Ephesus Church is a church in Uptown Charlotte. We're about people,culture, this city and Jesus. The Apostle Paul planted a church in the center of the city of Ephesus, which was then a part of the Roman Empire. Ephesus was a growing, vibrant city, the center of trade and commerce in it's part of the world, much as Charlotte is today. The church Paul planted loved Jesus and loved their city. We want to be a church that does the same, thus Ephesus Church. We're a church that wants to love Jesus, love people and love this city.

Ephesus will reach those who are successful, affluent, savvy, downtrodden, calloused, mobile, spiritual, searching, in-need, engaged, and creative with the unwavering truth of Jesus Christ. To reach them, we will be culturally savvy yet biblically solid. We will be relational and open yet unwavering in our foundation. We will be about worship and the bible yet creative in our approach. We will engage the culture at its source yet draw creativity from God the Father. Simply, we will be missionaries of the gospel to the culture. Through this, Jesus will be lifted up as Savior, lives will be transformed and our city impacted.

Ephesus Church will be a place that is impacting the entire region of Charlotte, NC with the reality of who Jesus Christ is and what it means to be in relationship with Him. Ephesus will intentionally become involved in the Uptown area of Charlotte, NC initially, and the larger region going forward so as to be relevant and engaged in the culture of this city and region. We will engage people with the gifts, abilities and resources to intentionally impact their community while growing in their own walk of faith. We will see families formed and healed, leaders trained and released and the very culture of Charlotte impacted by Jesus and the cross. We will be known and well spoken of throughout the community as a church that loves Jesus, loves people and loves the city.

• Jesus - Ephesus Church will proclaim Jesus as God’s virgin-born Son--His sinless life, atoning death and literal resurrection providing the only way to salvation (Acts 4:12).
• Missional - Ephesus Church will be about the mission Jesus has assigned us to. This means we will seek to understand the culture and people God has called us to impact so as to most effectively present the unchanging truth of Jesus Christ and the cross.
• Openness to All - Ephesus Church will be a place that is open to anyone, no matter their lifestyle, background or personal style. While we will welcome all, this does not mean we will support or encourage unrepentant sin, but will love and instruct everyone in the truth of Jesus and the life he has called us to
• Biblical - Ephesus will be unashamedly about the entire Word of God believing it to be wholly inspired by God, inerrant and our final source for guidance and instruction.
• Creativity - Ephesus Church will value creativity in all that we do believing God to be the ultimate source of creativity and therefore worthy to be honored through the use of all that He has gifted us with.
• Community Engagement - Ephesus Church will intentionally work to be engaged in the communities in which it exists, and not to separate ourselves, while at the same time maintaining biblical integrity. We believe God has called us to be loving, supporting and uplifting to the communities and city in which we exist.
• Simplicity - Ephesus Church will maintain a simple structure whenever possible only adding ministries, programs or systems when clearly directed by God to do so.
• Family - Ephesus Church will work to encourage and strengthen the family.

To find out more about membership at Ephesus Church, click here. 

Ephesus Church is a member of the Foursquare denomination. Below is a brief explanation of the Foursquare Church:



From its beginning at Angelus Temple, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel has now grown to include more than 1800 churches in the United States and nearly 30,000 worldwide. There are currently more than 3 and a half million members in 123 countries around the globe.

“Foursquare” is a biblical term used of the tabernacle in the Book of Exodus, of the Temple of the Lord in Ezekiel 40:47, and of Heaven, as described in the Book of the Revelation. The term “Foursquare Gospel” was given in the inspiration of revival to the denomination’s founder, Aimee Semple McPherson, during an evangelistic campaign in Oakland, California in 1922. It represents that which is equally balanced on all sides, established and enduring. Such confidence in the power of the Gospel is also expressed by the verse, Hebrews 13:8, displayed in Foursquare churches proclaiming, “Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today, and forever.”

The Foursquare symbols stand for Jesus Christ as:

Savior - Hebrews 7.25
Baptizer in the Holy Spirit - Acts 1.5-8
Healer - Matthew 8.17
Soon and Coming King - 1 Thessalonians 4.16-17



The vision of The Foursquare Church is to present Jesus Christ, God's Son, to every person in every culture and nation as The Savior, The Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, The Healer and The Soon-Coming King. Since the founding of The Foursquare Church in 1923, that vision has been realized through evangelizing the lost and establishing local congregations in the United States and abroad, through the nurturing and training of believers into leadership on all levels of church life, and in cooperation with other members of the body of Christ at large in the fellowship of the Gospel and the fulfillment of the biblical mandate to be "light" and "salt" on the earth.

 

The Holy Scriptures

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God: true, immutable, steadfast, and unchangeable (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

The Eternal Godhead

We believe that God is triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the Three are coexistent, coeternal, and equal in divine perfection (1 John 5:7).

The Fall of Man

We believe that man, created in the image of God, by voluntary disobedience fell into the depths of sin and iniquity, bequeathing sin’s nature and consequences to all mankind, with their accompanying loss of intended meaning and purpose (Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12).

The Plan of Redemption

We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, took our place, and with His life’s blood purchased the pardon for all who believe in Him (John 3:16; Titus 2:14).

Salvation Through Grace

We believe that salvation is wholly through grace; that no human righteousness or merit can contribute to our receiving God’s love and favor (Ephesians 2:8).

Repentance and Acceptance

We believe that, upon sincere repentance and a whole-hearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God through Jesus’ sacrificial death (Romans 10:6-10; 1 John 1:9).

The New Birth

We believe that the change that takes place in people at conversion is a very real one; that having received righteousness in Christ and having received of His Spirit, people will have new desires, interests, and pursuits in life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).

Daily Christian Life

We believe that it is the will of God that those who have been born again grow in sanctification, become partakers of His holiness, and daily grow stronger in the faith, power, prayer, love, and service (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Water Baptism and the Lord's Supper

We believe that being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is an essential response to Jesus’ command, testifying to His lordship as Christ and King (Romans 6:4). We believe in observing the Lord’s Supper, receiving the broken bread and the fruit of the vine with joy and faith as we partake anew of the life and triumph of Christ’s Cross (1 Corinthians 11:24-26)

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers to exalt Jesus, to live lives of holiness, and to be witnesses of God’s saving grace; we expect the Spirit’s incoming to be after the same manner as that in which He came upon believers in the days of the Early Church (Acts 1: 5, 8; 2:4).

The Spirit-Filled Life

We believe that it is the will of God that believers walk in the Spirit moment by moment, serving the Lord and living lives of patience, love, truth, sincerity, and prayer (Ephesians 4:30-32; Galatians 5:16, 25).

The Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit bestows enabling ministry gifts upon believers, and that these gifts will build up the Body of Christ through edification and evangelism(1 Corinthians 12:1-11); as evidence of a Spirit-filled life, believers should show spiritual “fruit”: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:22-25).

Moderation

We believe a Christians’ moderation should be obvious to others and that relationship with Jesus should never lead people into extremes of fanaticism; their lives should model that of Christ in uprightness, balance, humility, and self-sacrifice (Colossians 3:12, 13; Philippians 4:5).

Divine Healing

We believe that divine healing is the power of Jesus Christ to heal the sick in answer to the prayer of faith; He, who does not change, is still willing and able to heal the body, as well as the soul and spirit in answer to faith (Mark 16: 17, 18; James 5:14-16).

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent; the certainty of His coming and the fact that no man knows the hour of His coming prompt our evangelistic efforts; that the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven, the dead in Christ shall rise, and the redeemed will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (Matthew 24:36, 42, 44; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

Church Relationship

We believe that it is our sacred duty to identify ourselves with a congregation of believers with whom we can worship God, observe the ordinances of Christ, exhort and support one another, labor for the salvation of others, and work together to advance the Lord’s Kingdom (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:24).

Civil Government

We believe that civil government is by divine appointment and that civil laws should be upheld at all times except in things opposed to the will of God (Acts 4: 18-20; Romans 13:1-5).

Judgement

We believe that all shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ: the redeemed to be delivered unto everlasting life, and the unrepentant unto everlasting punishment (Revelation 20:11, 12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Heaven

We believe that heaven is the glorious habitation of the living God and the eternal home of born-again believers (John 14:2; Revelation 7:15-17).

Hell

We believe that hell is a place of darkness, deepest sorrow, and unquenchable fire, which was not prepared for man but for the devil and his angels; yet it will become the place of eternal separation from God for all who reject Christ as Savior (Matthew 13: 41, 42; Revelation 10:10, 15).

Evangelism

We believe that soul winning is the “one big business” of the Church on earth, and that every hindrance to worldwide evangelism should be removed (James 5:20; Mark 16:15).

Tithing and Offerings

We believe that tithing and offerings are ordained of God to sustain His ministry, spread the Gospel, and release personal blessing (Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 16: 1, 2).