Why the name "Advent?"
Advent
means “coming.” It’s a word of hope &
anticipation that Christ’s kingdom is coming now on
earth. We want to be a driving force for the coming
of that kingdom in Charlotte, with all the mess &
glory that comes with it. We believe God is at work.
We’re named advent because we
hope.
What we believe
•
We believe
the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the
Holy Spirit and without error in the original
manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s
truth and is infallible and authoritative in all
matters of faith and practice.
• We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe that all are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by His mercy.
• We believe that salvation is by God alone, as He sovereignly chooses those He will save. We believe His choice is based upon His grace, not on any human individual merit, or foreseen faith.
• We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrifical death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him, alone, for salvation.
• We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people not simply as individuals but as families in successive generations according to His Covenant promises.
• We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.
• We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people unto Himself.
• We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
• We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe that all are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by His mercy.
• We believe that salvation is by God alone, as He sovereignly chooses those He will save. We believe His choice is based upon His grace, not on any human individual merit, or foreseen faith.
• We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrifical death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him, alone, for salvation.
• We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people not simply as individuals but as families in successive generations according to His Covenant promises.
• We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.
• We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people unto Himself.
• We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Presbyterian?
We want to
emphasize the good news of salvation through faith in
Jesus Christ as well as holding to the inerrancy of
Scripture. By Reformed, we mean that we are connected
to the historic church and the doctrinal beliefs
recovered by the Reformation. These doctrinal beliefs
are expressed in the Westminster Standards
(Westminster Confession of
Faith,
Larger &
Shorter Catechisms).
One other distinction worth noting is that we
are covenantal. We believe that God relates to
his creation through two primary covenant
promises than run throughout Scripture: the
covenant of works (made with Adam) and the
covenant of grace (made with Jesus).
By Presbyterian, we describe our representative form of government. We are connected to other churches locally called a Presbytery and we are connected internationally through our General Assembly that meets once a year.
By Presbyterian, we describe our representative form of government. We are connected to other churches locally called a Presbytery and we are connected internationally through our General Assembly that meets once a year.
More about our denomination
Our church
is a member of the Presbyterian Church of
America whose
vision is to be faithful to the Scriptures, true
to the Reformed faith, and obedient to the Great
Commission of Jesus Christ.
_____________________________________
{PCA Fast Facts}
• Bible-believing Presbyterians began the Presbyterian Church in America (”PCA”) in 1973, with 260 congregations and 41,000 members.
• We now have over 1,500 churches and more than 340,000 members in the United States and Canada with at least 76 Presbyteries.
• The PCA is one of the fastest-growing Presbyterian denominations in North America, and is among the fastest growing of all Christian denominations.
• The PCA has over 610 long-term missionaries, 6,642 short-term workers serving worldwide.
• The PCA has over 164 chaplains in all branches of the armed services.
• The PCA has placed campus ministers on more than 80 college and university campuses all across America.
• The PCA maintains 902 acre conference center in the mountains of North Carolina.
• The PCA provides college and seminary educations through its college and theological seminary.
_____________________________________
{PCA Fast Facts}
• Bible-believing Presbyterians began the Presbyterian Church in America (”PCA”) in 1973, with 260 congregations and 41,000 members.
• We now have over 1,500 churches and more than 340,000 members in the United States and Canada with at least 76 Presbyteries.
• The PCA is one of the fastest-growing Presbyterian denominations in North America, and is among the fastest growing of all Christian denominations.
• The PCA has over 610 long-term missionaries, 6,642 short-term workers serving worldwide.
• The PCA has over 164 chaplains in all branches of the armed services.
• The PCA has placed campus ministers on more than 80 college and university campuses all across America.
• The PCA maintains 902 acre conference center in the mountains of North Carolina.
• The PCA provides college and seminary educations through its college and theological seminary.
What is the vision of Advent?
Endorsements
As a fellow
pastor in Charlotte, and former Chairman for the PCA
Presbytery Church Planting Committee, I am both
delighted and excited to welcome Pastor Ken Cross to
Charlotte. Ken brings to Charlotte the experience of
decades of
pastoral leadership marked by exceptional
vision and love for those who are outside the church.
I am particularly excited to have another man of
maturity and experience to help us mentor and develop
our younger pastors and many seminary interns in
Charlotte. I have the complete expectation that God
will greatly use Ken in the planting of this new
church in Steele Creek to greatly advance the work of
God in Charlotte.
Tom Hawkes, Senior Pastor
Uptown Church, A congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America
926 Elizabeth Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28204
704.564.8180 | tomhawkes@uptownchurch.org
___________________________________________
I've known Ken Cross for about 12 years. He was my Pastor and is still my friend. No matter what happened to me, nor where I went, this remained. It's hard to know if all he did for me was fulfilling the calling of a Pastor or just what a dear friend would do. But either way, he lived out the Gospel in front of me. When I needed a place to stay, he had one for me. When I needed a friend and a Pastor in an emergency, he was there. More than once. He told me (and the congregation I was a part of) the truth. Even when it hurt. He loved me. He rebuked me (when I needed it) and he stuck as close as any brother I ever had. He walked through hell with me. A couple of times. We mourned together. We rejoiced together. He gave me advice (both spiritual and practical) and loved me even when I ignored it. And he never said, "I told you so." He never pretended to be bulletproof or perfect. He is a man, a sinner saved by grace. And he taught me to accept that about myself also. For all of the past 12 years, he was there when I needed him and waiting when I didn't. I will always feel special for the attention he gave me (i.e. Parable of the Lost Sheep), but I wasn't his only project. I think his talents are for preaching, being a visionary and for encouraging/recruiting people to get involved. We wish he was here.
Darrell Teubner
General Manager
Real Country, WMOD, 96.7 on your FM dial
Bolivar, TN
___________________________________________
Every once and awhile, you meet a pastor and church planter who so winsomely presents the gospel that you want to know God and connect to his church more. Ken Cross is one of those experienced and gifted individuals whom God has raised up to multiply his kingdom in the lives of individuals and their families. Ken is a true evangelist and the many people of Steele Creek need a man and a church pointing them to Christ as the sole hope in our generation. I heartily recommend Ken as a leader worthy of prayer and financial support in an age and place longing for hope.
Dean Faulkner
Lead Pastor, Church of the Redeemer
Monroe, NC
Chairman, MNA Committee, Central Carolina Presbytery
________________________________________________
Finding a good church family can be challenging to say the least. After years of searching, my husband and I feel so blessed to call Advent Church our "home." We are so thankful for the wonderful fellowship that we have received through being a part of this church plant. In addition, we have grown so much spiritually and we thank God for blessing us with this wonderful community of believers.
Lindsay Franks
Current Member at Advent
Tom Hawkes, Senior Pastor
Uptown Church, A congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America
926 Elizabeth Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28204
704.564.8180 | tomhawkes@uptownchurch.org
___________________________________________
I've known Ken Cross for about 12 years. He was my Pastor and is still my friend. No matter what happened to me, nor where I went, this remained. It's hard to know if all he did for me was fulfilling the calling of a Pastor or just what a dear friend would do. But either way, he lived out the Gospel in front of me. When I needed a place to stay, he had one for me. When I needed a friend and a Pastor in an emergency, he was there. More than once. He told me (and the congregation I was a part of) the truth. Even when it hurt. He loved me. He rebuked me (when I needed it) and he stuck as close as any brother I ever had. He walked through hell with me. A couple of times. We mourned together. We rejoiced together. He gave me advice (both spiritual and practical) and loved me even when I ignored it. And he never said, "I told you so." He never pretended to be bulletproof or perfect. He is a man, a sinner saved by grace. And he taught me to accept that about myself also. For all of the past 12 years, he was there when I needed him and waiting when I didn't. I will always feel special for the attention he gave me (i.e. Parable of the Lost Sheep), but I wasn't his only project. I think his talents are for preaching, being a visionary and for encouraging/recruiting people to get involved. We wish he was here.
Darrell Teubner
General Manager
Real Country, WMOD, 96.7 on your FM dial
Bolivar, TN
___________________________________________
Every once and awhile, you meet a pastor and church planter who so winsomely presents the gospel that you want to know God and connect to his church more. Ken Cross is one of those experienced and gifted individuals whom God has raised up to multiply his kingdom in the lives of individuals and their families. Ken is a true evangelist and the many people of Steele Creek need a man and a church pointing them to Christ as the sole hope in our generation. I heartily recommend Ken as a leader worthy of prayer and financial support in an age and place longing for hope.
Dean Faulkner
Lead Pastor, Church of the Redeemer
Monroe, NC
Chairman, MNA Committee, Central Carolina Presbytery
________________________________________________
Finding a good church family can be challenging to say the least. After years of searching, my husband and I feel so blessed to call Advent Church our "home." We are so thankful for the wonderful fellowship that we have received through being a part of this church plant. In addition, we have grown so much spiritually and we thank God for blessing us with this wonderful community of believers.
Lindsay Franks
Current Member at Advent