OUR BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS
The guiding principles for the DOVE International family are firmly rooted in the Word of God.
Knowing God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ
We believe that the basis of the Christian faith is to know God through repentance for sin, receiving Jesus Christ as Lord, building an intimate relationship with Him, and being conformed into His image. God has declared us righteous through faith in Jesus Christ
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Baptism in the Holy Spirit and dependence on God
Every believer should to be baptized with and dependent upon the Holy Spirit, and pursue spiritual gifts. We desperately need the person, presence and power of the Holy Spirit to minister effectively to our generation. All decisions need to be made by listening to the Holy Spirit as we make prayer and worship a priority.
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I Cor. 2:2-5, John 15:5,
II Cor. 13:14, John 4:23-24
Fulfilling the Great Commission through prayer, evangelism, discipleship, and church planting
We are committed to help fulfill the Great Commission through prayer, becoming spiritual parents, and planting churches both locally and around the world. The Great Commission will be fulfilled through tearing down spiritual strongholds of darkness and church planting.
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I Cor. 3:6-9, Matt. 11:12, II
Cor. 10:3-4, Acts 14:21-23,
Matt. 28:19-20, Matt. 6:5-18,
Acts 1:8
Honoring the covenant of marriage the family unit
Both marriage and family are instituted by God. Healthy, stable families are essential for the church to be effective in fulfilling its mission. Marriage covenants are ordained by God and need to be honored and kept with a standard of holiness and purity. We uphold the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. Parents are called to train their children in the nurture and loving discipline of the Lord Christ.
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Commitment to spiritual families, spiritual parenting and intergenerational connections
We believe that God is turning the hearts of the fathers and mothers to the sons and daughters in our day, and are committed to spiritual parenting on every level of church life. Participation in a small group is a fundamental commitment to the DOVE family. Each spiritual family needs to share common values, vision, goals, and a commitment to build together. We are committed to training, working along-side and releasing young people as co-laborers for the harvest.
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Acts 2:17, Jer. 31:13, I Cor. 12:18,
Eph. 4:16, Ps. 133, II Pet. 1:12-13,
II Tim. 2:2, Mal. 4:5-6,
I Cor. 4:15-17
Spiritual multiplication and reproduction
Multiplication is expected and encouraged in every sphere of Kingdom life. Small groups should multiply into new small groups and churches should multiply into new churches. The DOVE family of churches will be made up of many new regional families of churches as apostolic fathers and mothers are released in the nations of the world.
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Acts 9:31, Mark 4:20,
Acts 11:19-30, Acts 13-15
Emphasis on relationships in building God?s kingdom
Serving others and building relationships is a desired experience in every area of church life. We believe the best place to begin to serve and experience trust and relationship is in the small group.
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Acts 2:42-47, Eph. 4:16,
Gal. 5:13, I Peter 2:5
Every believer as priest and minister
According to the scriptures, every Christian is a priest who needs to hear from the Lord personally and is called of God to minister to others. Fivefold ministers are the Lord?s gifts to His church as he uses them to help equip each believer become effective. We need to constantly empower those we are serving so that each can fulfill his call from the Lord.
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I Pet. 4:9, Eph. 4:11-12,
Titus 1:5, I Tim 4:12-14
Sending missionaries to the unreached
Jesus instructs us to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. We do this through church planting and missions. We are also called to assist the poor and needy, those in prison, orphans and widows while doing all we can to empower them. When we help those less fortunate both materially and spiritually, we are lending to the Lord.?
Deut. 14:28, 29, Deut. 26:10-12,?
Matt. 25:31-46, James 1:27,?Prov. 19:17,
Matt. 24:14,?Acts 1:8, Acts 13:1-4,?
II Cor. 10:15-16
Biblical prosperity and generosity that support kingdom expansion
Biblical prosperity is God?s plan to help fulfill the Great Commission. The principle of the tithe is part of God?s plan to honor and provide substance for those He has placed over us in spiritual authority. Those who are over us in the Lord are responsible for the proper distribution of the tithe and offerings. We encourage all members to give generously to support churches, ministries, five-fold ministers, and missionaries both inside and outside of the DOVE family. All funds should be handled with integrity and full accountability.
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III John 2, Matt. 23:23,
Heb. 7:4-7, Mal. 3:8-11,
Acts 11:29-30, II Cor. 8:1-7, 20-21,
Gal. 6:5-6, Phil. 4:15-17,
Rom. 15:14, I Thess. 5:22
Servant leadership that empowers others
Every sphere of leadership needs to include a clear servant-leader called by God and a team who is called to walk together. The leader has the anointing and responsibility to discern the mind of the Lord that is expressed through the leadership team and through those he is serving. Servant leaders will walk in humility and integrity, demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. Apostolic overseers and pastors are called to direct, protect, and correct the church. These leaders must model the biblical qualifications for leadership.
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Acts 9:31, Mark 4:20,
Acts 11:19-30, Acts 13-15
Building the Kingdom in partnership with the entire body of Christ
Recognizing that we are one small part of God’s kingdom, we are called to link with other groups in the body of Christ and pursue unity in His church as we reach the world together. We wish to see God?s kingdom come not only in the church, but in all areas of society: the church, the family, government, the arts, education, business and the media. This will involve sharing the people and resources the Lord has entrusted to us.
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Matt. 6:10, 33, Eph. 4:1-6,
John 17, Ps. 133, I Cor. 12,
Acts 2:44-45, Rom. 14:5,
Matt. 28:19-20, Amos 3:3,
I Cor. 1:10, I Cor. 15:10
