About Fisherman's Paradise

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Fisherman’s Paradise was founded by Pastor Dan McDonald in December of 2003. The name, Fisherman’s Paradise, is derived from Matthew 4:19; When Jesus was calling Peter and his brother Andrew to follow Him, He stated, “Follow me, and I will make you Fishers of Men”. Pastor Dan has never been much of an actual fisherman, however, in his heart he has always felt called to be a fisher of men. As a fisher of men, the world is a fisherman’s paradise, for there are lost people everywhere. Although the waters of the world are very difficult to fish, the calling to be a Fisher of men, women, and children far outweighs the difficulty of fishing for lost souls in a postmodern, secular progressive society. 

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Ministry Philosophy

Our Position:

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• We believe the Bible is totally inerrant and infallible in the original autographs, and reliable, modern translations of the Bible are an accurate reflection of those autographs.

       2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21

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• We believe in the triune nature of the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son – Jesus the Christ, and God the Holy Spirit.

       Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 1:8-14

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• We believe in a literal six day creation of the universe, galaxy, the earth, and everything therein by the Godhead.

       Genesis 1:1-2:3; Exodus 20:11

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• We believe Jesus Christ was born of a virgin in Bethlehem of Judea.

       Micah 5:2; 4; Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-6; Luke 2:1-19

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• We believe Jesus was sinless and thus qualified Him to be crucified for the sins of the world. ​​

       Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Jn 3:5

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• We believe God created all of mankind with free will.

       Genesis 2:15-17; Joshua 24:14-15; Ezekiel 3:16-21; 18:1-30; Matthew 7:24-27; James 1:22-25  

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• We believe that when all of mankind reaches the age of accountability that such has sinned against God and is held legally guilty before Him, and stands condemned by His divine Judgment.

       Romans 1:18-20; 7:9-12; 1 John 3:4

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• We believe the righteousness of God provided for mankind what God requires of mankind, which is the sinless blood of Christ, to acquit mankind of his legal guilt before God.

       John 3:16; Romans 3:21-26; Hebrews 2:14-18

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• We believe eternal salvation is offered by God to repentant sinners, exclusively through Jesus Christ.

       Matthew 4:17; Acts 4:11-12; 10:43; 1Timothy 2:5

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• We believe baptism is by full emersion in water, and is a “sinners” baptism.

       Romans 6:1-4

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• We believe the repentant sinner, after hearing and believing God’s word, is saved by grace, through faith, in Christ alone, at baptism, unto good works, and is spiritually regenerated, exclusively by Holy Spirit. 

       John 3:3-7; Acts 2:37-41; Romans 10:9-17; Ephesians 2:8-10

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• We believe the primary purpose of the church is to carry out the last command of Jesus, which is His redemptive agenda on the earth.

       Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:14-15 1 Corinthians 9:16

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• We believe one who is truly saved can choose to forfeit salvation.

       1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Galatians 5:4; the entire book of Hebrews

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• We believe that one who remains in Christ, can know, earnestly look forward to, and will have eternal security.

       John 3:36; 5:24; 6:40; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Ephesians 1:1-14; Revelation 21:27

 

 

Our Perspective:

Education

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• Children: At Fisherman’s Paradise we view the spiritual welfare of children with the utmost importance. It is our perspective that the children must be encouraged in the heart, equipped Biblically in the mind, and be accepted no matter what socio-economic background the child is from. That is why we have a competent staff which is equipped to lead the children’s ministry with great care and diligence.

 

• Teens: Today’s teenagers are faced with so many challenges and temptations and are bombarded with the religion of humanism (man is the measure of all things). Today’s teenagers have very intelligent questions concerning the existence of God, the origin of the universe, galaxy, earth, and the meaning of life, and many other questions that go unanswered. In addition, and as with our children’s ministry, we strongly believe that teens too must be encouraged in heart, equipped in the mind, and be accepted no matter what socio-economic background that one is from. That is why we have a competent staff to lead the teenage ministry.

 

• Adults: At Fisherman’s Paradise, we understand the hustle and bustle of life in the real world. There are so many pressing demands made upon adults from life that is seems as though there is little time for anything other than meeting those demands. It is our perspective that the adults must be encouraged in heart and equipped in the mind, Biblically. As we educate adults, we seek to make learning as easy as possible by providing prepared material that one can easily review from home. We provide a positive learning environment, in order to afford an opportunity for one to mature in Christ, and experience the blessings which come from such maturity. That is why we provide “skilled” teaching at all levels including the adult ministries.    

 

Pastoral Care

• People matter. People were always at the very heart of the ministry of Jesus. Although Jesus came to seek and save the lost, He was always healing someone or providing for people’s needs in some way. Within the scope of our resources, we desire to provide the most Christ honoring pastoral care and encouragement possible. Pastoral care, in short, is seeking to meet physical, psychological, and emotional needs of the flock. Pastoral care is an important aspect of our perspective. 

 

Worship

 

• It is our perspective that worship consists of five elements: praise, communion, offering, fellowship, preaching/teaching. 

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•  Praise Music: We make no apologies; we praise God with contemporary music. It is our perspective that we must prepare the spiritual soil for the younger generation, and the younger generations identify with contemporary praise music. We also believe the older generation must be inspired to offer praise as well; that is why we take pride in reformatting old hymns to modern praise music. Our desired outcome is to praise and exalt God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and inspire the worshipper to worship in spirit and in truth. 

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• Communion: It is our perspective that Holy Communion features the sinless body of Christ and the necessity and sufficiency of the blood of Christ for propitiation and atonement for the sins of the world. In addition, communion represents the literal, bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead and His ascension to the right hand of God. We celebrate Holy Communion every Lord’s day.

 

• Fellowship: Fellowship between God’s people is pleasing to God and is a testimony to the world of the loving nature of Christ. Fellowship should define God’s people, for fellowship is rooted and grounded in love, the key characteristic of the people of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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• Offering: Offering is also an act of worship. It is our perspective that giving an offering to God is a privilege and affords one the opportunity and blessing to honor God by doing so. In addition, the offering that one makes greatly assists Fisherman’s Paradise in carrying out the last command of Christ.

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• Preaching: At Fisherman’s Paradise, we are devoted to expository preaching. From our perspective, it is through expository preaching that people receive the whole counsel of God. This type of preaching was modeled by Ezra, the scribe, who was “skilled” in the Law of Moses. Ezra, (1) presented God’s word, (2) explained God’s word, (3) applied God’s word, and the people understood.

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• Teaching: Christians are commanded to grow in the knowledge of God; we are to be diligent to present ourselves as competent workmen to God as one who accurately handles the word of truth. Also, we have been commanded to be able to give a rational accounting for why we believe what we believe, and to contend for the faith once for all, handed down to the saints. That is why we teach (1) Bible and hermeneutics, (2) theology, (3) apologetics, (4) prophecy and eschatology, and more.  

 

Our Purpose:

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• Fisherman’s Paradise exists to lead lost people into an authentic relationship with Christ, and to be developing His followers to function effectively in the midst of an ever changing culture. In order to have an everlasting impact for Christ, both upon individuals and society.