Pastors John & Patty Elliott established Gulf Coast Foursquare Church in Hitchcock, Texas, in 1985 and Pastor John is presently serving as a Divisional Superintendent for the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Pastor John has served in and led various outreach ministries by teaching the practicals of evangelism to churches and youth groups around the country. He has traveled on many mission trips taking outreach leadership to mission churches throughout the United States and Internationally.

Pastor Elliott has been a guest instructor at Christ For the Nations in Dallas and the Bible Institute in Pula, Croatia. He has served in many levels of leadership including creating the Galveston Mardi Gras Outreach in 1984 which is still a thriving ministry to this day.

 

We Believe...
Jesus Christ is the Savior (Romans 10:9)
Jesus Christ is the Baptizer (Luke 3:16)
Jesus Christ is the Healer (Peter 2:24)
Jesus Christ is the Coming King (Acts 1:11)

To promote the establishment of the Kingdom of God in the hearts of men and women through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and, upon conversion of the heart, leading them to an abiding relationship with God through His Son, who summons all to become a disciple of Christ; then, seeing them ultimately being released to pursue and fulfill the perfect will of God for their lives by daily denying themselves, taking up their cross and following Jesus wherever and whenever He leads.

 

What We Believe

The credibility of one’s faith is based upon the object of their belief. Thus, the term “Foursquare” has reference to balance in doctrine as well as in lifestyle. Being a “Foursquare Gospel Church” is just that . . . holding a Bible-based foundation for our faith, as well as a Holy Spirit-anointed walk in faithfulness. In this section, you will find not only the doctrinal basis of the Foursquare Gospel, but also key resolutions which have been made by the Foursquare ministers and delegates at our Church’s annual convention. Moreover, there are certain stances which our Church holds regarding social and ethical issues.

By understanding “What We Believe,” one is better able to understand “Why We Act.”

Foursquare Doctrine

 

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible is God-inspired (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

THE ETERNAL GODHEAD
We believe God is Triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14).

THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that by voluntary disobedience he fell from perfection (Romans 5:12).

THE PLAN OF SALVATION
We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, signing the pardon of all who believe on Him (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

SALVATION THROUGH GRACE
We believe that we have no righteousness and must come to God pleading the righteousness of Christ (Ephesians 2:8).

REPENTANCE AND ACCEPTANCE
We believe that upon sincere repentance, and a wholehearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God (1 John 1:9).

THE NEW BIRTH
We believe that the change which takes place in the heart and life at conversion is a very real one (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).

DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
We believe that it is the will of God that we be sanctified daily, growing constantly in the faith (Hebrews 6:1).

BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that baptism by immersion is an outward sign of an inward work (Matt. 28:19). We believe in the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper by the symbolic use of the bread and juice of the vine (1 Corinthians 11:24, 25).

BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is to endue the believer with power; and that His incoming is after the same manner as in Bible days (Acts 2:4).

THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE
We believe that it is the will of God that we walk in the Spirit daily (Ephesians 4:30-32).

THE GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit has gifts to bestow upon the Christian; and that we should show spiritual fruit as evidence of a Spirit-filled life (1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Galatians 5:22)

MODERATION
We believe that the experience and daily walk of the believer should never lead him into extremes of fanaticism (Philippians 4:5).

DIVINE HEALING
We believe that divine healing is the power of Christ to heal the physically sick in answer to the prayer of faith (James 5:14-16).

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

CHURCH RELATIONSHIP
We believe it is our sacred duty to identify ourselves with the visible Body of Christ (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:25).

CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that all shall stand some day before the judgment seat of God, and there receive eternal life or death (2 Corinthians 5:10).

 

HEAVEN
We believe that Heaven is the glorious eternal home of born-again believers
(John 14:1-3; Revelation 7:15-17).

HELL
We believe that hell is the place of eternal torment for all who reject Christ as the Savior (Revelation 20:10,15).

 

EVANGELISM
We believe that soul winning is the most important responsibility of the Church (James 5:20).

 

TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We believe that the method ordained of God for the support and spread of His cause is by giving of tithes and freewill offerings (Malachi 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:7).