The Declaration presents the truth that underpins our core values. The “truths” we hold are God’s words, written in the Holy Bible, that we are all created in God’s image and possess inherent worth, not because of our looks, careers, achievements, or others’ opinions, but because God created us in His image with dignity and a divine purpose. We are made in God’s image to reflect His moral character traits—holiness, righteousness, love, peace, joy, patience, faith, goodness, gentleness, meekness, self-control, forgiveness, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, various skills, delegated power, and authority.

Though this image has been ruined by sin and rendered human beings depraved, guilty, and subject to the death penalty, in Christ Jesus our Savior, God creates us a new creature with a new nature after His likeness in righteousness and true holiness when we repent and believe in Him. We redefine how we love, treat, and forgive others, break down racial and ethnic barriers, knowing that we all came from the same Creator.

Knowing that “All men are created equal,” we believe that there is no room for avoidable inequalities, underlying socioeconomic factors, and injustices that prevent males and females from being valued equally. And because we are “endowed by our Creator,” governments or systems do not give us rights to life, liberty, and flourishing. They are gifts from God. Our life is valuable. Our freedom is found in Christ Jesus, “the visible image of the invisible God,” who suffered, died, was buried, resurrected, ascended, and is coming back in supreme power and great glory to the world He created to defeat evil and reign forever and ever. Herein lie our core values, and Jesus Christ has commanded us to spread this good news.