About Us

Our Story:

The Birth of Restoration Community Church of Sullivan

Restoration Community Church of Sullivan began as a humble backporch ministry in the summer of 2024. A few families gathered in a relaxed, grassroots setting, seeking authentic worship rooted in real relationships and genuine faith. Their desire for a church that was unpretentious, biblically grounded, and welcoming quickly resonated with others in the community.

On September 1, 2024, this small, faithful group moved into our current location at 214 S Graham Street. That first Sunday, 27 people gathered around in a circle—worshipping, praying, and singing in a collection of lawn chairs and old office chairs—as a simple yet powerful start. Dan Fultz and Mike Craig committed to providing pastoral care, and within days, a dedicated leadership team, known as the SLT (Senior Leadership Team), was formed consisting of Kurt VanDeursen (Chair), Sharon Stuart (Treasurer), Ashley Nadler, and Ben Kuhns. Volunteers stepped up to serve in teaching, hospitality, and various support roles, demonstrating the strong spirit of community and purpose that continues to define us. From the very beginning, our mantra has been to be a church that is real, biblically sound, relaxed, welcoming, and relevant. These core qualities have become the heartbeat of our mission and vision. Almost instantly, it became clear that many in our community—especially young families and those seeking authentic worship—longed for this kind of church.

Today, we continue to see God's hand at work, filling our church each Sunday with people eager to encounter Jesus in a relaxed and genuine environment. We are grateful for every moment of His leadership and excited about the future God is shaping for us.

Our story is still being written, but one thing remains certain: God's faithfulness and His divine purpose are at the heart of everything we do. We are humbled and honored to serve Him and look forward with joy to all He has planned for our church family.

OUR MISSION

Restoration Community Church of Sullivan exists to be a real and authentic community where people encounter Jesus, grow deeper in faith, build strong families, and live out the gospel - together and on mission.

OUR VISION

We see a church where everyone feels welcome - a place to explore faith, ask hard questions, and grow in Christ.

We're committed to raising up disciples, equipping families to thrive, and igniting a hunger to go deeper with God.

We're not here to impress - we're here to invest in lives, walk in truth, and see restoration one heart at a time.

STATEMENT ON BELIEFS

SCRIPTURE

Viewpoint: The Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.

Theology: We believe that the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Practice: We commit to studying, teaching, and applying the Word of God as the foundation of our faith and practice.

SALVATION

Viewpoint: Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Theology: We believe that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and that salvation is a gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Practice: We call all people to repent and believe in Jesus Christ, accepting His grace and following Him as Lord and Savior.

BAPTISM

Viewpoint:

Baptism is a vital step of obedience for every believer in Jesus Christ. It is a public declaration of faith and a testimony of the transformation through salvation. While not required for salvation, it is a meaningful act of devotion to Christ.

Theology:

Baptism symbolizes a believer’s union with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). Jesus was baptized and commanded His followers to do the same (Matthew 28:19-20). It is closely tied to repentance, faith, and the work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12), signifying inclusion in the body of Christ (Colossians 2:12).

Practice:

At Restoration Community Church of Sullivan, we practice believer’s baptism by immersion, following Jesus’ example. We encourage every believer to take this step when ready to publicly profess their faith. Baptism services are held regularly as a joyful celebration of commitment to Christ.

INFANT DEDICATION

Viewpoint:

Children are a gift from God (Psalm 127:3), and parents are called to raise them in faith. Infant dedication is a commitment before God and the church to nurture a child in a Christ-centered home. While not a means of salvation, it is an act of prayer and faith, seeking God’s blessing and guidance.

Theology:

The Bible affirms dedicating children to God, as seen in Hannah’s dedication of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:27-28) and Jesus’ presentation at the temple (Luke 2:22). Jesus welcomed and blessed children, affirming their value in God’s kingdom (Mark 10:13-16). Infant dedication reflects God’s sovereignty over a child’s life and the parents’ commitment to raising them in faith.

Practice:

At Restoration Community Church of Sullivan, we offer infant dedication as a time of prayer, blessing, and commitment. Parents publicly affirm their intent to raise their child in a Christ-honoring home, and the church pledges to support them. Dedications occur during worship services, emphasizing the role of the church family in nurturing the next generation.

MARRIAGE

Viewpoint:

Marriage is a sacred covenant designed by God to unite one man and one woman in a lifelong commitment of love, faithfulness, and mutual support. It reflects God’s plan for human relationships and serves as a foundation for strong families and a flourishing society.

Theology:

God established marriage as a union between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24). Jesus affirmed this design (Matthew 19:4-6), and Scripture teaches that marriage reflects Christ’s relationship with the Church (Ephesians 5:25-32). Husbands and wives are called to honor God through their marriage, demonstrating love, unity, and commitment.

Practice:

At Restoration Community Church of Sullivan, we uphold and celebrate biblical marriage. We prepare, support, and strengthen marriages through biblical teaching, counseling, and community encouragement. Our church officiates weddings that align with this biblical understanding and equips couples to build Christ-centered marriages.

LEADERSHIP

Viewpoint:

Church leaders are called to a higher standard of character, integrity, and spiritual maturity. Leadership is both a privilege and a responsibility, requiring a commitment to biblical truth, personal holiness, and servant-hearted ministry.

Theology: Scripture teaches that church leaders must be above reproach, demonstrating Christlike character (1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:6-9). Leaders are held to a higher level of accountability (James 3:1) and are called to serve with humility, integrity, and love (Mark 10:42-45). Leadership is not about power but about faithfully shepherding God’s people.Practice: At Restoration Community Church of Sullivan, we hold leaders—whether pastors, elders, deacons, teachers (including children and youth leaders) or ministry leaders—to biblical standards. They are accountable to God, one another, and the church body. We provide training, accountability, and encouragement to ensure leaders serve with wisdom, faithfulness, and a heart devoted to Christ and aligned with the values and beliefs stated here.

THE CHURCH

Viewpoint: The Church is the body of Christ, called to worship, grow, and serve together.

Theology: We believe that the Church is the community of believers, gathered for worship, discipleship, and mission (Acts 2:42-47).

Practice: We commit to meeting together regularly, growing in faith, and reaching the world with the gospel.

THE RETURN OF CHRIST

Viewpoint: Jesus Christ will return to establish His eternal kingdom.

Theology: We believe in the second coming of Christ (Acts 1:11), the resurrection of the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), and the final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).

Practice: We live with the hope and urgency of Christ’s return, striving to be faithful disciples and sharing the gospel until He comes.

COMMUNION: DINING WITH GOD

Communion is the meal where Christians look back remembering the sacrifice of Jesus in his death on the cross and his resurrection, look around recognizing this is the connecting meal of all believers to the real presence of God and one another, and look forward to the day when Jesus will return again to celebrate the wedding feast of the Lamb. Communion is also a time for all people, believers or not, to look inward on their current relationship with God to consider next steps.

Membership

What is it?

As Christians, we are all members of the holy, universal Church. As such, it is a matter of an individual’s heart and their

commitment to Jesus as their King and Savior that commits each believer to membership in the Body of Christ, the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 12:12-27

Church membership is a commitment to be part of a local community of believers on the same mission, with the same leadership, living life together and operating on an agreed upon approach to the Christian faith as the rest of that local congregation.

1 Cor 12:28

What is a Christ follower? A follower of Jesus is a person who has claimed as Lord.

-Romans 10:9-10

To make Jesus “Lord” means that that person is committed to letting Jesus be in charge of every aspect of his or her life. As such, that person will be:

Connecting with other follower of Jesus regularly

Growing in their relationship with God, their knowledge of Jesus’ teaching, worshipping God, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform their life

Reaching others who are outside of the church with the love of Jesus

Giving of their time, talents, and treasure

Serving with their gifts inside of the church and outside in the community (Acts 2:42-47)

What is a member of a local church?

A member of the local church then commits to the church and its leadership for their spiritual guidance. In modern terms, a member joins a church family and a church team, committing that the success and failure of the church will depend on each individual’s commitment to making the church everything that it should be. A member simultaneously commits to holding the rest of the church and its leadership accountable to the teachings of the Bible while submitting to the same standards themselves. As a family and as a team, each member will support and strengthen one another as they walk through life together (all the “one another” passages in the New Testament”)

What is church discipline?

When a member errs, willfully violating the teachings of the Bible as upheld by the local church, the church leadership will follow biblical guidance in restoring the church member to a place of wholeness and health, as prayerfully considered by all parties involved (1 Cor 5, Matthew 18:15-20)

Becoming a member

At RCC, local church membership is not an act of salvation, but rather a public declaration of a person’s decision to “join the team.” They will announce the lordship of Jesus, commit to living life together in Christ with the RCC community, and will become a team member with a voice in decision making (voting) and the overall direction of the church (through their participation).

RCC SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

At RCC, we have a Senior Leadership Team (SLT) whose goal is to prayerfully support the mission and vision of our church. Each member brings what they believe are their gifts, and they meet monthly to attend to the ministries and leadership of the church: