MEET OUR SERVANT LEADERSHIP TEAM
Pastor (Emeritus): Elder Claude Strayhorn Jr. and his wife Valerie- Elder Claude Strayhorn Jr. has been the pastor of The Church of the Living God and the Saints of Christ for over 36 years. His belief of serving others like Jesus Christ makes him sought out in the community. His desire is for Christians to grow in the word of God, and those who don't believe in Jesus Christ to accept him as Lord and Savior. In 2014, Claude and Valerie Strayhorn released their book/workbook called Important Questions to Ask before and After Marriage. If you are considering marriage or are already married, this book is a useful and vital resource in strengthening a marriage. This phenomenal book can be purchased at Barnes and Noble and on Amazon. Click the link to purchase here.
Senior Pastor: Elder Corey Johnson received Christ as his Lord and Savior at a young age under pastor Claude Strayhorn (grandfather). He graduated from Indiana University before accepting his call to the ministry in 2011. After accepting his call with the guidance of Elder Charles Wells, he decided to further his studies at Indiana Wesleyan seminary where he graduated with his M.A. in Ministry and Leadership in 2015. After completing his M.A. he went on to obtain his M. Div. Under the wings of Elder Strayhorn and Elder Wells. Corey went on to become the Youth Pastor,then Associate Pastor. As Associate Pastor, his greatest desire was (and still is) to see people receive Christ and connect the word of God to those outside the church and truly bring Matthew 25 alive. Over the years, he has served in many facets of the church. In the Spring of 2021, Elder Corey was promoted to Senior Pastor. We appreciate his leadership and service to the body during the challenging times of 2020 and will continue to follow his leadership, as he follows Christ.
What We Believe
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God and inerrant in the original writings. We believe that there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that the lost and sinful man must be saved, and that man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We believe in and practice the holy ordinance of water baptism, which signifies the believer's death, burial, and resurrection into new life with Christ Jesus, and the regular celebration of Holy Communion as commanded by our Lord.
We believe in the present ministry and baptism of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the unsaved; those that are saved into the resurrection of life and those that are unsaved into the resurrection of damnation. We believe Jesus Christ can be received through belief in his death, burial and resurrection which is available to all mankind.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that the lost and sinful man must be saved, and that man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We believe in and practice the holy ordinance of water baptism, which signifies the believer's death, burial, and resurrection into new life with Christ Jesus, and the regular celebration of Holy Communion as commanded by our Lord.
We believe in the present ministry and baptism of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the unsaved; those that are saved into the resurrection of life and those that are unsaved into the resurrection of damnation. We believe Jesus Christ can be received through belief in his death, burial and resurrection which is available to all mankind.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Vision and Mission
Vision: Matthew 25 Alive is committed to making a difference in the community by improving the environment around us. We want to be a church that serves diligently to provide those in need.
Being Kingdom minded, this church strives to share a message of support, hope, destiny, and purpose to the lives that are touched, in accordance with Matthew 25:35-36.
Mission: Winning souls for Christ by way of faith family and fellowship.
Mission: Winning souls for Christ by way of faith family and fellowship.