These are answers to questions that people often ask us when they're looking for a new church. We at the CIC feel it is important to understand a church's doctrinal statement, philosophy of ministry, as well as vision and values before committing to a particular church fellowship. There are many churches and you should be sure the one you select is a good fit for you. We encourage you to worship together as a family.

What time do you meet on Sunday?
10:00am

Is there a dress code for attending?
No, there is no dress code.  We want you to be able to come and feel comfortable. For some people that means dressing up and for others that means wearing what they would any other day.  The purpose is to focus less on the outward appearance and more on the attitude of the heart.

How do I get involved?
1. Attend an event or ministry outside of the weekend service.
2.  Join a Bible Study.  These are small groups where you study the Bible, learn to pray while getting to know others who will support you and your family.
3.  Volunteer to serve. There are plenty of opportunities.  This is one of the greatest ways to feel connected and to get to know other people in the church.

What do you mean when you say: "service" instead of "mass"?
Our weekend services at the CIC are structured, organized, and planned out yet don't follow a liturgical format.  A typical service would include a message, music, prayer, reflection, monthly communion, and other opportunities for worship and spiritual encouragement.

What do you mean when you say: "pastor" instead of "father" or "priest"?
The pastors in the church are those who have been gifted and appointed with the specific purpose of caring for the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of the community (shepherding).  This role is done alongside those in the congregation rather than from a place of superiority over those in the congregation.

Do you baptize infants? What is infant dedication?
We believe baptism to be an outward expression of the inward change that has taken place when someone has put his or her life in Christ's hands (when he/she has accepted Christ's sacrifice for sin and embraced His new life).  This is the result of a choice that an infant cannot make.  We do celebrate baby dedication, which is an opportunity for parents of a child, as well as the church community, to publicly commit to raising an infant in a way that would encourage him/her to love and serve the Lord.  If infant baptism is important to a family, they are encourage to talk with one of the pastors.

Do I need to be a member to attend events?
What does membership mean at the CIC? Membership is not required for any CIC events.  While we do hope that those who come to the CIC will choose to commit themselves to the church community, we don't require anyone to be a member. Some find personal value in officially being a member and we encourage them to go through the membership process.  Others are regular attendees who are completely committed the church community and we appreciate their involvement.  We view membership as one way of expressing commitment to the specific community that God has brought you into.

Do you do 1st communion and confirmation? If not, why not?
We believe that entering into a saving relationship with Jesus is a personal, individual decision that is to be taken seriously.  It is not a step that everyone is expected to take at a certain age, but flows out of an understanding of who Christ is and what He has done.  The CIC believes that communion is a symbolic remembrance of what Christ has done.  We encourage everyone who understands the significance of the sacrament to participate. We leave it up to the individual family to assess whether or not they want their children to participate. Though we don't do 1st communion and confirmation, we do consider it important to aid families in teaching children the truth in God's word.  We have weekly classes during the weekend services and throughout the week, where children of all ages can attend and learn about the Bible and God's plan for people's lives.

What is the CIC’s view of the Bible?
We believe the Holy Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God in thought and word.  The Scriptures are authoritative, infallible, and inerrant in the original writings.  We believe that God reveals Himself in many ways, but that the Scripture provides a grid with which we can evaluate Truth.  From management decisions to weekend services, the Bible is foundational in the life of the CIC.

Does the CIC believe there is a real Satan and a real Hell?
We take the Bible literally when it says that Satan is the enemy of the church and will ultimately be punished by God.  We also believe that God's Word regarding the consequence of hell for those who have not accepted the gift of life in Christ is true and therefore very serious.  These truths give us urgency in reaching those who don't know Christ, as well as recognition of our need for God's help in everyday life.

Is the CIC a member of a denomination? Are you affiliated with any other churches?
GBCC is a non-denominational church, which means that it does not espouse the doctrinal views of any one denomination.  That is not to say that we support any and every belief or that we don't have doctrinal beliefs. Instead, it means that rather than being tied to set doctrinal views, we evaluate the Bible, the history of the church and build our beliefs based on these. Our Elders are chosen because of their varied backgrounds and affiliations.   We are not affiliated to any churches, though we communicate with many churches in Cochabamba and elsewhere.

What are the CIC’s views on the gifts of the Spirit?
We believe the Holy Spirit gives gifts to every member of the body and that it is our responsibility to be available to be used in the way God desires.  While some churches focus on “sign gifts” such as tongues and healing, we place our corporate emphasis on the primary issues listed in our Statement of Faith while encouraging each individual attendee to pursue maturity in the faith, utilizing those gifts given to them by the Lord on the day of their salvation, to promote unity within the body.  

Why do we not see many "Christian symbols" around the church building?
A symbol is only meaningful if it directs people to the heart or core of the symbol.  We live in a culture where the symbol has often become the central focus.  You will find symbols around the church (the crosses on the south and west sides of the sanctuary), but the greatest testament to who God is and what He has done is the people that can be seen all around the church property at almost any hour of the day, every day of the week.