Welcome to the Hibbing Alliance Church! We exist to lead people to Christ and enable them to become fully committed to His purposes. Within the pages of this web site you will discover information, links, and events that are designed to help us accomplish this goal. And all of it is designed with you in mind. You see it doesn't matter whether you are a member of our church, an old friend, or someone just browsing the internet. We truly want to help you discover a richer relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ than you currently possess. Jesus, in responding to the question of what is the greatest commandment said, “The Lord our God is one Lord, and you shall love your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12: 30 & 31 NASV) But to truly understand how to love others we must first know how to love God (see below following greeting). So in response to God's love we want to introduce you to opportunities to get to know God more fully through information you discover here. Thank you for visiting our site and I hope opportunity presents itself that you can visit us in person. Please click the link below for a map and driving instructions to our church. Map of Hibbing Alliance Church: 4220 3rd Ave W, Hibbing, MN 55746 Pastor Kevin Knowing God God Wants a Personal Relationship With Us: It was always God's intention that we would have a personal relationship with Him. We are told in the Bible in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. As we continue to read we discover that He did all this in six days. And it was on the 6th day that he created humans. “Then God said let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Gen.1:26) Which our Triune God did. “And God saw all that He had made, and behold it was very good.” In other words it was pure and flawless (without sin or the curse of sin). Genesis goes on to tell that the newly created humans, Adam and Eve, would take daily walks with God in the Garden of Eden. In other words they had a personal relationship with God. Unfortunately it did not last very long. God told these two that they had free reign and access to everything. The only rule was to leave two trees alone that sat in the middle of the Garden. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and The Tree of Eternal Life. As in any relationship if you truly love someone you put restrictions on yourself to demonstrate that love. The Personal Relationship With God Is Broken: God warned Adam and Eve that if they ate the fruit from either of these trees they would die (meaning the relationship would be broken). Yup, you guessed it, they took fruit from the Tree of Knowledge and the result was that they were kicked out of the garden and humanity was cursed with sin...the knowledge of evil. And that sin separates all humanity from God. The Problem: The Bible says in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (no relationship with Him) Then it goes on to say in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death (separation), but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Attempts: We hear of eternal life and we make all kinds of attempts to recover that relationship with God that will last forever, i.e., Good works, Religion, Philosophy, Morality, etc... But the Bible says in Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that He will not hear.” God's Love for Us: Humanity cannot restore the broken relationship with God. No matter what we do. Because we are full of sin and God cannot accept sin. There must be a payment for the penalty of sin. And God provided the payment... “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God Invitation to a Restored Relationship: Jesus Christ, God's Son paid the penalty for our sin when He died on the cross over 2000 years ago. But He defeated death and rose from the grave and has the power to forgive sins and restore people to a personal relationship with God the Father through Himself, God the Son. The Bible shares Jesus words in Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me.” Jesus has done all the work and invites us to confess our sin and receive Him as our Savior. Here's How to Receive Jesus and Restore the Broken Relationship With God: 1. Admit your need. (I am a sinner) 2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent). 3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. 4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior) How to Pray: If you desire to have a personal relationship with God but are unsure what to do. With sincerity pray the following prayer. The words are printed for you but the intent must be your own... Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I know invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus name. Amen God's Assurance of Acceptance: If you prayed this prayer the Bible declares... (Romans 10:13) “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” and “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9) What Now? If you have prayed that prayer please tell someone and get involved in a church that teaches about Jesus Christ as the only Son of God. Contact us and we will send you some materials and try to help you get plugged into a church near you. If you are in the Hibbing area you are certainly invited to join us. Welcome to the Family of God!