Additional Information

Prayer Letters
Music Philosophy
Doctrinal Statement
References
Piano Hymn Arrangements

GFA Missions, Greenville, SC

Background

Training:

B. Mus. Church Music (piano proficiency), Bob Jones University, 2001

M.A. Church Ministries, Bob Jones University, 2006

Experience:

Private Piano instructor (1992-present)

Music Teacher, Thrifthaven Baptist Academy, Memphis, TN (now Heritage Baptist Academy, Cordova, TN) (2001-2004)

College music teacher, BJMBC, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines (2006-2008)

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Forever Redeemed: Arrangements of Hymns for the Pianist

Doctrinal Statement

1. Inspiration of Scripture

I believe that the Scriptures are God-breathed, written by holy men as they were moved and directed by the Holy Spirit.  The Bible is the whole counsel of God—nothing is missing, and nothing is in error.  It is the authority in faith and life and is eternally established.  II Tim. 3:16-17; I Pet. 1:25

2. The Godhead—Trinity

a. I believe that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are three Persons but are also one God.  They are three-in-one or a trinity. 
b. God the Father is the sovereign ruler of heaven and earth, holy, just, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, loving, merciful, full of grace, and eternal.  He is beyond comprehending with the finite mind.  Isa. 55:7-9; Psalm 103.
c. God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is the creator, sustainer, incarnate Savior, and risen Lord.  John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:1-4.
d. God the Spirit is equal in stature to the other members of the Godhead and dwells in all believers to guide them into a better understanding of the things of God.  He seals them in Christ, convicts them of sin, and works out His fruits in them.  John 14:15-26.

3. Creation

I believe that God created all things by His word in six literal days and in a perfect and mature state.  Gen. 1:1; Gen. 2:1-3

4. Sin

I believe that sin is man’s disobedience to God’s revealed will.  Satan sinned when he rebelled against God, and Adam sinned when he clearly broke God’s command.  Adam’s sin was the beginning of sin for all mankind; all mankind has sinned.  Ps. 51:5; Rom. 3:23.

5. Salvation

a. Atonement

  • God’s holy nature demands a payment of death for the sin of individual people.  Only the death of Jesus, as the spotless Lamb of God, could make a payment acceptable for the removal of eternal judgment.  The atonement we receive of Christ reconciles us to God.  Rom. 5:11.

b. Repentance

  • Repentance is a change from willful pleasure in sin to a godly sorrow and acknowledgement of one’s utter wretchedness in sin.  True repentance includes confession and forsaking of sin, and turning to God.  Ps. 51.

c. Faith

  • Faith is the gift of God whereby one is able to see and believe the gospel.  It is complete trust and belief, to the point of action, in the absence of physical proof.  Eph. 2:8; James 2:14.

d. Justification

  • Justification is being made right and holy before God. Christ accomplished this by being made sin for His people.  Justification is all of God.  II Cor. 5:21; Rom. 3:24.

e. Regeneration

  • Regeneration is the means by which God makes one alive spiritually in Him, and makes him a new creature.  All mankind is born dead in sin.  Regeneration is to be born again.  Regeneration is a work of God.  John 3:3-7; James 1:18

f. Adoption

  • Adoption is the process whereby God makes one His child.  This initially takes place at the time of salvation but is not completed until the “redemption of our body.”  At that time we will be free from the bondage of the world that now enslaves us.  Eph. 1:5-6; Rom. 8:23

g. Sanctification

  1. Sanctification is the act of God at conversion that makes one holy and sinless in His sight.  Three types of sanctification are as follows: positional, progressive, and perfected (final). 
  2. Positional sanctification occurs at the time of salvation.  I Cor. 6:11
  3. Progressive sanctification is the process whereby we are continually cleansed from our sins throughout our lives on earth.  John 17:17; I John 1:9
  4. Perfected or final sanctification takes place when we go to Heaven to be forever in the presence of God.  I John 3:2

h. Security of the Believer

  • As soon as one trusts in Christ as his Savior, he is forever sealed as a child of God.  God promises to keep and preserve all those who are truly His.  John 10:28-30.

6. Church

a. Nature

  • The church is an ordained and visible assembly of believers called out and joined in like faith and practice, as an independent, local body of Christ.  It started at the Day of Pentecost.  The purpose of the church is to glorify God.  Acts 2:41-47

b. Ordinances

  • There are two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  Administered by a local church, they are symbols of and testimonies to the work and person of the Lord Jesus Christ.  They are not a means of grace, but are required of all believers: baptism once, communion continuously.  Acts 8:36-38; I Cor. 11:23-26

7. Angels

Angels are spirit beings created by God for His service and are endowed with special abilities to carry out His will.  In Bible times they frequently intervened in the affairs of men.  Today, their dealings with people are evidently beyond the scope of human awareness.  Luke 2:8-15

8. Satan and Demons

Satan and demons are angels who have rebelled against the Lord.  Being cast out of heaven, they have retained much power and the ability to influence people and impact the physical world.  The Lord limits the scope of their activities.  Their ultimate, eternal demise is sure.  Job 1:6-12; Matt. 25:41

9. Heaven

Heaven is the literal dwelling place of the Godhead and the place of eternal rest.  It is the setting of judgment and reward, and the Lord Jesus Christ is there preparing a place for believers.  John 14:2

10. Hell

Hell is the literal place of eternal damnation and fire, without light or the presence of God.  It was originally created for the Devil and his demons, but will also contain all those who have rejected Jesus Christ.  Ps. 9:17

11. Eschatology

a. I believe in a pre-tribulational, pre-millenial interpretation of future events. 
b. The rapture of all believers, living and dead, will take place before the terrible period of tribulation lasting seven years.  During the tribulation, raptured believers will be judged for their works.
c. At the conclusion of this time, the Lord Jesus Christ will return to the earth to reign for 1,000 years. 
d. At the end of the Millenium, all unbelievers will be judged and cast into the bottomless pit along with Satan and his demons. 
e. There will then be a new Heaven and a new Earth.  There will also be a new Jerusalem, which will be the eternal dwelling of all saints. 
f. Rev. 1:1-4; I Thes. 4:13-18

12. Separation

a. Personal

  • I believe that the believer is called out from the world and made a new creature—old things are passed away; therefore, the believer’s life must be marked by a life consciously careful to avoid worldliness in personal appearance, language, attitudes, actions, and entertainments.  I John 1:6-7; Ps. 15:1-2

b. Ecclesiastical

  • I believe that a church and those in the gospel ministry are called to be separate and uncompromising with regard to who they support or cooperate with in the work of the Lord.  There can be no formal association with those who deny the fundamentals of the faith or with others in league with such.  II Cor. 6:14-18; Rom. 16:17; Eph. 5:11

13. Charismatic Movement

I believe that there may be some true believers in the Charismatic movement, but that the signs and doctrines are unbiblical.  The gift of tongues was a sign to unbelieving Israel, while the other miraculous works were meant to authenticate Christianity and the Church at its founding.  Such signs ceased when the apostles died.  Acts 2:16-18; I Cor. 12:13-14.