What We Believe

Our Desire here at the Churches Of The Promised Land (COPL), is to be a safe haven of LOVE in accordance with the commandment that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave in (John 13:34-35)

 “A new commandment I give unto you.  That ye love one another;

as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have LOVE one to another.”

The Discipleship process at (COPL) will start with repentance, (being godly sorry for our sins), and the turning away from self- destructive lifestyles to pursuing lives of righteousness.

We believe that true repentance brings about a step of faith through baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, just as Peter declared in Acts 2:36-38 when the doors of the New Testament church were open on the Day of Pentecost: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,

that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified,

 both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,

             and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren,

 What shall we do? Then Peter said unto them,

Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ,

 for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Paul in discussing the baptism continued to teach the church at Rome in the book of Romans 6:3-7 where he said: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ,

 were baptized into His death?

Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death:

 that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the

Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death,

 we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: Knowing this,

that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be

destroyed, that thence forth we should not serve sin,

For he that is dead is freed from sin.”

We also, believe that the next step in the discipleship process is explained by our Lord Jesus Christ, as He addressed His apostles and disciples, after His death, burial and resurrection.                                     In Acts chapter 1:4-5, 8.

“And, being assembled together with him, commanded them that they should not

 depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father,

which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water;

 but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence…

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:

and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judae-a,

and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Discipleship will be enhanced and developed through biblical teaching, seminars, and workshops.

The purpose of our discipleship process is to fulfill the “Great Commission” as Jesus commanded in (Mark 16:15-18) “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

but he that believeth not shall be damned.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;

                        they shall speak with new tongues;

They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;

                        they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

We will reach the “uttermost parts of the earth” by way of television and radio ministry, 24 - hour crisis hotline, and direct involvement in community development.

We challenge you to engage your individual gifting(s) in the ministry of Jesus Christ, we wholeheartedly believe in what Apostle Paul told the Ephesians in chapter 4:11-12. 

“And He gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelist;

and some, pastors and teachers:

For the perfecting of the saints, for the working of the ministry,

 for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

We also believe that the primary ministry of the body of Christ (the church) is the ministry of reconciliation, as stated by the Apostle Paul to the Colossian church.  (Colossian 1:19-20) 

“For it pleased the Father that in Him should all the fulness dwell;

And, having made peace through the blood of His cross,

 by him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say,

 whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

And the church in Corinth.  (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ,

 and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself,

 not imputing their trespasses unto them;

and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

It is our plan to evangelize the world through the administration of God given gifts and talents, for the up-building of God’s kingdom and the enhancement of the body of Christ.

Together we will do as David said in (Psalms 37:3-5) 

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thy dwell in the land,

 and verily thou shalt be fed.  Delight thyself also in the Lord;

and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord;

 trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”

Together we will enter that spiritual rest, that Jesus referred to in (Matthew 11:28-30) 

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek,

 and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

And now we say to you our brothers and sisters in Christ: Hebrews 10:35-36 

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

For we have need of patience that, after ye have done the will of God,

ye might receive the promise.”    

    Revelation 21:1-4

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:

 for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away;

 and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,

 coming down from God out of heaven,

 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven

saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell

with them, and they shall be His people, and  God Himself shall be with them,

and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

 and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,

 shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”