BRETT LIBBY

Facilities Director

[email protected]

Brett and his wife, Naomi, are both originally from the area, and have been serving in youth ministry for several years. Brett coordinates all facility management, landscaping, maintenance, and building projects, and oversees a team of stewards.

OUR MISSION

1. Preach the Gospel to every creature,
2. Baptize those who receive the Gospel, and
3. Teach believers to obey what Jesus commanded.
The vehicle Jesus gave to fulfill this mission is the church. It is exciting to see people trusting Jesus Christ as their Savior, following Him in believers’ baptism, and growing spiritually to be more like Christ. As we go get others saved, baptized, and teach them God’s Word, we are obeying our Lord’s command and fulfilling our mission as a church (Matthew 28:19-20).

REACH OTHERS PASSIONATELY

As a church our mission is to reach the world with the Gospel of Christ. We seek to use every available means to share the Good News with people in our area. We do this through various outreach opportunities throughtout the year.

OUR BELIEFS

The following comprise the Scriptural beliefs of Volusia County Baptist Church.

The Bible

We believe the Holy Scriptures (the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament) are the verbal (every word), plenary (complete) and inspired (God-breathed) Word of God.  The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and are therefore the final authority for faith and life.  The Bible from Genesis to Revelation is the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. For reasons of textual reliability and unity, we use and promote the King James Version of the Bible and it is the official version used by all pastors and teachers in our church-related ministries. (II Timothy 3:15–17; I Peter 1:23-25; II Peter 1:19–21; Psalms 12:6-7; 1 Corinthians 14:33)

God

We believe in only one triune God eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each coequal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 14:10, 26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; I Timothy 1:17; James 1:17; I John 4:4; 5:7; Revelation 4:11)

Jesus Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1‐2, 14; II Corinthians 5:19‐21; Galatians 4:4‐5; Philippians 2:5‐ 8) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18‐36; Romans 3:24‐25; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 2:24; I Peter 1:3‐5) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9‐10; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; 1 John 2:1‐2)

Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit of God is a Person and has the personality and all the attributes of Deity. We believe the Holy Spirit has always been involved in the affairs of mankind.  In addition, we believe He has a special ministry that began at Pentecost which will continue until the rapture. This ministry includes reproving the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit also regenerates, seals, sanctifies, gifts and indwells all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit fills surrendered believers and enables them to use spiritual gifts to speak and serve for the glory of God.  We believe the need for sign gifts to confirm the words of the apostles ceased as God’s inspiration of the New Testament was completed. (Genesis 1:2; John 3:5-6; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Acts 11:15; Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20, 12:1-11, 28; Ephesians 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27; Mark 16:20; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10)

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins, Who died, was buried, and rose the third day from the grave. We believe that a person is saved the moment that he, as a helpless sinner, places his faith in Jesus Christ alone to save him.  We believe that Christ died for the sins of the whole world and desires for all men to come to repentance. (Matthew 12:31‐32; John 1:12; Acts 20:21; Romans 10:9,10,13; I Corinthians 15:3‐4; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8‐10; I Peter 1:18‐19; II Peter 3:9; I John 5:11‐13)

Sin and Mankind

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God.  However, when Adam sinned the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Man is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition and become acceptable to God. (Genesis 1:26‐27; Romans 3:22‐23; 5:12; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1‐3; 4:17‐19)

Security of Believers

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are secure in Christ’s redemption forever. (John 6:37‐40; 10:27‐30; Romans 8:1; 38‐39; I Corinthians 1:4‐8;  I Peter 1:4‐5) We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word.  However, Scripture clearly forbids believers from excusing unrepentant sin in their lives because of God’s saving grace. Believers strive to become more like Jesus Christ each day. (Romans 6:1-18; 13:13‐14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11‐15)

New Testament Church

We believe that the church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born‐again persons. (I Corinthians 12:12‐14; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22‐23; 5:25‐27) We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28‐32; I Timothy 3:1‐13; Titus 1:5‐11) We believe in the autonomy of the local church and that it is free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1‐ 4; 15:19‐31; 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I Corinthians 3:9, 16; 5:4‐7, 13; I Peter 5:1‐4) We recognize water baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age. (Matthew 28:19‐20; Acts 2:41‐ 42; 8:36‐38; I Corinthians 11:23‐26)

The Last Days

We believe in that blessed hope, the personal, imminent return of Christ, Who will rapture all His believers prior to the seven‐year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel. (Psalms 89:3‐ 4; Daniel 2:31‐ 45; Zechariah 14:4‐11; I Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13‐18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10; 19:11‐ 16; 20:1‐ 6)

The Eternal State

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men: the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25‐26; Revelation 20:5‐ 6, 12‐13) We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16‐17; Revelation 20:4‐6) We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (Matthew 25:41‐ 46; Mark 9:43‐48; Luke 16:19‐26; II Thessalonians 1:7‐9; Jude 6‐7; Revelation 20:11‐15)

Separation

We believe that all believers should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord. God commands His people to separate from religious apostasy, sinful pleasures, ungodly associations and to refrain from shameful markings or immodest appearance. (Leviticus 19:28; Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; I Corinthians 6:19-20; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; II Timothy 3:15; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)

Angels and Satan

We believe that angels are ministering spirits created by God to protect believers and to assist with God’s purpose in the world. (Hebrews 1:7; 13:2; Colossians 2:18) We believe that Satan is a fallen cherub, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6‐7; Isaiah 14:12‐17; Matthew 4:2‐11; 25:41; Revelation 20:10)

Creation

We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We believe any other theories of origins to be unscriptural. (Genesis 1-2; Exodus 20:11)

Family Relationships

We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and in the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for ordination by the church. (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18; I Timothy 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)  We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are an heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle, example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction. (Genesis 1:26-28; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mark 10:6-12; I Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; Hebrews 13:4; I Peter 3:1-7)

Human Sexuality

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, beastiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one natural-born man and one natural-born woman. (Genesis 2:24; 19:5, 13; 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-3; Romans 1:26-29; 7:2; I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; Ephesians 5:22-23; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)

Divorce and Remarriage

We believe that God’s perfect will is for marriage to last between a man and a woman until they are separated by death. Scripture says that God hates divorce, but does allow for it in the case of adultery or abandonment. Divorced and remarried members may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used by God, but may not be a pastor or a deacon in our church. (Malachi 2:14-17; Matthew 5:32; 19:3-12; Mark 10:11-12; Romans 7:1-3; I Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)

Love

We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward those who are not believers and those who oppose us. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or the use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions. (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:9-10, 17-21; 13:8-10; Philippians 2:2-4; II Timothy 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; I John 3:17-18)

Missions

We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to the uttermost part of the earth, so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord’s command makes us responsible to give out the Gospel to the lost both at home and abroad. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:20)

Giving

We believe that a Christian, as a steward of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is directed to give to the Lord through the local church. We believe that God will bless Christians who give offerings sacrificially and cheerfully as the Spirit of God leads them to support the church, relieve those in need, and help spread the Gospel. (Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; Luke 6:38; I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; I Timothy 5:17-18; I John 3:17)

Abortion

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1; 49:5; Jeremiah 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)

Euthanasia

We believe that the direct ending of a human life is a moral evil, regardless of the hardship on a family or the suffering of the patient. Life is a gift from God and must be respected from conception until natural death. However, pain medications and discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome may be prayerfully considered with the counsel of the family and physician. We believe that capital punishment, defending one’s country in a time of war and defending against criminal murderous intent are obvious exceptions to the command to preserve human life.  (Exodus 20:13; 23:7; Proverbs 31:6; Matthew 5:21; Acts 17:28; Genesis 9:6; 1 Timothy 5:8)

Civil Government

We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the church, and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced these responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically-assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-24; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 2:13-14)

Lawsuits Between Believers

We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other believers in the church. We believe that, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. (I Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:31-32)