What is ERC?

Pastor James–I see ERC as a place where people can come and take refuge.  I see ERC as a safe place.  Life can get rough and tough.  We like to pride ourselves on how we can take care of ourselves, push through the pain, and stand on our own two feet.  But the reality is, we all need a place where we can relax, let our guard down, rest, and recharge.  I believe that Jesus created that kind of place everywhere he went.  He didn’t care about a person’s status, their money, their race, or their history.  I believe that’s the kind of place Jesus wants his church to be.

What does ERC believe?

It would be nice if there were a truly fitting label we could slap on here, but there isn’t.  I will try to cover the most basic areas, but for specific questions I am always just a phone call, or e-mail away.

• We believe in God:The Father, The Son, & The Holy Spirit. 
• We believe that God created all that is, and that science helps us to understand the processess and systems God established in creating the world we live in.
• We believe that God created us, as a human race, and as individuals; and that like a loving parent he surrounded us with everything we could ever want or need to fulfill both his hopes and dreams for us, and our own aspirations.
• We believe that because of a wrong-ness in our own hearts, however small it may seem, we have put ourselves in a position that is apart from God and all of the hopes and dreams he has for us.  Much like a branch without a tree, we have placed ourselves apart from support and in a position that will cause us to wither and die.
• We believe that God established what we call the Old Testament in order reveal the nature of our reality, and to lay the foundation for his saving work.  His divinely inspired word now serves to guide and mentor us in our present circumstances.
• We beieve that God took action to save us by putting on human form in the person of Jesus Christ, and that by his death and resurrection we can be restored to God’s original design, in the same way that a living branch can be grafted into a tree.
• We believe that God forcasted this work, and even began this work in the Old Testament, and fully completes his recorded guidance to us in the New Testament, combining Old Testament instruction with New Testament grace.
• We believe that God is strong enough to save us, but humble enough to provide us the option.
• We believe that through the Holy Spirit, living within us, we can have a heart to heart relationship with God; we go so far as to say that such a relationship is his number one desire.
• Finally, we beleive that as a good friend, we are compelled to share (*not force) this relationship with anyone who would care to know.  Afterall, who doesn’t want a great friend?

What can I expect if I visit ERC?

Expect to be welcomed.  Expect a casual and personal gathering–jeans, t-shirts, and everyday people wearing them.  You can expect a warm greeting, honest biblical teaching, and genuine care.

How can I help?

Jesus did one thing with his disciples more than anything else, and it’s a good place for all of us to start; he spent time with them.  As we spend time together our relationships grow, just as our spending time with Christ through prayer and scripture builds our relationship with him.  If you’d like to help ERC reach more people with a message of hope, peace, and love the first thing you can do is join us.  Our current meeting schedule is on our home page.  Feel free to e-mail or call too. (james@eastrivercommunity.org or 605-368-6903)

Where does ERC stand compared to other churches? 

There are a lot of different churches out there, and it can be confusing to know which churches are “safe,” and how they all relate to each other.  At ERC we recognize that there are good and not so good churches from all Christian traditions.  Our heart is to express our gratitude for what God has and is doing in our lives, and to do that by caring for those people that God has placed around us.

Along these lines, ERC carries on the tradition of our Nazarene denomination, which started with a mission to the poor in down town L.A. more than 100yrs ago, and has grown into an international mission to touch and heal people’s lives around the globe.

 

We hope you’ll join us in making our corner of South Dakota an even better place!