These sincerely held religious beliefs have been the foundation of how we serve children and
families since our ministry’s beginning in 1895, and they continue to be our foundation for
today. These are the principles which guide us as we carry out our mission to provide hope and
healing for a brighter future by sharing the love of Jesus with children and families struggling
with life’s challenges. These statements are adhered to at Holston Home for Children (HHC) and
are firmly rooted in Scripture and the traditional Wesleyan theology.
We Believe…
The Bible: is the authority for our faith, teaching, and conduct. John Wesley wrote, “If there be
one falsehood in the Bible there may be a thousand; neither can it proceed from the God of
Truth.
God: is the one true, holy and living God revealed in three distinct persons: Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.
Jesus: truly God and truly man, in whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and
inseparably united. He is the eternal Word made flesh, the only begotten Son of the Father, born
of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. As a ministering Servant he lived, suffered
and died on the cross. He was buried, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to be with the
Father, from whence he shall return. He is eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us,
and by him all men will be judged.
The Holy Spirit: is God’s present activity in our midst. When we sense God’s leading, God’s
challenge, or God’s support or comfort, it’s the Holy Spirit at work.
Human Beings: Genesis 1:27 asserts that we’ve been made in the image of the Creator. Like
God we have the capacity to love and care, to communicate, and to create.
The Church: is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today.
It is a community of all true believers under the Lordship of Christ. We believe that the church is
called to share God’s love for every person by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. John
Wesley again wrote, “You have one business on earth- to save souls. I want the whole Christ for
my Savior, the whole Bible for my book, the whole church for my fellowship and the whole world for my mission field.” Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the Church exists for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers and the redemption of the world.
God’s Reign: The kingdom or reign of God is both a present reality and future hope. We believe
that wherever God’s will is done, the kingdom or reign of God is present. It was present in Jesus’
ministry, and it also is present in our world whenever persons and communities experience
reconciliation, restoration and healing.
Human Sexuality: Holston Home affirms the traditional Wesleyan stance on our Biblical belief
that God created humankind in His image: male (man) and female (woman). These two distinct,
complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27.) We affirm
every individual’s biological sex and refrain from any and all attempts to physically change,
alter, or disagree with an individual’s biological sex (Genesis 1:26-28, Romans 1:26-32, 1
Corinthians 6:9-11). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the very image of God
within that person.
Marriage: Holston Home affirms the traditional Biblical view of marriage, “All persons are
sexual beings whether or not they are married. Sexual relations and sexual intimacy are affirmed
only with the covenant of monogamous, heterosexual marriage” (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.).
Therefore, we believe that the term “marriage” has a single definition: the uniting of one man
and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as represented in Scripture (Gen 2:18-25).
Religious Character: We believe the Bible offers instruction on healthy living and creating a
wholesome environment which we strive to incorporate at HHC. At Holston Home we have
prayer, Bible studies, worship services and many other forms of devotion to the Lord in our
ongoing practices.
Final Authority for Matters of Faith and Conduct: This statement of faith does not exhaust
the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and authoritative Word of God that
speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of humankind, is
the sole and final source of all that we believe. Holston Home for Children’s Board of Directors
establishes its statement of faith and grants authority to its President/CEO for implementing it in
the ministry’s day to day operations.
