New to Horizon

We want you to feel welcome at Horizon.  We have provided answers below to common questions by newcomers.  If you have any other questions, call us at the church office (209) 745-0700.  Our office hours are Monday-Thursday, 10am to 12 noon and 1pm to 5pm.   You can also email us at horizon@horizonweb.org or personally email any of the staff at the addresses shown on the Leadership page.

What should I expect at a Sunday service?

Expect to find an atmosphere that is casual and contemporary in both Galt and Lodi. You are welcome to a free cup of coffee from our Heart Rock Café. Bring it with you into the service if you choose. You can expect to have fun at our services even as you are being challenged spiritually. Our service includes a time of worship and praise where you can sit back and listen or actively enter in. Expect our pastors to share a biblically true message that is both real and relevant. The service normally is about an hour and 15 minutes in length.

What's the Welcome Home Counter?

Make sure to stop by the "Welcome Home Counter" during your first visit.  We have information available and a free gift for all First-Time Visitors.  

What do you have for my kids?

Nursery care and Children’s Church through 6th grade are available at all three services.  Expect all the children’s and student activities to be fun for the kids in a safe protected environment.

What should I wear?

Casual dress is the norm. Although we recommend you wear shoes, Pastor Tim frequently preaches barefoot.

What are the Campuses?

Each campus has its own feel and flavor; yet, all are Horizon.  Feel free to join us at any of our two locations: Galt, and Lodi.  

Horizon’s core values are based on Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Put simply, “Love God, love people.” This love is expressed through worship and praise, outreach to those who don’t know Christ, fellowship (living together in community), discipleship (helping Christian grow in their faith), and service to our community.

Statement of Faith

Our beliefs are summarized in our Statement of Faith, but are fully contained in the Bible. We believe that all our faith and practice should be consistent with the truth contained in Scripture.

We believe the Bible is God’s word given by divine inspiration, the record of God’s revelations of Himself to humanity (2 Timothy 3:16). It is trustworthy, sufficient, without error—the supreme authority and guide for all doctrine and conduct (1 Peter 1:23-25, John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is the truth by which God brings people into a saving relationship with Himself and leads them to Christian maturity (John 20:31, 1 John 5:9-12, Matthew 4:4, 1 Peter 2:2).

We believe in the one living and true God, perfect in wisdom, sovereignty, holiness, justice, mercy and love (1 Timothy 1:17, Psalm 86:15, Deuteronomy 32:3-4). He exists eternally in three coequal persons who act together in creation, providence and redemption (Genesis 1:26, 1 Peter 1:2, Hebrews 1:1-3)

The Father reigns with providential care over all life and history in the created universe. He hears and answers prayer (1 Chronicles 29:11-13, Matthew 7:11). He initiated salvation by sending His Son, and He is Father to those who by faith accept His Son as Lord and Savior (1 John 4:9-10, John 3:16, John 1:12, Acts 16:31).

The Son became man, Jesus Christ, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (John 1:14, Matthew 1:18). Being fully God and fully man, He revealed God through His sinless life, miracles and teaching (John 14:9, Hebrews 4:15, Matthew 4:23-24). He provided salvation through His atoning death in our place and by His bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 4:23-25). He ascended into heaven where He rules over all creation (Philippians 2:5-11). He intercedes for all believers and dwells in them as their ever-present Lord (Romans 8:34, John 14:23).

The Holy Spirit inspired men to write the Scriptures (2 Peter 1:21). Through this word, He convicts individuals of their sinfulness and of the righteousness of Christ, draws them to the Savior, and bears witness to their new birth (James 1:18, John 16:7-11, 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6, Romans 8:16). At regeneration and conversion, the believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13). The Spirit indwells, seals and gives spiritual gifts to all believers for ministry in the church and society (Romans 8:9-11, Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 12:5-8, 1 Peter 4:10). He empowers, guides, teaches, fills, sanctifies and produces the fruit of Christ’s likeness in all who yield to Him (Acts 6:31, Romans 8:16, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, Ephesians 5:18, 2 Timothy 3:16, Galatians 5:16, 22-23.

We believe God created an order of spiritual beings called angels to serve Him and do His will (Psalm 148:1-5, Colossians 1:16). The holy angels are obedient spirits, ministering to the heirs of salvation and glorifying God (Hebrews 1:6-7, 13-14). Certain angels, called demons, Satan being their chief, through deliberate choice revolted and fell from their exalted position (Revelation 12:7-9). They now tempt individuals to rebel against God (1 Timothy 4:1, 1 Peter 5:8). Their destiny in hell has been sealed by Christ’s victory over sin and death (Hebrews 2:14, Revelation 20:10).

We believe God created man in His own image to have fellowship with Himself and to be stewards over His creation (Genesis 1:26-28). As a result, each person is unique, possesses dignity and is worthy of respect (Psalm 139:13-17). Through the temptation of Satan, Adam chose to disobey God. This brought sin and death to the human race and suffering to all creation (Genesis 3, Romans 5:12-21, 8:22). Therefore, everyone is born with a sinful nature and needs to be reconciled to God (Romans 3:9-18, 23). Satan tempts people to rebel against God, even those who love Him (Ephesians 4:27, 2 Corinthians 2:11, Matthew 16:23). Nonetheless, everyone is personally responsible to God for thoughts, actions and beliefs and has the right to approach Him directly through Jesus Christ, the only mediator, between man and God (Romans 14:12, 1 Timothy 2:5).

We believe salvation is redemption by Christ of the whole person from sin and death (2 Timothy 1:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 5:23). It is offered as a free gift by to all and must be received personally through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:4, Ephesians 2:8-10, Acts 20:21). An individual is united to Christ by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 2:20, Colossians 1:27). As a child of God, the believer is acquitted of all guilt and brought into a new relationship of peace (Romans 5:1). Christians grow as the Holy Spirit enables them to understand and obey the word of God (2 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 4:15, 1 Thessalonians 3:12).

We believe the universal church is the body of which Christ is the head and all who believe in him are members (Ephesians 1:22-23, Romans 12:4-5). Christians are commanded to be baptized upon profession of faith and to unite with a local body for mutual encouragement and growth in discipleship through worship, nurture, service and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world (Acts 2:41-42,47, Luke 24:45-48).