Church & Elders
The HeartCry Missionary Society is not a para-church organization, rather, we are a ministry under the authority and supervision of a local New Testament Church and its elders.
We call ourselves a society simply because the word denotes a proper association of people with similar interests, purposes, or passions. Those of our church and those who faithfully support this ministry have one abiding purpose: That God’s Name be great among the nations through the redemption of men and the building up of Christ’s bride.
Our church is the First Baptist Church of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. It is a Southern Baptist Church concerned with the restoration of the true Gospel and the biblical principles that ought to govern the local church. The elders serving at First Baptist Muscle Shoals are Jeff Noblit, Phil Baggett, Andy Bolding, Steve Bradley, Donnie Dulaney, Jim Fowler, Alvin Lynch, Bill Newman, Michael Statom, and David Wigginton. The church may be contacted at 256-381-7495. The following is a brief list of some of the distinctives toward which our church and its elders are striving:
#1-GLORY OF GOD FOCUSED
The glory of God is everything! The centerpiece of the universe for time and eternity is for God to be seen and praised for His matchless perfections! For all eternity, those in hell will bring Him glory as they suffer eternal wrath under His perfect justice (Revelation 15:1-4). Those in heaven will bring Him glory as they inherit paradise as trophies of perfect grace. Every individual Christian and every local church family must have a continual, intentional, and passionate focus on the glory of God! (I Corinthians 10:31, Ephesians 3:21)
#2-CHRIST CENTERED
God is most glorified through the Person and work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. By His unrivaled character and work (merit), He has redeemed for Himself a people (the Church). As His church, we strive above all things to know Him, love Him, praise Him, and serve Him. It is by, through, and for Him that we exist. It is our goal to keep Him the honored center of all that we say and do! "In all things He must have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).
#3-BIBLE SATURATED
It is our desire to be thoroughly biblical in the totality of our lives. Our purpose, our methods, and our goals must be from sound, biblical teaching. We reject the modern concept that biblical goals can be achieved by man-centered, man-empowered methods. Our theology must dictate our methodology.
#4-EXPOSITORY BIBLE PREACHING
The hub of the wheel of God's church is the preaching of the word of God in the power of the Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-4:2). The preacher must strive to be thoroughly biblical. He must avoid the temptation of misusing Scripture to support a man-centered or culturally relevant message. The biblical text should be preached exegetically in its historical and grammatical context, giving application for today's world. The pulpit is indispensable to the church's growth in knowledge, holiness, and love. It cannot and should not be replaced or diminished.
#5-BIBLICAL WORSHIP
The music department strives to lead the church family to glorify God and to edify one another through singing and musical instruments, ministering with spiritual passion and doctrinal integrity, while maintaining high standards of musical excellence. The worship is to reinforce the faith through song and to express congregational praise and worship to Christ, our Audience. We are sovereign grace in doctrine, Baptist in polity, and charismatic in worship.
#6-BIBLICAL CONVERSION AND ASSURANCE
A biblical understanding of regeneration and conversion has been lost by the modern church. Salvation requires hearing the Gospel accompanied by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-8; Ephesians 2:5). This supernatural work, called regeneration, produces repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:20-21). The truly saved person perseveres in faithfulness (Philippians 1:6; Matthew 7:16-20). This perseverance is the basis of assurance. The man who walks in a continual state of carnality with no divine discipline can have no assurance of sonship (Hebrews 12:8), no matter how adamantly he professes his allegiance to Christ.