History of Hidden Springs Church
What began as a bible study in a restaurant continues today known as Hidden Springs Church.
Pastors Bill and Jean Tulip left a pastorate in the hills of Kentucky to move back to Michigan and start a restaurant. It was Known as the “Churger House” in downtown Howell.
The down-home flavors and easy conversation began to build interest in starting a Spirit-filled church.
The Church charter was signed in 1967, and building began in spring of 1972.
The Church grew steadily and additions to the sanctuary to accommodate growth, fellowship hall and children’s wing.
A Christian School began in 1980 and eventually went through 12th grade. The School closed in 2009.
The Tulips also retired in 2009, officially passing the pastoral mantle to Matt Parks in 2010 and continues leading with Biblical teaching, humor, and a wide variety of life experiences.
Our Purpose & Why We Exist
Loving God,
Loving People,
It’s who we are, it’s what we do.
Because that’s Who He is…
And that’s what He does.
Our purpose at Hidden Springs is to Love God first and love His people the way He loves us.
When you experience His unconditional love, it not only consumes us, but it will flow to others around us.
Our Purpose & Why We Exist
Matt Parks
Pastor
Mary Vance
Community Outreach Director
Sherry Cunningham
Administrative Assistant
Our Purpose & Why We Exist
Holy Bible
The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible and inerrant (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26).
Trinity
There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and co-eternal (I John 5:7; Gen 1:26; Matt 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Heb 3:7-11).
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind and thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return in power and glory. (John 1:1,14, 20:28; I Timothy 2:5 & 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6;).
Virgin Birth
Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father, through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) in the virgin Mary’s womb; therefore, He is the Son of God (Matthew 1:18, 25; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18, 23-25; Luke 1:27-35).
Redemption
Man was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression he fell; his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Gen. 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21).
Salvation
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Rom 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22).
Repentance
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and receive salvation (Acts 2:21, 3:19; I John 1:9).
Sanctification
The ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life (I Thess 4:3, 5:23; II Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, II Thess 2:1-3, Romans 8:29, 12:1-2, Heb 2:11).
Jesus Blood
The Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death (I John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29).
Jesus Christ Indwells All Believers
Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives over to him thus making Jesus the Lord of their life as well as Savior. They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead (John 1:12; John 14:17, 23; John 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelations 3:20).
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
This is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth (Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5,2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6).
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of biblical parameters. (Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11,12:4-8; Ephesians 4:16; II Timothy 1:5-16, 4:14; I Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; I Peter 4:10).
The Church
We are the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus’ great commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 1:22, 2:19-22; Heb 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23).
Marriage
The Bible describes marriage as a sacred covenantal union between one man and one woman. This was instituted at creation and affirmed by Jesus. Sexual intimacy is a gift from God and is expressed solely within the covenant of a marriage. Sexual activity outside of marriage is inconsistent with God‘s desire and design. (Genesis 2:21-25) (Ephesians 5:31-33)
Two Sacraments
Water Baptism: Following professed faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38).
The Lord’s Supper: A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice, representing the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48; I Cor 10:16, 11:23-25).
Healing of the Sick
Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign, which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus’ work on the Cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit. (Psalm 103:2-3; Is 53:5; Mt 8:16-17;
Mk 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; I Cor 12:9, 28; Romans 11:29).
God’s Will for Provision
It is the Father’s will for believers to be successful in all areas of life. Because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on Earth. That should never prevent believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others.
Spiritual (John 3:3-11; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Rom 10:9-10).
Mental and Emotional (II Timothy 1:7, 2:11; Philippians 4:7-8; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3).
Physical (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:17; I Peter 2:24).
Financial (Josh 1:8; Ma 3:10-11; Lk 6:38; II Cor 9:6-10; Deut 28:1-14; Ps34:10, 84:11; Phil 4:19).
Resurrection
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; they that are saved to the resurrection of life and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation (Luke 24:16, 36, 39; Jn 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; I Cor 15:42, 44; Phil 1:21-23, 3:21).
Heaven
Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34; John 17:24; II Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; I Peter 1:4).
Hell
After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally tormented with the Devil and the Fallen Angels (Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8).
Second Coming
Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures (Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7).