Pathway is a member of the Missionary Church USA denomination.
Beliefs & History
About Pathway
In 2001, four families committed to pray together for one year, seeking God’s direction for a new church on the northwest side of Fort Wayne. One year later, in early 2002, Pathway Community Church opened its doors to the public for the first time. In 2007, we moved into our current facility at 1010 Carroll Road. We’ve made some expansions over the years, and it’s been exciting to be part of this fast-growing local community.
From those early days in the middle school gymnasium to our current location on Carroll Road, we continue to rejoice in all that God has done. The stories of life change being told each week remind us of the real reason we are here: to lead people into a full life found in Jesus Christ.
Our Mission
Leading people into a full life found in Jesus Christ
John 10:10
Our Identities
LOVED
We are loved by Jesus
who died for us.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
– Romans 5:8
CHANGED
We are changed by the Spirit
who lives in us.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
– John 14:16-17
CALLED
We are called by God
who works through us.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
– 1 Peter 2:9
“Full life” (John 10:10) flows out of our identity in Christ. It’s not what we do, but what he’s done. It’s not who we are, but who he is and who we are in him.
LOVED: Jesus loves us and died for us. Therefore, we can know we are chosen, beloved, forgiven, able to love others, and invited into loving community.
Romans 5:8, John 3:16, Romans 8:32, John 4:9-10
CHANGED: The Holy Spirit changes us. With Christ at the center of our being, we are able to produce the Fruit of the Spirit, experience abiding peace, become a light in the world, and experience a shift from a focus on self to a focus on others.
John 14:16-17, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Romans 8:11, 15, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 2:12-15, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Titus 3:5-6
CALLED: God has called us—to obedience, to make disciples, to serve, to use our gifts and passions and stories, to a greater purpose, and to enjoy his grace and extend his glory.
1 Peter 2:9, Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 2:10, 2 Timothy 3:17
OUR RESPONSE TO JESUS
When we respond to Jesus, we…
ADMIT
Admit to God that we have been living our lives our own way apart from him.
Romans 3:23 — “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
BELIEVE
Believe that God has provided a personal relationship with Jesus.
John 5:24 — “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 5:8 — “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
CHOOSE
Choose to make Jesus the king of our hearts and the leader of our lives.
Romans 10:9 — “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Our Beliefs
THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 1:13, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:160, Psalm 12:6, Proverbs 30:5
GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:26-27, Matthew 28:19, Psalm 90:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2
JESUS CHRIST
The ABSOLUTE DEITY of Jesus Christ.
Jesus was not just a great moral leader; He was and is God in the flesh.
John 1:1,14, John 14:7
God is a trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Luke 3:21-22; John 14:10; and 2 Corinthians 13:14
The VIRGIN BIRTH of Christ.
Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:34
The SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT of Christ.
Isaiah 53:6, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 1 Peter 3:18
The BODILY RESURRECTION of Christ.
Luke 24:39, 2 Corinthians 13:4
The LITERAL RETURN of Christ.
John 14:3, Titus 2:13
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
John 16:12-13, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:12, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 5:18
HUMANITY
Men and women are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. Humans are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although people have tremendous potential for good, people are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates men and women from God.
Psalm 8:3-6, Romans 3:23, Genesis 1:7, Isaiah 53:6, Isaiah 59:1-2
SALVATION
Salvation is a gift from God to everyone. No one can never make up for his or her sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his or her life by faith.
John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:1, John 1:12, Galatians 3:26, Titus 3:5, Romans 6:23
THE CHURCH
We believe in the invisible and universal Church as an organism. It is composed of all believers in the Lord Jesus who have been vitally united by faith to Christ, its living Head and sovereign Lord.
Matthew 16:18, Hebrews 12:22-24
ORDINANCES
We believe the Christian ordinances are two: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe they are outward rites appointed by Christ to be administered in each church, not as a means of salvation, but as a visible sign and seal of its reality.
Acts 8:36, 1 Corinthians 11:24-34
MARRIAGE
We believe in the historically Christian view of marriage and sexual expression; namely, that marriage is a one-flesh covenant union between two sexually different persons (male and female) from different families, and that all sexual relationships outside of marriage are sin.
Ephesians 5:31, Mark 10:6-9
ETERNITY
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16, Romans 6:23, 1 John 2:25, 1 John 5:11-13, Revelation 20:15
For additional insights on doctrines and beliefs, visit the Missionary Church at www.mcusa.org.