 1 Peter 1:5)
10. The Church and Its Mission
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22,23; Hebrews 12:23). Since God’s purpose concerning man is to save that which is lost, to be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the primary reason-for-being of the Assemblies of God as part of the Church is:
(a) To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world
(Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16).
(b) To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13).
(c) To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:12).
The Assemblies of God exists expressly to give continuing emphasis to this reason-for-being in the New Testament apostolic pattern by teaching and encouraging believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience:
(a) Enables them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs
(Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31; Hebrews 2:3,4).
(b) Adds a necessary dimension to the worshipful relationship with God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 1 Corinthians 12:13,14).
(c) Enables them to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit in expression of fruit and gifts and ministries as in New Testament times for the edifying of the body of Christ
(Galatians 5:22-26; 1 Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 4:11,12; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Colossians 1:29).
11. The Ministry
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the Church in:
(1) Evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20);
(2) Worship of God (John 4:23,24);
(3) Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16).
12. Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers
(Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16).
13. The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Christian (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52).
14. The Millennial Reign of Christ
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelations 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21,22; Zephaniah 3:19,20; Romans 11:26,27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4).
15. The Final Judgement
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death
(Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelations 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
16. The New Heavens and the New Earth
“We, according to His promise, look for the new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness”
(2 Peter 3:13; Revelations 21,22).