GET TO KNOW
GASHLAND
“It is our vision to be a church that loves Jesus, lives as family, and looks to the fields."
Gashland EPC
the
vision
Love Jesus.
Live as Family.
Look to the Fields.
Learn More
Love Jesus
What is the greatest Commandment?
Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
At Gashland it our desire to not merely love Jesus, but fall deeper in love with Him every day. Jesus is our greatest love in life and we want to spend our days living for Him. It is this love that guides everything we do as a church and as an individual. Paul beautifully describes this in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15:
"14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."
Q:
A:
Next Vision Statement
Live As Family
We are family in Christ. Members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). That means something. Those are not empty words for us. We have a bond that is greater and longer lasting than blood. A bond that is forged in our Savior Jesus Christ. It is our desire to not merely know each other's names, but that we would know each other's lives.
What does that look like like? We seek to live and grow as a spiritual family through three core ways: Discipleship, Community, and Care. Things that we see were present and alive in the early church (Acts 2).
Next Vision Statement
It is our desire that we would not merely know each other's names, but each other's lives.
Look to the Fields
Our vision, "Look to the fields," draws inspiration from John 4:35, where Jesus urges us to lift our eyes and behold a world ripe for harvest. At Gashland we want to be and become those who joyfully share their faith, participate in the great commission and see the lost come to know Jesus as their Lord and savior.
Vision Overview
Scripture
All Scripture is self-attesting and in being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts, culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks.
Jesus
Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God became true man, united in one Person forever. He died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day, He arose bodily from the grave, and later ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of God the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Mediator.
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of our sin and draws us to the Savior. Indwelling our hearts, He gives new life to us, empowers us, and imparts gifts to us for His service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.
Salvation
Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace. God credits His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, thereby justifying them in His sight. Only those who are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life.
Church
The true Church is composed of all persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, are united together in the body of Christ. The Church finds her visible, yet imperfect, expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached in its purity, and the sacraments are administered in their integrity, where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting, she awaits the return of her Lord.
The Great Commission
The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to the Great Commission requires total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.” He calls us to a life of self-denying love and service. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)
All Scripture is self-attesting and in being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts, culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks.
What do we believe about God's Word?
At Gashland EPC
We Love God's Word.
Learn More
Welcome to
THE EPC
The EPC exists to carry out the Great Commission as Presbyterian, Reformed, Evangelical, and Missional congregations.
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
-Westminster Shorter Catechism
Westminster confession
of Faith
In the early 18th Century, American Presbyterians determined that it was necessary to adopt a doctrinal statement in order to declare their common faith. The Synod of Philadelphia in 1729 adopted the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms as the confession of their faith.
The Westminster Confession of Faith is the singular confessional standard of the EPC. We affirm that it contains the system of doctrine as taught in Scripture. Click below to read the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
Confessional
Standards
Westminster Confession of Faith
1646
Shorter Catechism
Larger Catechism
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Memorizing Together
As a church family we are working our way together through the Westminster Shorter Catechism. The Westminster Shorter Catechism is a discipleship tool to help you learn the key truths that scripture teaches us. We as a congregation are focusing on one question each month and incorporating it into our worship service. Below we have the question and answer to memorize. We also have it in song version to help you, your family, and your kids learn it!
Q#3: What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A#3: The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
*** You can find these songs on any streaming service you use.
Get to know Gashland EPC's Ministry Staff
Meet the Staff
Worship Team
Outreach Team
Relationships Team
Discipleship Team
Coordinating Team
Mercy Team
Helps Team
Finance Team
Property Team
Leadership Structure
Deacon-Led
Ministry Teams
Elder-Led
Ministry Teams
The Deacons
The Session
Gashland EPC's
The Session
Scripture reveals to us that God's design for the local church is to be spiritually governed and ruled by a plurality of elders.
Titus 1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
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Elder-Led Ministry Teams
In acts 6 the elders declare their calling to oversee the ministry of the word and prayer. At Gashland EPC there are four ministry teams that seek to oversee the ministry of the Word. Those teams form the acronym W.O.R.D., which stands for Worship, Outreach, Relationships, and Discipleship. There is a fifth team, the Coordinating Team, that oversees other duties assigned to the elders by our denomination, the EPC.
Next
Worship Team
The Worship Team’s primary responsibility is to facilitate and implement biblically based, Christ-centered worship services. These services are focused on God’s redemptive work for sinful people through the death and resurrection of God the Son – Jesus Christ!
Next
Outreach Team
The Outreach team plans and oversees GEPC’s ministries that focus on bringing the power and hope of the Gospel to a lost and broken world. They manage outreach events of the church as well as the missionaries Gashland supports.
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Relationships Team
The Relationships team initiates and oversees the various ministries that foster loving relationships, build community, and help us live as family.
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Discipleship Team
The Discipleship Team provides leadership, perspective, and oversight for all Christian education ministries. The Discipleship Team encourages spiritual growth, spiritual disciplines, and discipleship.It is our desire to be a church that lives out the great commission and makes disciples who make disciples.
Next
Coordinating Team
The coordinating team oversees the policies and procedures of the church, assists ministry teams in these items, and also oversees human resources at the church.
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The Deacons
In scripture we see that deacons are given by the elders a ministry of service and mercy (Acts 6). in light of this at gashland epc, the session has delegated four ministry teams for the deacons to oversee: Mercy, Helps, finance, and Property.
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Mercy Team
The Mercy Team provides help and care for the sick, elderly, and those in need within Gashland EPC. It also assists with walk-in requests and catastrophic situations outside of Gashland.
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Helps Team
The Helps Team serves Gashland by presenting a warm welcome on Sunday mornings, as well as working with the elder-led teams to help serve any ministry event needs.
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Finance Team
The Finance Team records and reports the financial resources of the church. They also seek to give the Session financial information that is important for the church to carry out Gashland’s ministry vision.
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Property Team
The Property Team seeks to keep the property functional and operational, and maintain the integrity of the building so that the ministries of the church can go forward unhindered.
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Class of 2025
Get to know Gashland EPC's Deacons!
the Deacons
Class of 2026
Class of 2027
Class of 2027
Class of 2025
Class of 2025
Class of 2026
Class of 2026
Class of 2027
The History
Discover
The 1st Worship Service was held in the Sanctuary on Christmas Day 1949
1965
In August of 1948 Gashland Community Church was officially incorporated. Shortly thereafter, ground was broken to build the church. Pastor James Teener was charged to organize and build a new church.
August 1948
In May of 1948 Barry Presbyterian Church officially changed its name to Gashland Community Church.
May 1948
Barry Presbyterian Church closed its doors in 1931 and was dissolved as a church. Yet, in 1945 at the request of 10 families Barry Presbyterian Church was replanted. The new congregation purchased the land for the new church site for $1,750.
May 1945
December 1949
In 1960 the congregation elected and installed the first board of deacons.
1960
In 1965 Christian Education Building & Chapel was dedicated.
In 2001 the church finished building an additional wing onto the church that included the church office, the Adult Sunday School hall, the Children Ministry Sunday School Hall, the Student Ministries rooms, the south lobby, and the Ministry Center where our 2nd Service is held.
2001
On September 23, 2007 Gashland Presbyterian Church due to its desire to hold fast to the Word of God voted to leave the PCUSA and enter into the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
September 2007
When Gashland left the PCUSA, the PCUSA filed a lawsuit to take ownership of Gashland's property. Gashland faithfully fought this lawsuit to keep their own property which ended up going to the Missouri Supreme Court. Gashland won this landmark case. This was a victory not just for Gashland, but for the larger church body. Now every PCUSA church in Missouri who was longing to leave for a more biblically faithful denomination could do so and keep their church property.
August 2012
Gashland EPC longs to be a church that cares for families and the community. During the summer of 2022 the church session voted to build a new playground.
July 2022
In the Fall of 2022 Gashland started a campaign to be Debt Free in '23. God was faithful. The congregation contributed $335,266.22 and paid off all the debt in December of 2022. With extra contributions given, the additional funds were used with permission for capital expenses to improve our campus.
December 2022
As we look back at the past and all the stories that we cannot fit onto this timeline, we can see how faithful God has been to Gashland every step of the way. This gives us confidence as we look to the future. For we know that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In light of this we invite you to join us in this next chapter at Gashland EPC as we seek to run faithfully after the Lord with our new vision to love Jesus, live as family, and look to the fields.
March 2024
