We’re so glad you are here! Learn more about The Ark Fellowship church below and if you are interested in serving be sure to fill out our ministry application located in the section below called “I would like to serve.” If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at: contact@arkfellowship.church

Core Values
We are a Jesus centered community of believers who exist to steward the fire of revival in the context of family with the oversight of spiritual fathering.  

  1. FIRE

We value the fire of God. (Leviticus 6:13). We honor, deeply treasure, and desire to host His presence and glory well. (Psalm 139:7, Exodus 33:16). We long to be a community with oil in our lamps. (Matthew 25) The greatest manifestation of revival and the fire of God is our hearts being fully alive and in love with Him and others. (Matthew 22:37-38)

  1. FAMILY

God’s purpose for His Church is that we might be fitted together, grow together, and be built together into a holy temple which will be God’s eternal dwelling place. (Eph 2:19-22) Relationship with one another is the foundation for all New Testament ministry. We are all living stones being built together into a spiritual house. (1 Peter 2:5) In family, we learn how to participate, contribute, and bear one another’s burdens. (Gal 6:2)

  1. FATHERING

A Church without spiritual parenting and authority is an orphanage. God has set fathers in families to provide, protect, be present, and become the priests of the home. Non-accountable relationships mean that we develop a life in God without applying truth to ourselves. In a kingdom culture, spiritual parents are honored and sons and daughters are empowered through a relational process which includes encouragement, correction, and rebuke.

  1. We desire to build

In the kingdom of God, there will always be areas of need and service. However, we want to create a value system where relationship leads to service NOT service leads to relationship. In orphan culture, people are seen as objects and dehumanized in order to use them to get what we need done. In kingdom culture, people are seen as real human beings who have emotions, struggles, and are valued for who they are. Orphan culture thrives on performance and “the show must go on” mentality. It seeks out the most gifted and talented individuals who often times are attempting to use ministry to find their own worth, value, and significance. Kingdom culture thrives on relationship whereby we become a family who all contributes to the needs of the community as they come. Kingdom culture refuses to sacrifice its DNA of relationship and family to meet every need and demand of those attending.

In kingdom culture, new volunteers are asked to first join the church family, get to know our values, build relationship with department leaders and pastors, and THEN be given an opportunity to serve. Love and relationship must come first, not the other way around! We must heed the words of Paul to know those who labor among us and not be hasty in giving people positions of leadership who we really do not know.

 

  1. We desire to build

In kingdom culture, there is a clear standard of morality according to the Scriptures that leaders and those who serve are required to live by. We do not walk in purity with the motivation to be seen by men but rather to humbly please our Father in Heaven. In orphan culture, gifting, charisma, and even need is valued over morality. It overlooks character flaws and red flags in order to keep the ministry machine going. While no one is “perfect”, those who desire change and genuine repentance will bear forth tangible fruit in their lives. Building relationally will help to make sure we are also building morally. People will always best receive correction through relationship.

At The Ark Fellowship, we not only want to establish a relational model of kingdom culture but also one where there is a clear standard of morality. As volunteers, staff, and leaders, we need to make sure that our own personal lives and families are in alignment with these values. We cannot ask of people what we ourselves are not willing to submit to. We also cannot call a generation of young people (kids, youth, and young adults) to holiness and righteousness when our own kids living in our homes are not living godly lives.

For example, in kingdom culture, my role as the worship pastor, media, kids, youth pastor etc is not only to ask those serving on my team to commit to walking in a relational context together but also a moral one. This will require hard conversations, sometimes awkward questions, and a commitment to honor the Word of God in all we do and say.

  1. We desire to build

The promises in the Old Testament were from the God of “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”. Every true revival must span three generations. The blessing was, “to you, your children, and your children’s children.” At The Ark Fellowship, we want to model generational blessing in all that we do and say. We want each church department that we build to be a reflection of multiple generations serving together for the work of the gospel and edification of the saints. We believe only hanging out with people your own age is a form of self-worship.

  1. We desire to build BIBLICALLY

The Ark Fellowship is being planted by Jeremiah and Morgan Johnson. Our role will be apostolic in nature as we have a primary mandate from God to make sure Jesus Christ is laid as the foundation of the church, teach biblical doctrine, cast vision, advance the kingdom of God, disciple leaders and staff, and pioneer in the months and years ahead. As we function in this capacity, we will begin to identify a core group of people we have built relationship with, who demonstrate servant’s hearts, and have a healthy marriage and family.

At the right time, this core group of people will be ordained and have hands layed on them as deacons at The Ark Fellowship. These men and women will have the responsibility of functioning as servants of the people in various capacities and responsibilities.

Over time, some within the deacon group will be identified by Jeremiah as those who could potentially be elders of the flock in the future. There will be a process during this time where Jeremiah and Morgan will begin to disciple these couples into the roles and responsibilities of biblical eldership and prepare them to shepherd God’s people together.

Once the elder team has been approved, Jeremiah and Morgan will lay hands on them and ordain them into office. There are only two “offices” in the New Testament which are deacons and elders.  As this process becomes complete, a final step will be taken where Jeremiah will begin stepping aside from his role of primary visionary and transition into an apostolic oversight role of the elder team and The Ark Fellowship. Once this happens, Jeremiah will go back to primarily focusing on travel, writing, and overseeing the church. He will be relieved of the primary preaching/leading role he plays in the early months and years of the church plant.

  1. We desire to build GENEROUSLY

The Ark Fellowship believes that tithing was an Old Testament principle that Jesus Christ and the apostles built upon in the New Testament. We encourage our members to tithe as a basis for their giving, but we believe in operating in a spirit of generosity rather than tithing as a command. When the grace of God begins to work within us and through us as New Covenant believers, giving ten percent (tithing) no longer becomes the maximum but the minimum that we should joyfully sow into God’s kingdom. In the books of Acts, the first century church did not just tithe. Rather they clearly operated in a spirit of generosity as they sold possessions and took care of the needs of those in the community.

In Matthew 8, Jesus sits directly across from where the people gave to God and took note of the exact amount they gave. Clearly, Jesus not only sees what we give but also measures what we give by our heart posture and ability to create wealth. We must remember that we are never more like Christ than when we are forgiving and giving.

In the words of Robert Morris, “There is no greater adventure on earth than simply living the life of generosity and abundance that is available to all of God’s people- but that so few ever dare to live. It is a journey of reward. It is the blessed life.”

The Bible: We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God. The scriptures are inerrant, infallible, and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The Holy Spirit gives divine understanding to all scripture. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine written revelation of God to man (II Tim. 3:15-17; II Pet 1:20-21; Heb 1: 1-2, 4:12; I Pet 1:23-25; Rom. 16:25-26; 1 Co. 2:10-16; II Co. 3:14-16; John 6:63).

Trinity: We believe in One God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each coeternal in power and glory and having the same attributes and perfection (Deut. 6:4; Matt 28:19; II Co. 13:14; John 14:10-26; Gen. 1: 26; Is. 6:8, 9:6; Heb. 3:7-11; Eph. 4:6; Ac. 5:3-4).

The Person and Work of the Father: We believe that God the Father is the Creator, Architect, Builder, and Maker of all things. As the Source of the eternal plan and purpose, all things originated in the Father’s heart for Himself. As a result, The Father has designated the Son to be central and supreme, having first place in all things in the eternal plan and purpose. The Son was given by the Father to ultimately reveal and manifest the Father Himself. The Father has sent the Son to be the Agent by whom this purpose was fulfilled. According to this eternal plan and purpose, the Father has consequently commissioned the Holy Spirit to be the Activator, Energizer, and Source of power to carry into existence the eternal plan and purpose. The ultimate ministry of the Holy Spirit under this plan is to make manifest and reveal the Son as having the preeminence in all things (John 16: 12-15; Heb. 3:4, 11:10; Col. 1:15-19; Eph. 1:19-23).

The Person and Work of Christ

    1. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became a man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (Is. 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2; II Co 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8).
    2. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His sinless life and death on a cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; II Co. 5:21; I Pet. 2:24, 3-5; Eph.1:7).
    3. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted and seated at the right hand of God. As our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 7:25, 9:24; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1-2).

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

    1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent of redemption, and teaches us all things (Luke 12:12; John 14:26, 16:8-11; Eph. 1:13-14).
    2. We believe that all believers should seek and expect the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of the early church. With the baptism comes power, and the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of ministry. This experience is distinct from the experience of the new birth and could and should occur at salvation but does not always happen that way. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; I Co. 12:1-31; Acts 2:38, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9).
    3. We believe the work of the Holy Spirit in every believer’s life is many fold. The Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is to be one of changing us into the likeness of Christ by His indwelling, sealing presence in our hearts. The Holy Spirit comes also to empower us by grace to accomplish all spiritual ministries and gifts given to us by God’s own choosing. We also believe that scripture clearly states that speaking with other tongues accompanied the baptism in the Holy Spirit most of the detailed accounts in Acts. (Acts 1:8, 2:4, 10:44-46, 19:2-6).

Redemption: We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin, the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God. Fallen man is totally depraved, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. This sin causes a separation from God and therefore a need for a Savior. God by His great love provided this Savior in His Son, Jesus Christ. Through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus on a cross and the shedding of innocent blood, we may enter into fellowship with the Father. Through this redemption we have a restored relationship with God as was intended from creation (Gen 1:26-27; Rom. 3:25, 5:12, 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3, 4:17-19; Is. 59:2; I John 1:7-9; Heb. 9:14, 13:12).

Christ’s Blood: We believe that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. God has always required a sacrifice for man’s sin, and in His love and desire to make a more perfect way, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ. The Son of God, Jesus Christ lived a perfect sinless life. Hs blood that was shed on the cross is the only sacrifice sufficient to cleanse us from our sins. When we appropriate this blood sacrifice through faith that is expressed in Christ Jesus and the repentance of our sins that have separated us from a Holy God, we are freed from the penalty of eternal punishment (John 1:29; Rom. 3:10-12, 5:9; Col. 1:20; Heb 4:15, 7:27, 9:22; 1 John 1:7; Rev 1:5, 5:9).

Repentance: We believe that repentance is the act of willfully turning away from sin in every area of our lives to follow Christ Jesus. Through repentance we individually receive forgiveness of sins and salvation (Luke 24:27; II Pet. 3:9; II Cor. 7:10).

Salvation: We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (John 1:12; Eph 1:7, 2:8-10; I Pet. 1:18, Gal. 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Acts 4:10-12).

Sanctification: We believe that sanctifications is the ongoing process of being set apart for God. This is characterized by our yielding to God so that He may continue to complete the process of Christlikeness in us. A lifestyle of developing righteousness and holiness is the evidence to all men that Christ’s Spirit abides within us (I Thess. 4:3, 5:23; II Cor. 3:18, 6:14-18; II Thess. 2:1-3; Rom 8:29, 12:1-2, Heb 2:11).

Church:

  1. We believe that Jesus Christ Himself established and builds the church universal, composed of all born-again believers in every time and place, of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. The universal church is His body and espoused bride, a new and holy nation and people, through which God has purposed to glorify Himself in the world (Matt. 16:18, 21:42-43; Rev 5:9-10; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23, 2:13-22, 3:20-21, 4:4-6, 5:25-32; I Pet. 2:4-10; Rev. 21:1-4).
  2. We believe that Christ also ordained the local church as an expression of His universal church in a particular place (Matt. 18:15-18).
  3. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27, 20:17, 27-32; I Tim .3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
  4. We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external human authority or control (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31; Rom. 16:1,4; I Cor. 3:9, 16, 5:4-7, 13; I Pet. 5:1-4).
  5. We believe denominationalism and religions are divisive and carnal. Each local church has the privilege and sober responsibility to listen to and obey the Holy Spirit’s leading for the planted group of believers in that particular time and place in the economy of God’s spiritual civilization on earth.

Five-Fold Ministry: We believe that upon Christ’s ascension He gave five ministries to the Church for her instruction, and total equipping for the service and ministry of Christ’s gospel. There are Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. All of these ministries are the direct outworking of who Christ was in His ministry upon the Earth and therefore, The Ark Fellowship welcomes and acknowledges these ministries in their fullness and authority. (Eph. 2:19-22, 4:10-12; I Cor. 3:10, 12:28).

Elders

We believe that once the founder and father of The Ark Fellowship has pioneered and establish foundation, he will then lay hands on a         team of elders who will become the primary spiritual leaders of the congregation and are also called overseers or pastors in the New Testament. Their responsibilities will include:

  1. Ruling the flock of God (Heb. 13:7, 17, 24; I Tim. 3:4-5, 5:17; Rom. 12:8; I Thess. 5:12-14; I Pet 5:2-3).
  2. Teaching the flock of God (Heb 13:7; I Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:9; II Tim 2:24).
  3. Shepherding the flock of God (Acts 20:17, 28; I Pet. 5:2; John 21:15-17).
  4. Overseeing the flock of God (Acts 20:28; Titus 1:7; I Pet. 5:2-3). e. Caring for the flock of God (James 5:14-15; Ez. 34; Jer. 23: 1-  f. Governing the flock of God (I Tim 5:17; I Co. 12:28; Is. 9:6; II Pet. 2:10).
  5. Living for the flock of God (John 10; Ez. 34; Jer. 23:1-
  6. Safeguarding the flock of God from false ministries (Acts 15; Rev. 2:2; Acts 2:42, 16:4-5; I Tim. 4:1).

Deacons

Deacons have a crucial role in the life and the health of The Ark Fellowship, but their role is different from the elders. (Acts 6:1-6) The biblical role of deacons is to take care of the physical and logistical needs of the church so that the elders can concentrate on their primary calling of pastoring the flock and giving themselves to prayer and the study of God’s Word. The duties of deacons can include:

  1. Facilities: The deacons could be responsible for managing the church property. This would include making sure the building is cleaned, lawn cared for, property is kept, and so on.
  2. Benevolence: Similar to what took place in Acts 6:1–6 with the daily distribution to the widows, the deacons may be involved in administrating funds or other assistance to the needy.
  3. c. Ushers: The deacons could be responsible for distributing bulletins, seating the congregation, or preparing the elements for communion.
  4. Logistics: Deacons should be available to help in variety of ways so that the elders are able to concentrate on teaching and shepherding the church.

Sacraments:

  1. Water Baptism: We believe in the ordinance of baptism by total immersion in water, by all that have repented and confessed Jesus Christ as Lord. In doing so, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and have been raised with Him in newness of life (Matt. 28:19; Acts 10: 47-48; Rom. 6:4).
  2. The Lord’s Supper: We believe that the Lord’s supper, consisting of the elements of bread and wine (grape juice), is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, a memorial and remembrance of His life, suffering and death, and a prophesy of His second coming. It is enjoined on all believers “until He comes.” (John 6:48, 51, 53-57; Luke 22:19-20; II Pet. 1:4; I Cor. 11:23-26).

Separation: We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (Rom. 12:1-2, 14:13; II Cor. 6:14-17; II Tim. 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11).

The Second Coming of Christ: We believe in the “blessed home,” the literal, personal, return of Christ who will at the sound of the trumpet of God, catch us up together in the clouds to meet the Lord, and we will always be with Him (I Thess. 1:10, 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev 3:10, 19:11-16, 20:1-6).

The Eternal State:

  1. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29, 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13).
  2. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23, 3:21; I Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6).
  3. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the resurrection, when the soul and body are reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated but to suffer everlasting punishment and torment (Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; II Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15).

The Personality of Satan: We believe that Satan is a being who fell into sin and rebellion and empowered the fall of man. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man, and is called a liar and deceiver. He shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Job 1:6-7; Is. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11, 25:41; Rev. 20:10).

Creation: We believe that God created the universe in six literal days. We reject all unscriptural theories of origin and understand natural evolution, theistic evolution, the Gap Theory, and the Day-Age Theory to be examples (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11).

Human Sexuality:

  1. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are a sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex (Gen. 2:24, 19:5, 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; I Co. 5:1, 6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4).
  2. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24; Ro. 7:2; I Co. 7:10; Eph 5:22-23).
  3. We will not perform any marriages that are same sex, plural, or involve anything other than one man and one woman.

Divorce and Remarriage: We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until death. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication/adultery (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; I Tim 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6).

Abortion: We believe that human life begins at conception and that an unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of an unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well being of the mother are acceptable. For anyone who has had an abortion, we believe that the shed blood of Jesus offers mercy and forgiveness for sin. We believe some of the strongest champions of life in the womb will be those who once took it and have found forgiveness in Jesus Christ. (Job 3:16; Psalms 139:14-16; Is. 44:24, 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5, 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).

Missions: We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us (Matt 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24: 46-47; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Co. 5:20).

(Y) Giving: We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him should freely give support the local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; I Co. 16:2; II Co. 9:6-7; Gal 6:6; Eph. 4:28; I Tim. 5:17-18; I John 3:17).

(Z) Discipline of Children: We believe that Christian parents are to train their children up in the ways of God and not just raise them. When children are “raised”, their wants and desires become the central focus of the home. When children are “trained” according to the Scriptures, their wants and desires come under the authority of the parents who exercise love, correction, and discipline to the flesh. We believe that spanking is clearly taught in Scripture. It is not the only form of discipline but is certainly permissible when necessary. Discipline is always to be exercise in love with the purpose of restoring the child and bringing repentance. We reject all forms of discipline done in anger and that include verbal and physical abuse. (Prov. 22:6, 22:15; Heb 12:4-11).

Qualifications

  • Genuine faith in Jesus Christ
  • Healthy family life
  • Agreement with The Ark core beliefs and values
  • Completion of Ark 101

Expectations

Commitment

  • Faithful attendance and punctuality to services and meetings

Growth

  • Seek to strengthen your relationship with God and with others in the body

Excellence

  • Give your best effort in whatever you do and remain open to constructive criticism

Humility

  • Respect and honor leadership and peers and submit to the guidelines and direction set forth

Team Attitude

  • Be a team player. Grow and flow together with a cooperative attitude

Communication

  • Develop healthy relational team dynamics through encouragement and positive communication.

 

Ministry Application:

General Information

Ministry Information

Please check the area of ministry you are interested in serving. More than one may apply.

Personal Information

Please be prepared to share your testimony of how you got saved and how your walk with the Lord is currently with your ministry leader.