
HELPING
PEOPLE
FIND &
FOLLOW
JESUS
Our Values
At Wilshire Ave, we want to be the kind of church where people can experience God’s presence, discover the hope of Jesus, find a place to belong, and grow in their faith.
These values shape the way we worship, care for one another, serve our community, and take our next steps with God. They remind us that church is more than something we attend—it’s a family we grow with and a life we live together. At the heart of it all is our mission: helping people find and follow Jesus.
Our Beliefs
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Scripture reveals who God is, shows us the truth, and gives us a trustworthy foundation for how we live and follow Jesus. God’s Word remains relevant in every generation and continues to shape, teach, challenge, and transform us.
Deuteronomy 4:1–2; Psalm 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13–15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; Hebrews 1:1–2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 3:16
THE TRINITY
We believe there is one God who has eternally existed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is fully God, sharing the same divine nature, power, and authority while working in distinct ways. Together, Father, Son, and Spirit reveal the fullness of the one true God.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 1:35; John 5:21–23; 14:10, 16; Romans 8:9–11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8–10; James 2:19
THE FATHER
We believe God the Father is holy, all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, and unchanging. He is the source and sustainer of life and is completely worthy of our trust. He is also a loving and compassionate Father who is faithful to His people and faithful to every promise He makes.
Exodus 3:14; Leviticus 11:44–45; 19:2; Numbers 23:19; Psalm 11:4–6; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3–4
THE FATHER
We believe God the Father is holy, all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, and unchanging. He is the source and sustainer of life and is completely worthy of our trust. He is also a loving and compassionate Father who is faithful to His people and faithful to every promise He makes.
Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18–23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5–6; Luke 22:70; 24:46–47; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 11:25–27; 17:1–5; Acts 1:9; 2:22–24; 7:55–56; Romans 1:3–4; 3:23–26; 8:1–3; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19–21; Galatians 4:4–5; Philippians 2:5–11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; 3:16
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit is present and active in the lives of believers. He draws us toward Jesus, reveals truth, brings conviction, comforts and guides us, and assures us that we belong to Christ. The Spirit empowers us to live faithfully, gives spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church, and continually works within us to make us more like Jesus.
Genesis 1:2; Psalm 51:11; 139:7–12; Isaiah 61:1–3; Joel 2:28–32; Mark 1:10; Luke 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7–14; Acts 1:8; 2:1–4; 13:2; Romans 8:9–11, 14–16, 26–27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13–14; 2 Peter 1:21
HUMANITY
We believe every person is created in the image of God and therefore has inherent dignity, value, and worth. Humanity was created for relationship with God, but sin has broken that relationship and separated us from Him. We cannot restore that relationship through our own goodness or effort; we need the grace and redemption God offers through Jesus.
Genesis 1:26–30; 2:7, 18–22; 3; Psalm 8:3–6; 32:1–5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26–31; Romans 1:19–32; 3:10–18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14–25; 1 Corinthians 1:21–31; 15:19, 21–22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21–22; 3:9–11
SALVATION
We believe salvation is a gift of God’s grace made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On the cross, Jesus gave His life for our sin so that we could be forgiven and brought back into relationship with God. Salvation is received through faith in Jesus; it is not something we can achieve, deserve, or earn through our own efforts.
Isaiah 1:18; 53:5–6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22–66; 28:1–6; Luke 1:68–69; 2:28–32; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30–31; Romans 1:16–18; 3:23–25; 5:8–10; 6; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17–20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8–10; Philippians 2:12–13; Hebrews 9:24–28; Revelation 3:20
ETERNITY
We believe every person was created for eternity. Through Jesus, we are offered forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life in relationship with God; apart from Him, sin results in eternal separation from God. We believe both Heaven and Hell are realities of eternal existence and that the hope of the Gospel is life with God forever.
John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11–13; Revelation 20:15