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Who Are We? Welcome to Downey Central Missionary Baptist Church and thank you for taking the time to learn more about our church. At Downey Central Missionary Baptist Church, our desire is to honor the Lord Jesus Christ by faithfully preaching and teaching His Word, worshiping Himin spirit and truth, and sharing the Gospel with our community and the world. We are a congregation of believers who seek to follow the pattern of the New Testament in our doctrine, worship, and service. Whether you are searching for a church home, seeking answers from God's Word, or simply wanting to learn more about us, we welcome you and invite you to visit one of our services. We identify with the practice and doctrine of many Baptist churches know as “Landmarkers”. Our church name reflects deeply held convictions rooted in Scripture and Baptist heritage. Each word in our name—Landmark, Missionary, Baptist, and Church—communicates something important about who we are, what we believe, and how we seek to serve Christ. "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set." Proverbs 22:28 Landmark The term Landmark identifies a distinct Baptist perspective regarding doctrine, church authority, and New Testament practice. Historical Background During the mid-1800s, Baptist pastors J. R. Graves, J. M. Pendleton, and A. C. Dayton raised concerns about practices they believed were inconsistent with New Testament teaching, particularly pulpit affiliation and issues relating to church authority. They also emphasized the perpetuity of Christ's churches, teaching that the institution Jesus established during the ministry of John the Baptist and Christ Himself has continued throughout the centuries according to His promise and purpose. ·Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it. ·Matthew 28:19-20 Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Through their preaching and writings, they encouraged Baptists to return to what they understood to be the biblical principles practiced by New Testament churches. J. R. Graves addressed issues of church fellowship and ministerial authority in works such as Old Landmarkism: What Is It?J. M. Pendleton authored An Old Landmark Re-Set, drawing from Proverbs 22:28 as a call to preserve biblical principles.A. C. Dayton wrote Theodosia Ernest, a novel designed to encourage thoughtful examination of Baptist doctrine and practice. Although these men did not originally call themselves "Landmarkers," the name became associated with their position. Today, we gladly identify with the principles they championed. Missionary The word Missionary reflects our commitment to fulfilling Christ's command to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world. Biblical Foundation Jesus commissioned His churches: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations..." Matthew 28:19–20 We believe this commission is carried out through the scriptural sending of missionaries by local New Testament churches, as illustrated in Acts 13:1–4. Our Practice We seek to fulfill the Great Commission by: Sending out men under the authority of local churches.Supporting missionary work through cooperation among like-faith churches.Maintaining biblical order while reaching the lost with the Gospel.Encouraging evangelism both at home and abroad. Baptist The name Baptist identifies our doctrinal convictions and historical heritage. Historical Heritage Throughout history, groups of believers have sought to follow New Testament principles concerning salvation, baptism, and church membership. Historically, many were referred to as Anabaptists ("re-baptizers") because they rejected unscriptural baptisms and baptized only those who had personally professed faith in Jesus Christ. These believers often endured persecution, imprisonment, and even death because of their convictions regarding biblical authority and believer's baptism. Their history has been documented in works such as The Trail of Blood by J. M. Carroll. Scriptural Baptism We believe biblical baptism requires: Proper Authority A church possessing Christ-given authority. Proper Candidate A person who has repented of sin and trusted Jesus Christ as Savior. Proper Method Immersion in water, portraying the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Proper Purpose An act of obedience that pictures the believer's identification with Christ and entrance into the fellowship and service of a local New Testament church. Church The word church comes from the Greek word ekklesia, meaning "an assembly" or "called-out congregation." Christ's Institution Jesus declared: "I will build my church." Matthew 16:18 We believe Christ established His church as a local assembly of baptized believers gathered under His authority for worship, fellowship, discipleship, and service. Church Autonomy We believe every New Testament church is to be: Local and visible.Independent and self-governing.Directly accountable to Jesus Christ as its Head. For this reason, we hold that the New Testament presents the church as a local assembly rather than a universal, invisible organization. Our Commitment The name Downey Central Missionary Baptist Church is more than a title—it is a declaration of our faith, heritage, and purpose. We are committed to: Preserving the ancient landmarks of biblical doctrine.Obeying Christ's command to evangelize through scriptural methods.Upholding the historic Baptist faith.Functioning as a New Testament church in doctrine and practice.Glorifying God through worship, discipleship, fellowship, and service. We would be honored to have you visit and worship with us as we seek to exalt Christ, proclaim His Gospel, and serve Him faithfully. "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set." Proverbs 22:28 |