Michael Atherton, born in Galveston, Texas in 1962, never dreamed that he would end up as a senior pastor and seasoned minister of twenty years. He grew up in a traditional church setting, but as a teenager his personal encounter with God led him to a crossroads that resulted in kingdom service to God. In 1980 he left home to go to school and prepare for ministry, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Upon graduation, Michael and his wife Kim ministered on the mission field and worked in youth ministry. God spoke to them on the mission field and said your calling is in America. Michael and Kim returned to America and began a church with a small group of people. Today this work has grown to encompass regular services, outside speaking engagements, children’s ministry, and youth ministry, to name a few. His teaching and preaching is marked by a freshness from God that is real, practical, and full of hope. He, his wife Kim, and their three children currently reside in Wharton County, just southwest of Houston, Texas.
Michael Atherton, Sr. Pastor: cilcpastormike@sbcglobal.net
Paul & Becki Stieb, Youth Pastor’s: cilc@sbcglobal.net
Richie & Dawn Zahradnik, Children’s Pastor’s: dzxlr8@sbcglobal.net
Kim Atherton, Financial Administrator: cilc@sbcglobal.net
Dawn Zahradnik, Secretary: dzxlr8@sbcglobal.net
Chesley Sharp, Office Assitant: cilc@sbcglobal.net
Michael Sherrill, Worship Leader: cilcworshipleader@hotmail.com
Craig Gingles
Shelly Atherton
The Bible is the inspired word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Thes. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21)
Our God is one, but manifested in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal. (Phil. 2:6)
God the Father is greater than all; the sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter. (John 14:28; John16: 28; John1: 14)
The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning. (John1: 4; John 1:18; John 1:1)
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal. (John 15:26)
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. “ …all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God ….” “ As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed his blood to redeem and restore man back to God. (Rom. 5:12; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 3:10; 1 John 3:8) Salvation is the Gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God. (Eph. 2:28)
Man’s first step toward salvation is Godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal life. (2 Cor. 7:10; John 3:3-5; 1 John 5:12)
Baptism in water by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. (Matt. 28:19; Rom.6: 4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36-39) The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted, to wit “ On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the New Birth. The initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance accompanies this experience. (Matt. 3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8, 2:38-39, 19:1-7,2:4)
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ’s return. (Heb. 12:14; 1Thes. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Cor.1:30)
Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and is the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today. (James 5:14,15; Mark 16: 18; Isa.53: 4,5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24)
The angels said to Jesus’ disciples, “ … this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in a manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” His coming is imminent. When He comes, “ … the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air….” (Acts 1:11; 1 Thes. 4:16-17)
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests. He shall reign a thousand years. (Rev. 20:6)
The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly lost in the Lake of Fire and therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms ”eternal” and “everlasting”, used in describing the duration of punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God. (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19:20)