Our Beliefs | Our Staff

The Shared Life & Beliefs of the Chippewa Valley Church

“May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” [John 17:23 NIV]

These statements begin with the highest historical Christian essentials and move towards our common aspirations to be well-connected in Christ.

GOD: Father, Son and Holy Spirit - We believe in and we surrender our lives to the one God who made the heavens and the earth and who breathed life into humanity. We believe in the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – who is holy, loving, good, wise and almighty.

1. Our greatest love and ultimate loyalties are to the Father, who is over all and in all and through all; to Jesus the Son, who is both Lord and Christ; and to the Holy Spirit, who lives in us and empowers us to overcome the workings of the sinful nature (Acts 2:22-36, Romans 8:12-28).

2. The cornerstone of our faith is our belief in Jesus Christ. Everything we hold dear in our faith originates from his words and his way of life (John 3:16, John 12:47-48, Hebrews 12:2, 1 John 2:5-6).

3. Our eternal purpose is to know God, to glorify him as God, and let our life shine so others will see God (Matthew 5:14-15, Ephesians 3:19-20).

GOSPEL: the work of God - The culminating event of the Christian faith occurred between the time of the Passover and Pentecost at the end of the Gospels through the early part of the book of Acts. The suffering, testimony under accusation, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of the perfect Lamb of God is the substance of our faith. Many were eyewitnesses to the atonement, the risen Jesus as “both Lord and Christ,” and they heard the promise that was for everyone, even “those who are far off” (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 2:36, 39).

4. Our salvation totally depends on the work of God and nothing of our own merit. That work of God is one of mercy and grace. That work redeems those who hear, believe, and accept the Gospel message by repenting and being baptized into Christ through their faith in God’s power (Romans 2:7, Acts 2:22-37, Ephesians 2:8-10, Colossians 2:12).

5. Our earthly mission involves every member’s participation in bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to all parts of the world. As we go about this mission, our testimony must be consistent with a Christ-like life of doing good - bringing about healing as well as supporting and encouraging other Christians and churches around the world (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 10:37-38, Colossians 3:1-6).

6. Our motivation to love God, one another, and the lost is prompted by God’s love for us. God clearly demonstrated this love by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on a cross for our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:14-21, 1 John 3:16, Luke 10:27).

THE INDIVIDUAL: the posture of God’s children - As disciples of Jesus, we surrender our lives to his Lordship. We rejoice in our adoption as God’s children and each accept the call to be holy and follow the example of Jesus.

7. Our discipleship to Christ involves an understanding of and a commitment to surrender to His Lordship according to his terms - a daily decision to deny self and persevere (Luke 9:23ff; 14:33, Romans 2:7, Hebrews 10:32-39).

8. Our conversion begins by a belief in Jesus as God’s Son, and in his death and resurrection from the dead. Next comes an unmistakable repentance of sin, embracing discipleship, and a confession of “Jesus is Lord”. This leads to the gift of rebirth as we are immersed in water for the forgiveness of our sins and the promise that God will give us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us (John 20:31, Luke 14:25-33, Acts 2:38-41, Romans 10:9, Titus 3:3-5).

9. Our holiness in daily living is a command from God. We are called to be set apart from the world and the ways of the world (sanctified) and live as saints of God (Ephesians 1:1, Ephesians 2:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, 1 John 2:15-17).

10. We are committed to remembering the poor by demonstrating compassion to those who suffer by regularly doing whatever we can to lessen their burdens (Galatians 2:10).

COMMUNITY: sharing in fellowship and strengthening - As members of the body we are bonded at the time of our immersion in water that united us with Christ’s death and brought with it the promise of absolute forgiveness; the Holy Spirit and a new life; our hope of heaven and the gift of eternal life; the church body and our devotion to being members of the family of God. Moreover, we believe this will lead to congregations that glorify God, full of faithful disciples and growing in both spirit and number.

11. Membership in our congregation constitutes baptized disciples - men and women who have pledged to live their lives as saints of God in the holiness He requires. Our members agree to strive to be devoted to the “body life” of the church (Romans 12:10, Hebrews 3:12,13; 10:24-25).

12. The Lord’s Supper is a regular community action of sharing in the presence of Christ as a sacred event, breaking the bread and drinking the fruit of the vine (1 Corinthians 10:17-34).

13. Giving towards God is a fragrant offering and a sign of our thankfulness. Since everything we enjoy in life is a gift from God, we cheerfully and sacrificially contribute our finances to the church in order to see the ministry of Jesus advance throughout our communities and around the world (1 Corinthians 9:7-14, Philippians 4:14-19).

14. We also realize that our congregation has a unique history and current context. As a result, we will possess common convictions and practices that serve us in the present times much in the same way as consensus resolutions of Acts 15 helped preserve the unity for that time. Addressing some of the particular issues facing our church amidst culture tensions requires biblical reflection, spiritual discernment, and courage. As various concerns and issues surface, our leadership strives together with the congregation to clearly discern God’s wisdom and leading.

CVC Staff

I enjoy good coffee, good books, and spending good time with my family. Every now and then, I get pretty excited about basketball too.

Dustin Wood // Evangelist

I grew up in Milwaukee, WI and had a generic faith in God from early on. As a freshman in college, I was unsure of who I was and was wandering through life. During that time, I was invited to a personal Bible study where my faith in God and my understanding of Jesus began to grow. I became a Christian when I was 19 years old and loved the friendships that I made in the church.

After I graduated college, I was led to Minneapolis where I worked in Campus Ministry and met my wonderful wife, Stevi. God gave us two amazing children, and together, He led us to serve in various churches around the Midwest. In 2020, God brought us to Eau Claire, WI. Here we have had the opportunity to grow with and serve the Chippewa Valley Church. I enjoy good coffee, good books, and spending good time with my family. Every now and then, I get pretty excited about basketball too.

I sometimes enjoy puzzling, gardening, and camping. I always enjoy road trips, thrifting, and singing karaoke. But I live for long chats with friends over matcha lattes.

Stevi // Minister

As a daughter of ministers I am deeply grateful to have grown up in a home that was built on a love for Christ and a devotion to ministry. As a young teenager I studied the Bible to develop my own personal convictions and in 2004 Jesus washed away my sins forevermore at my baptism.

In 2011 I had the honor of marrying Dustin and we have been working side-by-side for churches around the midwest ever since. Our greatest earthly treasures, our two children, were born in 2015 and 2017 while we led the Fort Wayne Church of Christ.

In 2020 we landed in Eau Claire, Wisconsin where we plan to raise our family and serve the Chippewa Valley Church as long as God allows. I am a preacher's daughter who married a preacher and then found my own call to ministry. As a minister at CVC my passion is facilitating a rich women's ministry, creating opportunities for community outreach, and helping others to find their place in God's eternal story.

Ben Borland // Evangelist

Susan Borland // Minister

Steve Payne // Teacher

Steve Saindon // Shepherding Minister

Kelli Saindon // Children's Minister