History & Beliefs
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The title "Scarborough Christian Fellowship" is a relatively new local title for the Scarborough Elim Pentecostal Church. The first location for the newly pioneered Elim Church was in Murry Street in 1931. The church continued through the war years and following an amalgamation with two other local churches, changed its local name to Scarborough Christian Fellowship. It had notable growth in the 1970’s and 1980’s. As the church grew it became clear that a larger facility would be needed and following many trials of faith, the former Claremont Methodist Chapel in Castle Road was bought and became Scarborough Christian Centre – a great new home for SCF. Within a year of moving into its new premises, great opportunities for new and expanding community outreach programmes became apparent. Following minor internal changes to support these programmes, the lower ground floor, the main hall and the main entrance were completely refurbished in 2005. The Oasis Family Centre was them created in the lower ground floor of the church and the bright newly glazed frontage became a local landmark.
We feel privileged to know that the Claremont Chapel that was built in 1860 by a very charismatic group of Methodist believers is still a vital part of God’s purposes in Scarborough today. Shortly after its construction in 1860, the lower ground floor had not only become and education centre, was also devoted to supporting families in the community that were not necessarily church members. SCF has now a very up to date facility, and we thank God that the ministry and facilities He has given us are a fine reflection of needs identified in those foundational days over 150 years ago. What about the Elim Churches? The Elim Pentecostal Church as an international network of churches was founded in 1915 in Monaghan, Ireland. It grew with amazing rapidity following mass crusade evangelism led by George Jeffreys, its founder. Elim is part of a unique world-wide Pentecostal movement now numbering over 1.25 million adherents. The name "Elim" is taken from the book of Exodus, where the nation of Israel ‘came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water, and three score and ten palm trees’ (Exodus 15v27). The oasis in the wilderness is a symbol for a church which preaches a message of rest and refreshing, salvation and healing for body, soul and spirit in today’s world. Elim’s distinctive is that as people come to personal faith as described in Acts, its members today will also be ‘baptised in the Holy Spirit’ as did the early Christians (Acts 2). SCF’s beliefs are therefore: The Bible We believe the Bible, as originally given, to be without error, the fully inspired and infallible Word of God and the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and conduct. The Trinity We believe that the Godhead exists co-equally and co-eternally in three persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that these three are one God, sovereign in creation, providence and redemption. The Saviour We believe in the true and proper deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His real and complete humanity, in His sinless life, in His authoritative teaching, in His substitutionary and atoning sacrifice through His blood shed, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His heavenly intercession and His second advent to receive His Church. The Holy Spirit We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son and the necessity of His work in conviction of sin, repentance, regeneration and sanctification, and that the believer is also promised an endowment of power as the gift of Christ through the baptism in the Holy Spirit with signs following. Through this endowment the believer is empowered for fuller participation in the ministry of the Church, its worship, evangelism and service. Mankind We believe in the universal sinfulness of all men since the Fall, rendering man subject to God’s wrath and condemnation. Salvation We believe in the necessity for salvation of repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, by which the sinner is pardoned and accepted as righteous in God’s sight. This justification is imputed by the grace of God because of the atoning work of Christ, is received by faith alone and is evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit and a holy life. The Church We believe in the spiritual unity and the spiritual priesthood of all believers in Christ and that these comprise the universal Church, the Body of Christ. The Ministry We believe in the ministries that Christ has set in His Church, namely, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and in the present operation of the manifold Gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the New Testament. The Ordinances We believe in the baptism of believers in water in obedience to the command of Christ and the commemoration of Christ’s death by the observance of the Lord’s Supper until His return. The Commission We believe that the Gospel embraces the needs of the whole man and that the Church is therefore commissioned to preach the Gospel to the world and to fulfil a ministry of healing and deliverance to the spiritual and physical needs of mankind. The Coming King We believe in the personal, physical and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign in power and glory. The Future State We believe in the resurrection of the dead and the final judgement of the world, the eternal conscious bliss of the righteous and the eternal conscious punishment of the wicked. |
