We are praying and working for awakenings that will touch the whole person and the whole community. As we worship the Holy Trinity, we are also invited to join the Trinity on the divine mission of reconciliation and restoration (2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2). Ascent participants share a commitment to the Great Commission locally, regionally, and globally. We gather and work rooted in the historic, orthodox heart of the Nicene Creed of 381 and the 2010 Capetown Commitment (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). We aim for a dynamic, Jesus-centered orthodoxy that is faithful to scripture and the historical Christian faith, affirming timeless truth in a timely matter. Specifically, we counter post-modern subjective thinking with a commitment to truth that transcends our personal or cultural narratives. We respond to the gender and sexual confusion of this moment with biblical celebration of humankind created in God’s image, invited to dwell with God and do the works of God as male and female. Our commitment to our Creator and the new creation found in Christ leads us to affirm complete equality of women and men, with full access to all of God’s callings and gifts for both sexes. Put simply, we are biblically egalitarian. We believe that the global church is prophesying to the West, calling on formerly Christianized nations to repent and rediscover the gospel. What used to be the margins are now new centers of vital Christianity. We reject the syncretism of human ideologies that lead to moral and theological compromise. There is no place for any kind of classism or racism in the church. Our Theological Affirmations are biblical, pneumatic, and prayer infused. While affirming objective truth rooted in the Bible, we also confess our radical dependency on the Holy Spirit who makes Christ our contemporary, enlivens the word, and empowers our service. All of God’s callings and gifts are present for the church to grow into the fullness of Christ and carry out the mission of God (Acts 2; Romans 12:1-8; I Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16). We agree with John Wesley that, “Prayer is where the action is.” God has decided that our cries and hopes, intercessions and petitions matter for the mission. This is why Ascent focuses on prayer as foundational (Ephesians 6:18-20; Philippians 1:19). We aim for the integration of orthodoxy, orthopathy, and orthopraxis. Intellectual acumen united with prayerful affections and obedient actions are all necessary for the display of God’s glory to a watching world (Ephesians 3:10). Dr. Charles “Charlie” Self is a Visiting Professor at The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (2006-present, 2009- 2016 as a full-time professor) in Springfield, MO, where he teaches courses in church history, mission history, leadership development, and discipleship.

inSPIRE Church in Canmore, Alberta

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