Church Information:
We are a medium-size Christian Reformed Church. We are located in Barrie, Ontario, in the south end, at 101 Ardagh Road. 
We are fully wheel chair accessible and can provide interpreter for the deaf upon request.  Assisted hearing products can also made available, please talk to one of the ushers when entering the sanctuary.
 
What We Believe

About God
We all believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God – eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, unchangeable, infinite, almighty, completely wise, holy, just, compassionate, gracious, loving, jealous, merciful, good and the overflowing source of all good. Genesis 1:1; Genesis 35:11; Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:4; 33:27; Joshua 24:19; 2 Samuel 7:22; 22:31; Job 11:7; 12:13; Psalm 7:11; Isaiah 5:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Mark 12:29; John 4:24; Romans 5:5-8; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 1 John 4:16; Revelation 19:6. Belgic Confession Article 1
 
About the Trinity
We believe that this one true Godhead eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The three are one God, having the same nature, attributes, perfections and are worthy of the same honor, glory and praise. Matthew 3:17; 28:19-20; Mark 12:29; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-4; 10:30; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:11; 1 John 5:7; Belgic Confession Article 8

About the Father
We believe the Father is the cause, origin, and source of all things visible and invisible. He created all things by his Word – that it to say, by his Son. He sustains all things; governs all things by His infinite power. Deuteronomy 32:6; Isaiah 63:16; Malachi 2:10; Matthew 6:26; 18:10; John 5:17; 8:41.

About the Son – Jesus Christ
We believe the Son is the Word, the Wisdom and the manifestation of God in the flesh; that He is truly God and truly human. We believe that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. That he died upon the cross as an atonement for sinners; that he bodily arose from the grave; that he ascended into heaven and having defeated the powers of sin, death, hell and Satan, now rules over all things; that he will return with all glory and majesty at the fullness of time and every knee will bow before him. Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Luke 9:35; John 1:1-2; 14:8-9; 17:1; 1 Timothy 3:16; Galatians 4:4; Philippians 2:10.

About the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds eternally from the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit convicts, indwells, guides, instructs, fills, comforts, empowers the believer for godly living. Genesis 1:1-2; Judges 11:29; Nehemiah 9:20; Isaiah 11:2; 61:1; Matthew 1:18; John 1:33; 14:26; 16:13; Romans 8; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Galatians 5:22; 2 Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 2:4; Jude 1:20; Revelation 2:7; Belgic Confession Article 11

The Written Word of God – The Bible
We believe that the Word of God was written by prophets and apostles under the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit and are inerrant in their original writings. We believe that the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, this Holy Scripture, contains the complete will of God and that everything one must believe to be saved is sufficiently taught in it. Deuteronomy 12:32; Matthew 5:18; John 5:46; 10:34-35; 2 Timothy 3: 14-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 John 1:9-10; Belgic Confession Articles 3,4,5 and 7.

About Man
We believe that God created man from the dust of the earth and made and formed him in is His own image and likeness that is; good, just and holy; able by his own will to conform in all things to the will of God. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7) But man (Adam) voluntarily transgressed against God thereby subjecting himself and all mankind to physical and spiritual death. Consequently all people are sinners by inheritance, and also by their own choice and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 6:5; Proverbs 24:20; Isaiah 13:11-13; Jeremiah 31:30; Ezekiel 3:18; Romans 1:30; Romans 5:12-14; Romans 6:23; 1 John 1:8.

About Salvation
We believe that God in His infinite grace and mercy sent Jesus Christ, His Son as a substitutionary sacrifice to pay for the sins of His people, chosen out of pure mercy, and not because of anything in themselves, actually accomplishing their salvation by His death, resurrection and ascension. And we believe that all those who by faith receive Him as their personal Lord and Savior are justified, redeemed, adopted and made right with God and will one day be united with Christ, body and soul, for all eternity. Job 33:28; Isaiah 63:8-9; John 3:16,36; 6:40; 11:25-26; 20:31; Galatians 3:13; Acts 10:43, 16:31; Romans 3:22, 24-25; 8:23; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:7, 13-14; Colossians 1:13-14; 1 John 5:1,5. Canons of Dort 1:9-10

About the Church
Upon accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, by grace through faith, a believer becomes part of the body of Christ, which is the church. There is one church universal which is made up of all those world wide, present, past and future who profess Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord. The true church can be recognized if it has the following marks:
  • The church engages in pure preaching of the Word of God.
  • It makes use of the pure administration of the sacraments as Christ instituted them.
  • It practices church discipline.
The Scriptures command believers to gather in order to devote themselves to worship, the preaching and teaching of the Word, observance of the sacraments, fellowship, service to the fellowship of believers through the development of talents and gifts and outreach to the world. Wherever true believers meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Under the oversight of elders, the church members are to work together in love and unity with the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. Matthew 16:18; Romans 12:1; Acts 2:42-46; 1 Corinthians 5:12, 14:4, 12, 26; Colossians 1:18, 24; Hebrews 10:25 and Belgic Confession Article 29

Church Government
Here at Covenant Church we are committed to the Bible’s teaching that men who hold the offices of Elder and Deacon are to oversee (Acts 20:28) the various functions of the local church. The Bible’s teaching on the subject of the two church offices is found in 1 Timothy 3:1-16 and Titus 1:5-9

Elder Qualifications
Above reproach, patient, hospitable, self-controlled, disciplined, holds firmly to the Truth, encouraging, husband of one wife, able to teach/preach, gentle, respectable, free from the love of money, not addicted to alcohol, able to manage his own family well, upright, not a new convert, holy.

Elder Responsibilities
Acts 20:28-30; Titus 1:9 1 Peter 4:1-4
  • ensure that all doctrines and teachings of the church are biblical.
  • spiritual well-being of God’s people.
  • administer discipline in love and humility as outlined in Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-4; Titus 3:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15; 1Timothy 5:17-25: 1 Corinthians 5:2; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 and Romans 16:17.
 
Deacon Qualifications
Worthy of respect, sincere, not addicted to alcohol, hold to the deep truths of the faith, husband of one wife, manages household well, honest, spouses must be faithful, first tested as servants, full of the Spirit and wisdom.

Deacon Responsibilities
Acts 6: 1-7; 2 Corinthians 8-9
  • Demonstrate love for God and His people through words of encouragement and deeds of mercy.
Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”
Denominational Info

Find more about the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) at http://www.crcna.org/.