About Us.
Pastor Eric and Christy Barton launched City Church with the dream of connecting people to Jesus, and helping them fulfill all God has for their lives!
We believe that church is so much more than just a place to meet or an organization. The church is a family we belong to! We also believe that God’s purpose for your life is best discovered within the context of a spiritual family. We aren’t meant to do life alone. Our God-sized mission is to lead people to full lives in Christ.
In February of 2014, that dream began to unfold as City Church launched in a dance studio in downtown Lufkin. For 18 months we were portable, setting up and tearing down everything weekly. And from the very first service on February 16th, 2014, God has shown up powerfully! Lives continue to be changed and authentic relationships formed.
After we outgrew the dance studio, we were able to move into our current facility at 104 W Shepherd, Downtown Lufkin. We have now expanded to every available part of the building and can’t wait for all that God has in store for the future!
We are more excited than ever about leading people to their full life in Christ and building continuing to build a place of real spiritual family.
Thinking about visiting? We encourage you to come this Sunday and see what we’re all about.
We meet every Sunday at 10am. There is life-change for you. There is hope for your life. You have purpose. And YOU have a place here!
Our Beliefs
Jesus.
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was fully God and fully human. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for every person – and therefore – He paid [in full] the penalty for our sins through the shedding of His blood. On the third day, He rose from the dead and conquered death. He sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven and will return again in power and glory. John 1:1,14, 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5
Bible.
We believe the entire Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God and should be the supreme and final authority in our lives and faith. 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21
Holy Spirit.
We believe in the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach [and live out] the Gospel throughout the whole earth. Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6
Salvation.
We believe we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is not a result of good works or of any human efforts but is the free, unmerited favor of God offered to all. John 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22
Eternity.
We believe Heaven and Hell are real places. Every person was created to live forever and will live either separated from God for eternity (due to sin) or secured in relationship with God (by receiving grace through faith in Jesus). To be separated from God is Hell. To be secured in relationship with Him is Heaven. John 3:16-17; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15; John 6:35, 38-40
Baptism.
We believe every Christian is commanded by God to be water baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Water Baptism is an act of faith and obedience that symbolizes and publicly declares the Salvation that is found only in Jesus – through His death, burial, and resurrection. Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48
Second Coming.
We believe Jesus will soon return to earth to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at an undisclosed date. Until then, Jesus is building His Kingdom through the Church and is sanctifying His Bride for His return. Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; Revelation 19:7-9
Trinity.
There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and co-eternal. 1 John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 3:7-11
Church.
We believe the Church is the Body of Christ. God dwells in every Christian through the Holy Spirit and empowers His people to fulfill Jesus’ mission on the earth. Every Christian is gifted, called to serve, and is an integral part of building His Kingdom. While there are many local fellowships around the world, God ultimately sees one Church, not thousands. All believers belong to Jesus and are called to live in the Spirit of unity and love. Matthew 28:16-20; Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23
Spiritual gifts.
We believe all the spiritual gifts are still active today. These “grace gifts” are given by the Holy Spirit to build and sanctify His Church, prove Jesus’ resurrection is real, and to confirm the power of His Gospel. These gifts are clearly outlined in the Bible and must always operate within biblical parameters. All Christians are commanded to earnestly desire and seek these gifts. Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12: 4-8; Ephesians 4:16; 2 Timothy 1:5-16, 4:14; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; 1 Peter 4:10
Repentance.
We believe repentance is the commitment to turn from sin to God. When we surrender lordship to God, we receive forgiveness, are born again by regeneration of the Holy Spirit, and are made completely new in Jesus. Acts 2:21, 3:19; 1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17
Marriage.
Marriage is sanctioned by God—joining one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union. God intends for sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage. Any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God. Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrews 13:4; Genesis 2:20-24; 2 Corinthians 6:14
Communion.
We believe God desires to commune deeply with His children. Communion is a special time in the presence of God when the elements of bread [Jesus’ broken body] and grape juice [Jesus’ shed blood] are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ love and sacrifice on the Cross. Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25
Our Mission.
To lead people to full lives in Christ.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
-John 10:10
