Heritage Bible School is sponsored by a number of Conservative Mennonite Churches of Southeastern U.S.A. Interest in winter Bible School in the south was expressed in the 1984 annual meeting of the leaders of the above churches, and the first Bible School was held in the winter of 1986 at Whispering Pines Mennonite Church, Honea Path, South Carolina. The Bible School was moved to its present location in 1989.

The school is under the directorship of a seven member board; each member is elected from and by the ordained brethren of the above churches who are committed to sponsor Heritage Bible School. The annual meeting is held the last Saturday of September, at which time there is a business meeting, elections and annual report.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

God and his Word

1. We believe in one God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matt. 28:19; Gal. 4:4-6; Eph. 2:6, 13-18; I John 5:1, 13.
2. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Luke 1:35; Matt. 1:20-25
3. We believe in the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit: that He convicts of sin, effects the new birth, gives guidance in life, empowers for service and enables perseverance in faith and holiness. John 16:7-11, 13; I Cor. 3:16.
4. We believe that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, revealing God and His will in both the Old and New Testaments and that the Old Testament writings are to be interpreted in conjunction with the fulfillment of the salvation plan as recorded in the New. It is authentic in its matter, authoritative in its counsels, inerrant in the original writings, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. Ex. 4:12; II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:20, 21.

Man and Salvation

1. We believe that in the beginning God created all things. He made man in His own image, with a free will, a moral character, and a spiritual nature. Col. 1:16, 17; I John 1:1-13.
2. We believe that man, through unbelief and disobedience fell into sin, bringing depravity and death upon the human race. Man as a sinner is self-centered and self-willed, unable to redeem himself. Rom. 3:10-18, 23, 5:12.
3. We believe that there is one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus, Who shed His blood and died on Calvary, to redeem us from sin, was resurrected from the dead, ascended to heaven, and is sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. John 3:16; Heb. 9:12-14, 10:12; Col. 1:20-22.
4. We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ—a free gift bestowed by God on all who believe in Christ, repent of their sins, are born again, and walk in newness of life. Eph. 2:8, 9; John 3:3,5; Rom. 6:1-7, 10:9, 10.

      The Church

1. We believe that the church is the body of Christ. All those who are born again and walk in obedience to the Word of God, constitute the true church of which Christ is the Head. Eph. 1:22, 23; Col. 1:18, I John 1:7; I Tim. 3:15.
2. We believe that God provides the church with the necessary leadership, such as bishops, ministers, evangelists, and deacons, to shepherd the flock, teach the Word, administer the ordinances, and lead the church in the exercise of discipline. Eph. 4:11-16.
3. We believe that Christ commissioned the church to: evangelize the world, make disciples of all men and teach them to follow Him in a Biblical walk of life, and to minister to the needs of all the people. Mark 16:15; Matt. 28:19, 20; I John 3:17.
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Church and State

1. We believe that the church and state are ordained of God as separate entities in His divine plan, and that believers should honor rulers and be subject to their authority and pray for them. Rom. 13:1-7; I Pet. 2:13-17.

      Ordinances of the Church

1. We believe that those who repent and believe should be baptized with water as a symbol of: new birth, baptism with the Spirit, cleansing from sin, commitment to Christ, and separation from evil. Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; 10:44-48; I Pet. 3:2
2. We believe that the church should observe the communion of the Lord’s Supper as symbolic of His broken body and shed blood, in a common union of believers with Christ and one another. I Cor. 10:16-21, 11:23-26.
3. We believe that Christ taught both by example and by commandment: that feet washing is a symbol of brotherhood, service, and humility, and should be observed literally. John 13:3-17.
4. We believe that the holy kiss should be practiced as a symbol of Christian love among the believers, brother with brother, and sister with sister. Rom. 16:16; I Pet. 5:14.
5. We believe that God has established unique roles of authority for man and woman. Therefore, a man’s head is to be uncovered in praying and prophesying, and the woman’s head is to be veiled, and her hair uncut, signifying their acceptance of God’s order. I Cor. 11:1-16.
6. We believe that the anointing with oil, accompanied by the prayer of faith, is honored by God in the healing of the sick, in accordance to His will. James 5:14, 15.
7. We believe that marriage is intended by God to be the union of one man and one woman for life, and that the believer shall marry only in the Lord. Heb. 13:4; Mark 10:6-9.

Discipleship

1. We believe that the unrepentant, fallen brother or sister shall be excommunicated from the body of Christ in the spirit of love, and shall be received back into the fellowship upon repentance and amendment of life. I Cor. 5:1-13; II Cor. 6:14.
2. We believe that the personal appearance and lifestyle of Christian men and women should be modest, free from worldly fashion and adornment, maintaining simplicity in all areas of life, not using tobacco, beverage alcohol or abusing drugs, living as strangers and pilgrims in this world; seeking a city not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Rom. 12:1, 2; James 4:4; I John 2:15-17.
3. We believe that Christians should not take part in any destruction of human life, nor in any acts of retaliation. Instead, they should live a nonresistant lifestyle, demonstrating the love of Christ in their daily walk. Matt. 5:39-46; John 18:36; Rom. 12:19-21.

      Last Things

1. We believe that in the interval between death and resurrection, the righteous will be with Christ in a state of conscious bliss and comfort, but that the wicked will be in a place of torment, in a state of conscious suffering and despair. Luke 16:19-31, 23:43; Phil. 1:23; II Cor. 5:1-8; I Thess. 5:10; II Pet. 2:9 (R.V.).
2. We believe in the triumphant second coming of Christ when He will consummate the age. His coming will resurrect the dead, transform the living saints and judge the just and the unjust. The unrighteous will go to eternal damnation with the devil and his angels, and the saints will enjoy eternal life with God and the Lord Jesus Christ. I Thess. 4:13-17; I Cor. 15:35-58; II Pet. 3:3-13; Rev. 20:10-15; Rev. 21:1-7.