Our Mission
Central Church exists to help you share the love of Jesus with your relational world.
About Central Church
Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Central Church exists to help you share the love of Jesus with your relational world.
Our roots date back to 1883 when a group of believers met under the name Swedish Baptist Church. We took on the name Central Baptist Church in the 1920’s and the legacy of our congregation includes a radio ministry which operated for more than sixty years, a number of church plants, and a now-complete campus located on Ralph Rogers Road, which includes a 1200-seat worship center, a family life center with full-sized gymnasium, and a preschool / kindergarten that serves more than 300 students each week.
We recently shortened our name to Central Church in 2015 as an adjustment to how we identify ourselves to our community. Theologically, we remain a Baptist church and the name change does not change any of our beliefs, mission, or our denominational affiliation. People who are looking to attend a Baptist church will still be able to find us. But this rebrand allows us to more easily reach people who may be confused or skeptical about the label “Baptist.”
If you have any questions about Central, feel free to send us an email at [email protected], or give us a call during business hours at 605.336.3378.
Statement Of Faith
What our church and denomination believe about the spiritual essentials.
1. The Word of God
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We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct (John 17:17; Romans 15:4; II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:19-21).
2. The Trinity
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We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption (Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-4; I John 5:7).
3. God the Father
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We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of individuals, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (John 3:16, 17; John 4:24; John 17:5).
4. Jesus Christ
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We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth (Isaiah 7:14; John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:2,3; I John 1:7).
5. The Holy Spirit
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We believe in the Holy Spirit who was sent from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide (John 14:26; John 16:7-15; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 1:13,14).
6. Regeneration
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We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit (John 1:12, 13; John 3:3, 16, 17; Acts 20:21; Ephesians 2;1-9; Titus 3:5).
7. The Church
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We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:38-41; Ephesians 2:19-22; Ephesians 5:25-27).
8. Christian Conduct
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We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of humankind; that the Christian should maintain conduct blameless before the world, be a faithful steward of possessions, and seek to realize for self and others the full stature of maturity in Christ (II Cor 9:6-8; Eph 4:11-16; Phil 2:14-16; Col 3:17-23; I Thess 4:17,18)
9. The Ordinances
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We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41, 42; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-32).
10. Religious Liberty
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We believe that every human being can have direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by an ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other (I Timothy 2:5).
11. Church Cooperation
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We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with inter-denominational fellowships on a voluntary, independent basis.
12. The Last Things
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We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked (John 5:28, 29; Revelation 20:1-15; II Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-46).