Introduction

The church has existed in the form of a "1901 Association" since 2001.

We are situated at the gateway to the estuary. We were struck by the image of a river as described in the Bible in the book of Ezekiel, Chapter 47, verses 1 to 13.

This passage speaks of waters going down to the sea, waters which have the capacity to clean, to heal, and to save. They bring with them grace, something which the world is crying out for.

These same waters pass initially through the church before being released into the nations to effect a work of restoration, renewal and unity.

In the beginning of the 19th Century, Nantes was nicknamed the "Venice of the West", because of the many branches of the river Loire which went through it, many of which were later filled in. In similar fashion, we see a richness in the many streams formed by the body of Christ in the Nantes region.

Our desire is to do what we can to encourage the convergence of these different streams so they may become one river which touches and blesses many lives.

We desire to welcome this river, and to experience together all kinds of reconciliation and healing so that we can prepare the way of the Lord in unity.

Vision

« The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.»

[ Bible, Luke 4 : 18-19 ]

The church of Jesus Christ must be a place of security, of love and of freedom. In this context we wish to welcome the compassion of God and His power to be able to care for, to heal, and to deliver captives. We want every individual to be able to find the true sense of their lives, and to be able to serve in this world so as to thus make the love of God tangible to all men. In whatever we do, we believe that grace and truth are necessary if the Gospel is to touch our society.

Confession of faith

We believe :

• That the Holy Scriptures are the infallible Word of God, sovereign authority in matters of faith and life.
• In one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for all eternity.
• In Jesus Christ our Saviour, God manifest in flesh, born of the virgin Mary; in his humanity lived without sin; in his miracles; in his expiatory and redemptive death; in his bodily resurrection; in his ascension; in his mediating work; in his personal return in power and in glory.
• In the salvation of sinful lost man; in his justification not by works but by faith, thanks to the blood spent by Jesus Christ; in his regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
• In the Holy Spirit who, living amongst us, gives us the power to serve Jesus Christ, to live a holy life, and to be a witness.
• In the gifts of the Holy Spirit and their manifestation for the common good.
• In the true unity in the Holy Spirit of all believers who together form the Universal Church, the body of Christ.
• In the resurrection of all men : those who are lost are resurrected for judgement, those who are saved are resurrected for eternal life in Jesus Christ.