About us

The “Evangelical Christian Church Ephphatha” is a religious association formed by a group of evangelical faith believers desiring to live the Christianity of apostolic times, in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.

We believe, therefore, that the Bible is the Word of God and the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and conduct. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who died for our sins and was raised for our justification. We believe that the only way to be saved is to repent from our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour.

We actively participate in the weekly meetings of prayer, praise, worship and Bible study to develop our spiritual growth and to strengthen the fellowship with other believers who share the same faith.

The Evangelical Church Effatà is associated with “Elim Churches in Italy“, which in turn are affiliated with: “Elim Pentecostal Churches” in UK, the British Pentecostal movement founded in 1915 by the evangelists Welsh George and Stephen Jeffreys.

The movement began in Italy in September 1993 but is already well established all over the country where it counts with over one hundred churches. Every year many others are added to this number and around the world it has more than 9,000 churches.

“Elim” is the name of the oasis in the Sinai desert with 12 springs and 70 palm trees, where the Israelites camped tired, dusty, hot and thirsty (Exodus 15:27). For many people, life is like a desert and “Elim Churches” wanted to be like an oasis in which these people find refuge and refreshment.

 

What we believe:

1. The Bible: We believe and accept the entire Bible as the inspired Word of God, infallible and authoritative rule of faith and conduct (1 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:21, Romans 1:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13).

2. Creator God: We believe in the one true God, eternal, almighty, Creator and Lord of all things, and that in His unity there are three distinct coequal, co-eternal Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Ephesians 4:6, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:4-6, 1 John 5:17).

3. The Lord Jesus Christ: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and He assumed human nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary and He is true God and true man. (John 1:1,2,14, Luke 1:34,35, Matthew 1:23). We believe in His sinless life, in His authoritative teaching and His miracles, in His substitutionary and atoning sacrifice, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father as the only Mediator and Intercessor, His imminent personal, physical and visible return to the earth to establish His kingdom in power and glory. (1 Peter 2:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Acts 2:22, 1 Peter 3:18, Romans 1:4, 2:24, 1 Corinthians 15:25, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 7:25).

4. The Holy Spirit: We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and that is omnipresent and active in the work of conviction and regeneration of sinners, and of sanctification and guidance to believers. (John 14:26, 16:8-11, 1 Peter 1:2, Romans 8:14).

5. The Angels – The Devil: We believe in the existence of angels, created all pure and that some of them rebelled against God under the influence of Satan. We believe in the devil’s personality that with his influence caused the fall of man, and now seeks to destroy the faith of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Genesis 3:1-15, Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13, Ephesians 6:11-12, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:18, John 13:2).

6. The Fall of Man: We believe that man was created by God in His image and His likeness with upright and perfect morality that fell by voluntary transgression. Consequently all the men are separated from God, they have lost their original righteousness, they are evil and without spiritual life. (Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-21).

7. The Atonement: We believe that the God’s answer to man’s sinful state is in the death on the cross of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, whose sufferings and shed blood have made full atonement for the sins of the whole world, both original and current, and there is no other way to salvation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Galatians 1:4, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Hebrews 9:25,26, 1 Peter 1:19-20).

8. The salvation of man: . We believe that salvation is obtained through repentance of our sins and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This experience is also known as the new birth and it is an instantaneous and complete work of the Holy Spirit, so the believing sinner is regenerated, justified and adopted into the family of God and becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus and heir of eternal life . (John 3:3, Acts 2:38, Ephesians 2:8, Titus 2:11, 3:5-7, 1 Peter 1:18,19,23; 1 John 5:1).

9. The Church: We believe in unity and spiritual priesthood of all believers in Christ, who comprise the universal Church, the Body of Christ, the dwell of God for His Spirit with the divine task of accomplishing His Great Commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the joyful assembly and the Church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven. (Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:22, Hebrews 12:23).

10. The Water baptism: We believe in the water baptism by immersion, celebrated in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit to those who repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:38,39, 10:47,48, Romans 6:4,5, Colossians 2:12, Mark 16:16).

11. The Lord’s Supper: We believe that the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion, celebrated under both species of bread and wine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, a remembrance of His suffering and his death and an announcement of his return, and is administered to anyone who has been baptized according to the rules of the gospel and live a rigthful and holy life before God and society. (2 Peter 1:4, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29, Luke 22:15-20, Matthew 26:26-28, Acts 20:7).

12. The Sanctification: We believe in the necessity of sanctification, which is the act of separation from all that is evil and of dedication to God. God offers to every believer in Christ the possibility to purify his own heart and to be wholly sanctified  through the work of Holy Spirit, the blood of Jesus Christ and the Word of God (John 17:15-19, Acts 15:8,9; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, 5:23,24, Hebrews 2:11, 10: 16-19, Romans 12:1,2).

13. The baptism in the Holy Spirit: We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit as an experience subsequent to the new birth, which gives the believer power to witness effectively for Christ. Through this provision,  the believer is empowered for a more complete participation in the ministry of the Church, worship, evangelism and service. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is received by faith and is manifested by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit enables and with accompanying signs. (Acts 1:4,5,8; 2:1-4, 8:12-17, 10:44-46, 11:14-17, 15:7-9, 19:1-7).

14. Gifts and ministries: We believe in the Gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers exercised for the edification, exhortation and encouragement of the Christian community. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Galatians 5:22, Hebrews 13:15, Romans 12:1). We also believe in the ministries of the glorified Lord, namely, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, as a means of guiding, teaching and edification. (Ephesians 4:11-13).

15. Divine healing. We believe in divine healing, according to the Holy Scriptures, which is accomplished through prayer, anointing with oil and the laying on of hands. . It ‘s a privilege of every believers to make his by faith the unfailing promises of our Heavenly Father. (Exodus 15:26, Isaiah 53:4,5, Matthew 8:16,17, 1 Peter 2:24, Psalm 103:3, Mark 16:17,18, James 5:14-15). 8:16,17, 1 Peter 2:24, Psalm 103:3, Mark 16:17,18, James 5:14-15).

16. The resurrection of the dead: We believe in the resurrection of the dead and the final judgment of the world, the eternal conscious happiness and glorification of the redeemed and the eternal conscious condemnation of the wicked. (Matthew 25:46, Mark 12:18, Acts 17:30-32, Romans 8:17,18,29,30, 1 Corinthians 15, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10, Revelation 20:4-6,11 – 15; 21:8).