God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Creator of all things in heaven and on earth.

God is Spirit, and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

God is one. He was, is and always will be. “Before me no god was formed, nor will there any after me.” Isaiah 43:10

God is personal. “So God created man in His own Image.” Genesis 1:27

God is perfect. “Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?’ Exodus 15:11

God is the Creator, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

God is the first cause, the author of goodness (morality), and the maker of purpose.

Just like God, human beings have both a mind and a spirit. Humans are created above all other creatures on this earth. They are naturally are given ability, and are free to make choices. Sin is the choice of humans to be independent from God and “go it alone.”

We are a sinful people, who chose and presently choose to put ourselves at risk with God and be independent of Him. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God. Knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5

No human is perfect since: “There is no difference; all have fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:22-23

The Bible of Holy Spirit is the inerrant truth of God, divinely inspired by the working of God through selected human messengers. The Bible contains 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.

All of Scripture describes God’s intended involvement with human beings. It consists of law, grace, the life and words of Jesus Christ and Church doctrine and guidance. It is God’s Word.

All of Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit; who we believe guided and revealed truth to its writers. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness…” 2 Timothy 3:16

Jesus has a nature that is difficult for us to understand. He is truly God and truly man. He is both divine and human; the anointed One who came to claim us back to God and save us from death. He is the Son of God. Claims of His divinity include:

Numerous documented healings and miracles, done in the name of God our Father. “The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.” John 10:25

Unique moral principles. He established the Law of Love, replacing the complex and over-reaching legalism of the law. “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34

He saves us from sin to life everlasting. He forgives sins, was sacrificed for us to make us acceptable again to God, and was raised from the dead. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

We believe in Jesus Christ as the leader of, and ruler in our lives. His life and physical death on the cross was a sacrifice made on our behalf for the atonement of our sins and our salvation into eternal life with God. His resurrection from the dead gives us our hope in someday being united with God.

We must ask Jesus to forgive our sins. “If we confess our sins, He is righteous and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” John 1:9

Right standing with God is obtained through our belief in Jesus Christ and the faithful acceptance of His love and sacrifice for us. When we believe this, we begin to accept Him as the leader in our lives. “And this is the testimony; God has given us eternal life, and this is in the His Son He who has the Son has life; ;he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:11-12

When Jesus physically left the earth, He promised that the Holy Spirit would be our counselor, comforter, guide, and protector from the power of evil. We believe that God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are One with each being a personal expression of that God.

"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:25-26

John Wesley said, “You believe there is such a thing as light, whether flowing from the sun or any other luminous body. But you cannot comprehend either its nature or the manner wherein it flows. How does it move from Jupiter to the earth in eight minutes, two hundred thousand miles in a moment? How do the rays of the candle brought into the room instantly disperse into every corner? Here are three candles, yet there is but one light. Explain this, and I will explain the Three-One God! The knowledge of the Three-One God is interwoven with all true Christian faith, with all vital religion.”

Sanctification means set aside as part of being made holy or consecrated. It takes place through the power of the Holy Spirit when we decide to make Jesus Christ the forgiver and leader in our lives. It is an ongoing process as well, causing our being to be renewed and purified over our lifetimes. It means dedicated for God.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

"But in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15

"There is no holiness without social holiness.” John Wesley

Baptism is a sacrament, something sacred, instituted be Jesus Christ and indicates an inner work brought on by divine grace. Grace in the divine restoring of human beings back into right relationship with God through belief in Jesus Christ. Baptism signifies the repentance of sins and the beginning of a new life.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

Baptism signifies the spiritual removal of sins and a new life in Jesus Christ! It is a signal of entrance into the Christian Church.

Baptism can be by sprinkling, immersion or pouring of water. Any of these methods are valid for United Methodists. We also baptize children as well as adults.

The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ the night before He was crucified. It is a symbolic reminder of Jesus’ death on the cross. It symbolizes and reminds us of the salvation of believers in which we live. It also symbolizes spiritual nourishment and feeding. We remember the salvation, which we have in Jesus in this sacrament.

"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes." 1 Corinthians 11:26. We tell others of the importance of Jesus in our lives through the partaking of the Lord’s Supper.

"This is the blood of the Covenant, which is poured out for many.” Mark 14:24. The Lord’s Supper also commemorates God’s promise of salvation through Jesus Christ in the form of a new covenant.

Harlem Road Church is organized as a United Methodist congregation. Methodism was founded by John Wesley in the late 18th century in England as a organized method of living out one’s Christian faith. It is an evangelistic church; organized under the authority of bishops on a worldwide basis.

United Methohdism is connectional. We are connected to other U.M churches in a conference. The West Ohio Conference contains 1,178 United Methodist Churches.

The Book of Discipline is used as a framework for the organization of the conference, the local churches and the day-to-day life of the affairs of the Christian community. However, Holy Scripture is the basis for our beliefs and the living out of our lives.

As part of our offerings, we pay apportionments to our conference to support world mission and outreach efforts and for administrative expenses.

United Methodists speak many languages and live in many countries with many different cultures, ethnic traditions, national histories and understandings of Christian faith and practice.

We Are people dedicated to a life of participation, personal responsibility, generosity, sacrifice and self-restraint, responding to the call of Jesus Christ.

We Are a covenant community, concerned about God’s children everywhere. In life’s clouds of doubt and division, we see the sunlight of God’s purpose bringing healing, harmony and hope.

We Love worship, study of God’s Word, music, potluck dinners and a sense of community, a sense of belonging.

We Welcome people of faith into our churches, and especially people who are searching for answers to life’s tough questions, because we know what it’s like to feel along, unsure…to need a welcoming place with open hearts, open minds, open doors.

We Roll up our selves and say, “Let’s get to work,” as we answer the call of making disciples for Jesus Christ.

We Live the promise we made the day we joined The United Methodist Church…the promise of our prayers and our presence…our gifts and our service.