Constitution
of
Abundant Life

A Washington Nonprofit Religious Corporation

ARTICLE I
NAME

Section  1. Name. The name of this corporation shall be Abundant Life.

ARTICLE II  

TENETS OF FAITH

Section 1. Statement. The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This statement of tenets of faith is intended simply as a basis of agreement among believers so that we all speak the same thing
(1 Cor. 1:10; Acts 2:42). The phraseology employed in this statement is not inspired, but the truths set forth here are held to be essential to full gospel ministry. No claim is made that such statement contains all Biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines.

Section 2. Scriptures are Inspired. The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule for faith and conduct
(2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Thes. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).

Section 3. The One True God. The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self existent
“I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth, and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
(Isa. 43:10-11; Mt. 28:19; Lk. 3:22).

Section 4. The Godhead.

Trinity and Persons. The terms, “Trinity and Persons” as related to the Godhead, while not found in
the scriptures, are words in harmony with scripture, whereby we may convey to others our immediate understanding of the doctrine of Christ, respecting the Being of God, as distinguished from “gods many and lords many". We therefore may speak with propriety of the Lord our God, who is One Lord, as a Trinity or as One Being of three Persons (Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Jn. 14:16-17).

Unity. There is unity of the One Being of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Therefore, there is that in the
Son which constitutes Him and not the Father; and there is that in the Holy Spirit which constitutes
Him the Holy Spirit and neither Father nor Son. The Father is the Begetter, the Son is the Begotten,
and the Holy Spirit is the One proceeding from the Father and the Son. Therefore, because these three Persons in the Godhead are in a state of unity, there is but one Lord God Almighty and His name one (Jn. 1:18; 15:26; Jn. 17:11,21; Zech. 14:9).

Identity and Cooperation in the Godhead. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are never identical as to Person, nor confused as to relation, nor divided in respect to the Godhead, nor opposed as to cooperation. The Son is in the Father, and the Father is in the Son as to relationship. The Son is with the Father, and the Father is with the Son as to fellowship. The Father is not from the Son, but the Son is from the Father as to authority. The Holy Spirit is from the Father and the Son as to nature, relationship, cooperation, and authority. Hence, no Person in the Godhead either exists or works separately or independently of the Others (Jn. 5:17-30, 32, 37; 8:18).

The Lord Jesus Christ. The appellation, “Lord Jesus Christ”, is a proper name. It is never applied in the New Testament either to the Father or to the Holy Spirit. It therefore belongs exclusively to the Son of God (Rom.1:1-3; 2 Jn. 3).

The Lord Jesus Christ, God Is With Us. The Lord Jesus Christ, as to His divine and eternal nature,
is the proper and only Begotten of the Father, but as to His human nature, He is the proper Son of Man. He is, therefore, acknowledged to be both God and man, who because He is God and man, is “Emmanuel”, God with us (Mt.1:23; 1 Jn. 4:2, 10 &14; Rev. 1:13 & 17).

The Son of God. Since the name “Emmanuel” embraces both God and man in the one Person,
our Lord Jesus Christ, it follows that the title, Son of God, describes His proper deity and the title,
Son of Man, His proper humanity. Therefore, the title, Son of God, belongs to the order of eternity while the title, Son of Man, to the order of time (Mt. 1: 21-24; 2 Jn. 3; 1 Jn. 3:8; Heb. 7:3; Heb. 1:1-13).

The Holy Spirit. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity, that He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and is of one substance, majesty, glory and power with Them. We accept Him as the Executive of the Trinity during this age and we understand that the church owes its existence,
its life, its growth, and its ministry to His presence in the earth; and that daily fellowship of the believer with Him is essential to a successful Christian walk (Mt. 3 :16; Jn. 14:16, Jn. 17 & 26; Jn. 15: 26;
Jn. 16: 8-11; Acts 1: 8; 2: 4 & 13: 2-4; Gal. 5:21-23; Eph. 4: 30; 1 Thes. 4:8 & Acts 5:3 & 4)

Section 5. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.
The Scriptures declare:

.  His Virgin birth (Mt. 1:23; Lk. 1:31, 35);

.  His sinless life (Heb. 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:22);

.  His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38);

.  His substitutionary work on the cross  (1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21);

.  His bodily resurrection from the dead (Mt. 28:6; Lk. 24:39; 1 Cor.15:4); and

.  His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11; 2:33; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:3).

Section 6. The Fall of Man. Man was created good and upright, for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Gen. 1:26-27; 3:6; Rom. 5:12-19)                   

A.  Sin. We believe that sin is any act, disposition, state, thought, or will that is contrary to the nature
of God. Our understanding of sin is as follows:

1.  It came into existence in heaven as a result of Satan's rebellion.

2.  It entered the human family through the fall of Adam.

3.  As a result of Adam's fall, sin and spiritual death entered into the world (Rom. 5:12).

4.  Repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are required of all who would be cleansed from sin.

5.  To those who know to do right and do not do it, it is sin. (Gen. 3:1-7; Ezek. 28:15; Isa. 14:12-17;
Acts 17: 30; Rom. 3: 23, 5:12-19 & 10:8-13; 1 Cor. 15: 22; Gal. 3:22 & Jam. 4:17).

Section 7. The Salvation of Man. Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Conditions of Salvation. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit and by being justified by grace and through faith man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Lk. 24:47;
Jn. 3:3; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 2:8; Tit. 2:11; Tit. 3:5-7).

The Evidence of Salvation. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the spirit
(Rom. 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24;
Tit. 2:12).

Section 8. The Ordinances of the Church.

Baptism in Water. The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus, they declare
to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. Water Baptism is symbolized in Scripture by the crossing of the Red Sea, and should result in the complete release of the believer from the bondage's and afflictions of their past lives 
(Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:16; Acts 10:47-48; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor.10).

Communion. The Lord's supper, consisting of the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:4), a memorial to His suffering and death (1 Cor. 11:26) and is enjoined on all believers “until He comes!” This physical act speaks of the even greater spiritual truth that takes place each time the believers come together and experience the sharing of one another’s lives and the fellowship of the life of God’s Spirit among them. True communion is the giving of our lives to God and to one another and the receiving of the same from one another.

Section 9. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit. All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect
and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With the baptism comes endowment of power, life, and service as well as the release of gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4; 8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-15;15:7-9). With the baptism in the Holy Spirit comes such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (Jn. 7:37-39;
Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Heb. 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, His Word, and the lost
(Mk. 16:20).

Section 10. Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The two most common initial evidences that the believer has been baptized in the Holy Spirit is the speaking with other tongues, and/or prophesying, as the Holy Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4).

Section 11. Divine Healing. Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isa. 53:4-6; Mt. 8:16-17;
Jam. 5:14-16).

Section 12. Sanctification. Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil and of dedication unto God (Rom.12:1-2; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:12). The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12: 14 ). By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command, “be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16). Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection, by faith, daily based upon the fact of the union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit  (Rom. 6:1-11, 13; 8:1-2,13; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 2:12-13;1 Pet. 1:5).

Section 13. The Final Judgment. There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be
raised and judged according to their works. Whoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast, and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone and which is the second death (Mt. 25:46;
Mk. 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:18).

Section 14. The New Heaven and the New Earth. We, according to His promise, look for the full manifestation of the new heavens and a new earth “in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13;
Rev. 21:22).

Section 15. The Blessed Hope. The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ Jesus, and their translation, together with those who are alive and remain at the coming of the Lord, is the imminent and blessed hope of the church (1 Thes. 4 :16-17; Rom. 8: 23; 1 Cor. 15:51-52).

Section 16. The Reign of Christ. Through the work of Christ the definitive victory over Satan has been won. We are promised increasing victories, increasing rule, and dominion (Isa. 9:7). We believe that Jesus has been exalted as both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:30-33; Phil. 2:9) and that He is presently ruling with His saints (Dan. 7:13,14,27). He will continue to rule until all of His enemies are made His footstool, from whence He shall return for His perfected Church and will present all things to God the Father
(Ps. 96:10; Isa. 24;23; 32:1; Jer. 23:5,6; Lk. 1:33; Rom. 15:12; 1 Cor. 15:25-28; Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18;
2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 5:10).

Section 17. Satan or the Devil. We believe that Satan or the Devil is a spiritual being in the world today. We understand his origin, existence, and activities are as follows:

.  He was originally a created, angelic being of great power and beauty.

.  He exercised unusual authority in the presence of God (Ezek. 28: 16-19; Isa. 14:13-14).

.  He rebelled against God, and as a result to this transgression was cast down from heaven
(Isa. 14: 12,14-21).

.  The angelic beings who followed Satan were cast down at the same time with him.

.  Satan, by his temptation and influence, brought about the fall of man; but the blood of Christ has disarmed him and his fallen host of angelic beings (Col. 2:15).

.  Presently, he seeks to destroy the faith of every Christian (Eph. 10:12).

.  Those spirits which fell with him are now under his control and are afflicting and tormenting human beings.

.  Every born again believer has been given scriptural authority to do spiritual warfare against the Devil and his host of evil spirits through the power in the name of Jesus Christ.

.  The Devil is presently “bound from deceiving the nations” (Rev. 20:2 & 3; Lk. 11: 20-22) and therefore we have been sent and given full authority to make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:18-20). All tongues can now confess “Jesus as Lord” (Lk. 11:14; Zech. 14:16-21). He is not “bound from activity”, he is merely “bound from deceiving the nations” thus freedom can now come to all who will receive Jesus as Lord and Christ. As the fullness of God’s glory comes into the church, he will be released for a final defeat by God and the church (Rev. 20:7-10).

Section 18. The Commandment to Tithe. Scripture is abundantly clear as to the reason God has given us the commandment to tithe. All of God's commandments are given for one reason alone, that
as we obey them, the Lord is provided with opportunities to bless us. One of God's greatest desires
is to bless His children in the area of financial provision, thus His commandment to tithe (Mal. 3:10).
As we bring our whole tithe, the first fruits of our increase to God; literally, a full 10 per cent of our gross income, the windows, doors, and floodgates of heaven are opened for the blessings of God to pour into our lives, provided that we follow other scriptural standards in our daily lives (3 Jn. 2). In actuality, our tithe is what we bring to God in recognition and thanksgiving of past and present blessings; where as, our offering and vows of faith are what we plant as seed for future blessings. Bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse enables us to then sow seed of which we can receive the full blessings of Abraham into our lives (Heb. 6:14). We believe that it is very unwise to rob God of His desire to see His children go forth in victorious and abundant living. Our Lord's promise of abundant life includes financial provisions, as we are consistently obedient to honor Him in the tithe. Tithing is also a portion of manifesting Jesus as Lord in a believer's life (Deut. 8:18 & Deut. 26:12-19; Mal. 3:11; Mt. 23:23; Heb. 7:8).

ARTICLE III

ASSOCIATION OF BELIEVERS

Section 1. The Body of Christ. The membership in the Body of Christ, according to Scripture, shall consist of persons born of water and of the spirit, who believe from the heart and confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. They demonstrate this belief through the fruit of a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Such persons must also believe in the following about our Lord Jesus Christ:

. Born of a Virgin;

. Died for our sins;

. Bodily raised from the dead;

. Ascended into heaven; and

. Returning again as King to present all things to God the Father.

Section 2. Believers Associated With Abundant Life. All believers who are a part of the Body of Christ, as described in Section 1, ARTICLE III here in, and who attend Abundant Life meetings are considered to be “attenders” of Abundant Life. Only those attenders who are in relationship with leadership and other regular attenders are considered members of the local congregation. These members will then qualify to actively participate in the function of the local church ministry.

ARTICLE IV

PREROGATIVES

Section 1. Authority. In connection with its purpose to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ at home and abroad by all available means, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to prescribe any powers and privileges, as well as duties, of directors, officers, and agents that are consistent with the Articles, Bylaws, and this Constitution.

Section 2. Licensing and Ordaining. The Board of Directors shall have the authority and power to examine, to license, and to ordain ministers of the gospel who have met the requirements as promulgated by the board and to administer discipline to such ministers according to rules and regulations adopted by the board.

.  Licensed ministers shall have the power to perform all functions and duties of a minister of the gospel; marriages, funerals, etc. as long as he is in direct fellowship with Abundant Life. Integrity is broken when he no longer maintains a godly lifestyle, scriptural standard in teaching, and/or is in disagreement with Abundant Life's government. At that time the License will be revoked.

.  Ordained ministers of Abundant Life shall have all of the above powers with autonomy.

.  Licensed and ordained ministers of Abundant Life shall be eligible for housing allowances that comply with Federal Tax Standards as long as such compensation is given for ministry services.

Section 3. Establishment of Committees (Teams), Departments, Affiliates.
The Board of Directors shall have the authority and power to establish and maintain committees, departments, affiliates, institutions, and services as may be necessary for the propagation of the gospel and work of Abundant Life.

Section 4. Evangelism. The Board of Directors shall have the right, authority, and privilege to evangelize, to establish fellowships, including maintenance of places of worship, and to provide for such fellowship's development.

Section 5. Publication. The Board of Directors shall have the authority and power to establish means of publishing and distributing Bibles, tracts, and other literature necessary for outreach and training and to maintain such means of publication and distribution.       

Section 6. Financial Guidelines.
In accordance with undoing the heavy burdens as stated in Isaiah 58:6, this corporation places the highest effort possible to maintain operations on a debt-free status. Any financial expenditures that would require financial debt for this corporation must be cleared by a 100 percent decision of its Board of Elders or majority decision of the Board of Directors and no debt is to be incurred without an ultimate pursuit of debt-free status.

Each church outreach established by or functioning under this corporation, with a licensed (or ordained) pastor and 2 other elders (minimum) OR licensed (or ordained) pastor and Bishop assigned by the Board of Directors, must also comply with these standards.

Each church outreach established by or functioning under this corporation, without an ordained pastor, must submit all expenditures that would incur a total debt equaling or exceeding $1000 (one thousand dollars) to the Board of Directors for their majority approval before expenditures may be made. Unless this total debt amount is approved by the corporation board of directors, in writing, to exceed this amount, this will be a hard, fast rule. In case of a lack of majority approval at the local level, the decision of the Board will prevail.