A note from Levi and Nadia
After living in Canada for almost 6 years, and pioneering a beautiful church family in the heart of Ottawa, we felt that it was finally time to come home.
We are deeply grateful for the journey that God has taken us on since leaving the fair shores of Aotearoa. It has been a beautiful rebuilding, reforming, and renewing and the faithfulness of God has been so evident.
The people of Local Church Ottawa have left an indelible mark on our hearts that we will be forever thankful for. The church we have all built together has been a delight to be a part of, and we know that it will continue to be a place of healing and wholeness for many as Caleb and Alex Groeneweg and the Local Church board lead it into the future.
We did not expect to be returning to New Zealand at this time, but in December 2022, during our holiday home, as we drove from Auckland to Tauranga, and came over the hill near Bethlehem, we felt the land call out and say, ‘It’s time to come home’. Over the next few weeks, we would have many more moments that would confirm in our hearts what we were sensing.
We are excited to build again, but this time in our beautiful home of Aotearoa,
Much love,
Levi and Nadia.
STATEMENT OF BELIEF
WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ONE LIVING AND TRUE GOD, WHO IS ONE IN ESSENCE WHILE ETERNALLY EXISTING IN THREE DISTINCT PERSONS: GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON & GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WE BELIEVE IN THE DEITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD. WE BELIEVE IN HIS VIRGIN BIRTH, HIS SINLESS LIFE, HIS MIRACLES, HIS VICARIOUS & ATONING DEATH, HIS BODILY RESURRECTION, HIS ASCENSION TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER, HIS CONSTANT INTERCESSION & HIS IMMINENT RETURN. WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS AS THE ONLY SUFFICIENT SACRIFICE. SALVATION IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
WE BELIEVE THAT SALVATION IS BY GRACE ALONE. WE BELIEVE THAT SALVATION IS THROUGH FAITH ALONE IN JESUS CHRIST. SALVATION IS WHOLLY OF GOD BASED ON THE REDEMPTION OF JESUS CHRIST, THE MERIT OF HIS SHED BLOOD, AND NOT BASED ON HUMAN WORKS. TO BE SAVED, WE MUST PERSONALLY ACCEPT THESE TRUTHS AND THEREBY ACCEPT THE CLEANSING BLOOD OF CHRIST, WHICH ALONE CAN ATONE FOR SINS.
WE BELIEVE IN THE PERSON & WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH HIS FRUIT & GIFTS AVAILABLE IN THE CHURCH. WE BELIEVE THESE ARE GIFTS WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO PURSUE AND EXERCISE.
WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD - AUTHORITATIVE & EVERLASTING. IT IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THE SCRIPTURES IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS ARE VERBALLY INSPIRED BY GOD, ERROR-FREE, AND THE SUPREME AUTHORITY OF FAITH AND PRACTICE FOR FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.
BAPTISM IS A CLEAR INSTRUCTION OF THE SCRIPTURES THAT OUTWARDLY EXPRESSES THE INWARD REALITY OF NEW LIFE IN CHRIST. OUR BAPTISM METHOD IS IMMERSION, AS DESCRIBED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND PRACTICED IN THE EARLY CHURCH. WE BELIEVE THAT THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A MEMORIAL OF CHRIST AND HIS REDEMPTIVE DEATH. BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A GIFT AVAILABLE TO BELIEVERS, WITH THE NORMAL EVIDENCE OF SPEAKING IN OTHER TONGUES.
WE BELIEVE THAT MANKIND WAS DIRECTLY CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD TO ENJOY HIS FELLOWSHIP AND FULFILL HIS PURPOSE ON EARTH.
WE BELIEVE IN THE CHURCH BEING THE BODY OF CHRIST AND EACH MEMBER BEING AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE LOCAL CHURCH, FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL WHO ARE “BORN AGAIN” BY THE HOLY SPIRIT BELONG TO THE ONE TRUE CHURCH AND ARE INSTRUCTED BY THE SCRIPTURES TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES IN LOCAL, VISIBLE CHURCHES.
WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST LEADS THE LOCAL CHURCH THROUGH LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED, GIFTED, AND APPOINTED BY HIM. BY SEEKING THE MIND OF CHRIST AND DILIGENTLY EXAMINING THE WORD OF GOD, THE ELDERS PROVIDE SPIRITUAL OVERSIGHT AND DIRECTION FOR THE CHURCH.
WE BELIEVE THE LAST GREAT EVENT OF HUMAN HISTORY WILL BE THE PERSONAL RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST. WHILE THE EXACT TIME OF CHRIST’S RETURN IS UNKNOWN, IT IS IMMINENT AND CERTAIN