About
Liberty Grace Community Church
Liberty Grace Christian Church (later renamed Liberty Grace Community Church in September 2011) was established on July 10, 2011 under the leadership of Bishop Langford and loving support of Lady Carolotta Forester-Langford. God blessed Bishop Langford with a vision for broken people to be healed and set free in Jesus’ holy name. With that vision, God entrusted him with the responsibility to begin the work of bringing it into fruition by gathering a church body that embodied that very vision.
Bishop Langford established LGCC from humble beginnings by conducting staff meetings, bible studies, and prayer meetings at the home of his daughter Evangelist Dionne Langford. Eventually the church transitioned to the Schertz North Community Center Located at 3501 Morning Dr, Cibolo, TX.
LGCC started with a core group of 19 who assisted Bishop Langford with extraneous duties of operating a church. Shortly after, Bishop Langford established the Ministerial Alliance later renamed the Ministerial Council and the Church Council which serves as the highest Church Tribunal. Currently, LGCC is under the sponsorship of Redeeming Grace Christian Church and receives resource and financial assistance from the San Antonio Baptist Association (SABA) and Baptist General Convention of Texas.
After 27 months of serving and fulfilling God’s purpose, LGCC has been blessed to grow into a 46 member congregation, Bishop Langford has baptized 4 of God’s children and licensed 1 minister, developed 18 ministries within the church, and created an environment that is spirit-filled with the teachings and preaching of sound doctrine and theological principles.
About
The Senior Pastor
Bishop Harvey L. Langford Jr. was born in Manhattan, New York and was raised in North Carolina and now considers San Antonio his home. His father Harvey Sr. is deceased and his mother resides in North Carolina. He is the eldest sibling of five boys and four girls. Bishop Harvey Langford and Lady Carolotta Forester-Langford were joined together in holy matrimony May 3, 1988. Their marriage has encountered many trails and tribulations. By the grace of God, they have been able to overcome the fiery test and have established a very strong bond of togetherness. They are the parents of six wonderful children and grandparents to seven handsome grandsons.
Bishop Langford received his Certificate of License to preach, August 11, 1996 and was Ordained May 04, 1997 both from Redeeming Grace Christian Church. He served as Assistant Pastor to Bishop Brent M. Bryant Sr. for ten years. Bishop Langford currently holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Social Science and Criminology from Troy University in Alabama, dual Masters of Art Degrees one in Theology and the other in Pastoral Counseling from Guadalupe Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served in the military and retired after twenty years of honorable service. Bishop Langford is committed to exemplifying a Christ-like life that will lead the lost to the Father’s saving grace, to being a man of integrity, to being a godly husband and father, and serving as well as loving the people of God. His motto is “Walk by faith and allow patience to have her perfect work” Humble Is The Way…
From the Bishop's Desk
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? ... So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Praise the Lord
"Let Everything that has Breathe Praise the Lord" Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
- GALATIANS 5:1 [NKJV]
Bishop Langford
What We Believe
GOD
Is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He perpetually exists in three distinct persons: the Father; the Son; and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are “ONE” God.
( Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22: Psalms 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2 )
JESUS CHRIST
Is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind by becoming sin and dying upon a cross. After three days, He arose to demonstrate His authority over sin and death. He ascended into Heaven’s Glory greeted by the Father who crowned Him Lord of lords and King of kings. He will return to the earth again someday to reign.
( Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22, 23; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3, 4; 6:6; 7:4-6; 8:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-15 )
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides Christians with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer spiritual gifts when they are saved. Christians are to yield to and trust the Holy Spirit to enable them to live holy, loving and productive lives that bear fruit and glorify God.
( John 16:7-13; 14:16-17, Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18 )
THE SCRIPTURES INSPIRED
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian belief and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without mixture or error
( Psalms 119:105, 160; 12:6; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 3:15‑17; 1 Peter 1:23‑25; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12 )
PEOPLE
Man was created in the spiritual image of God and are to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, they are marred by the attitude of disobedience toward God and His Word called “sin”. This sin has separated mankind from God. The death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has reconciled us and has bridged that separation of mankind from God.
( Genesis 1:26‑31, 3:1‑7; Psalms 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; 59:1-2; Romans 5:12‑21 ).
MARRIAGE
Jesus defined marriage as a male (man) to a female (woman), and that’s how the men to whom He was speaking understood it. The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”
( Matthew 19:3-7 )
The Salvation of Man:
- Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ: On the cross Jesus Christ became sin and sickness providing both salvation and divine healing for all mankind ( Psalms 103:3 ), being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. For by grace we are saved through faith. "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" ( Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:8‑10 )
- The Evidence of Salvation: The inward evidence to the believer of his salvation, is the direct witness of the Spirit ( Romans 8:16 ). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness. "And this is His commandment that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us." ( 1 John 3:23 ); ... while you are waiting for these things to happen and for him to come, try hard to live without sinning; and be at peace with everyone so that he will be pleased with you when he returns ( II Peter 3:14 ).
- Faith and Works: Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by human works; however, our works will determine the rewards in eternity (Romans 10:9‑1; II Corinthians 5:10).
- Repentance: Is turning from your sins. There are several lists of sins against God in the New Testament (Matthew 5-7; Romans 1, 12-14, 1 Corinthians 6, Galatians 5, Ephesians 4-6, Colossians 3, 1 Thessalonians 5, 1 Timothy 3, and James)
- Eternal Security of the Believer: Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot lose it. Salvation is maintained by the grace of God that gives us this security. We believe a person cannot lose his/her salvation. Salvation is a gift based on the work of Jesus Christ, not our own. ( John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5)
- Eternity: People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separate from God by sin, or we will exist eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is eternity in HELL. To be eternally united with Him is eternal life in HEAVEN. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. ( Matthew 25:31-46; John 3:16; 14:17; Romans 6:23; 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9; Revelation 20:15)
Baptism in Water
- The ordinance of baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed on Christ as Savior and Lord. In so doing, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. We believe in the full immersion under water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience that identifies a person with Jesus Christ. ( Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 1:9; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4 ).
The Lord's Supper:
- "And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, 'This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Cor. 11:24; 25, 28).
- Spiritual Gifts: The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts (special abilities) whenever, wherever, and to whomever He desires. Our spiritual gifts are for the purpose of glorifying our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and for building up the church. We must allow the Holy Spirit to be in charge of His gifts. To find out what spiritual gift the Holy Spirit has granted you, please go to www.churchgrowth.org and on the right side of the page click “Free Spiritual Gifts Analysis”. Complete the analysis, prints pages 1 and two, and submit them to the church administrator. (Acts 2, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4)
- Spirit-Led Living: We believe that the only successful way to live this Christian life is by trusting the Holy Spirit which dwells within us. We strive to exercise a daily dependence on the Christ to enable us to live holy, loving and productive lives that bears much fruit and glorify GOD!!! (Ephesians 5:18; Philippians 2:13) John 15:5 {NKJV} 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Church Membership
Is a commitment between a Christian and a local church, an agreement to support and encourage another in life and in ministry. (Hebrews 10:25)
What it means to be a member at Liberty Grace Community Church (LGCC):
At LGCC we recognize the need for a formal membership. We ask that you commit to membership for four different reasons:
- A Biblical Reason – Christ is committed to the church
- A Cultural Reason – It is the remedy to our community and society. We live in an era where very few want to be committed to anything i.e. job, relationship, marriage, country. This attitude has produced a generation of church shoppers and hoppers. Membership swims against the current of America’s consumer religion. Commitment always builds character.
- A Practical Reason – It defines who can be counted on. Every team must have a roster. Every school must have enrollment. Every business a payroll. Every army has an enlistment. Membership identifies our family.
- A Personal Reason – It produces spiritual growth. The New Testament places major emphasis on the need for Christians to be accountable to each other for spiritual growth. You cannot be accountable if you are not committed to any specific church family.
What it means to be a member at Liberty Grace Community Church (LGCC):
We never ask our members to do more than the Bible clearly teaches. We only expect our members to do what the Bible expects every Christian to do. These responsibilities are spelled out in our Membership Covenant:
Our Membership Covenant:
Having received Christ as my Lord and Savior, been baptized, and being in agreement with Liberty Grace Community Church’s vision, mission statement, strategy, and structure, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the Liberty Grace Community Church family. In doing so, I commit myself to God and the other members to do the following:
- I will protect the unity of my church
1. By acting in love toward others.
2. By refusing to gossip.
3. By following the leaders.
Romans 15:5-6 {NKJV} 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
1 Peter 1:22 {NKJV} 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.
Ephesians 4:29 {NKJV} 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Hebrews 13:17 {NKJV} 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
- I will share the responsibility of my church
1. By praying for its growth.
2. By inviting the un-church to attend.
3. By warmly welcoming those who visit.
Luke 14:23 {NKJV} 23 Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Romans 15:7 {NKJV} 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
- I will serve the ministry of my church
1. By discovering my gifts and talents.
2. By being equipped to serve by my Bishop and church leadership.
3. Be developing a servant’s heart.
1 Peter 4:10 {NKJV} 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Philippians 2:3-4 {NKJV} 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:7 {NKJV} 7 But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
- I will support the testimony of my church
1. By attending faithful.
2. By living a Godly life.
3. By giving regularly.
Hebrews 10:25 {NKJV} 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Philippians 1:27 {NKJV} 27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
1 Corinthians 16:2 {NKJV} On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
Our Vision Statement
Our vision is to impact the city and community in which we worship by leading the lost, unchurched and broken people to God’s healing, deliverance and spiritual liberty in Jesus’ holy name.
The Great Commandment
The Great Commission
Our Mission Statement
The mission of Liberty Grace Community Church is to effectively minister the Word of God through teaching, preaching, and community outreach. We are called and strive to love people and bring them to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our goal is to exalt the name of Jesus and proclaim the gospel in our community and around the world through our obligation to serve, praise, worship and evangelize. We are committed to stewardship and economic development. ROMANS 10:14-17
Our Values
- Loving God and loving people
- Discipleship
- Tithing
- Teaching sound doctrine
- Prayer
- Community involvement
- Cultural diversity
Our 3 Year Plan (2019 - 2022)
- Increase or spiritual development by promoting personal education
- Increase our Worship/Praise Team
- Establishing an effective and consistent Outreach Ministry
- Assist 75 families on Thanksgiving and 75 families on Christmas
- Increase membership to 150
Financial management (good stewardship) classes available upon request
LGCC ETIQUETTE
Church etiquette is the customary order of conduct and behavior in a church of God. Our order of worship should not be taken for granted and should be treated more highly than an ordinary activity. God is a God of order. Let us clearly understand that establishing and maintaining church etiquette is vital to experience a deeper appreciation of our worship and be able to hear that still small voice calling out to you. The worship service is designed to focus attention upon the Lord God through His Word preached, through song and prayer. The utmost respect must be given to this time when the Word of God is brought to bear upon our hearts to change us into the image of His Son/our Savior Jesus Christ.
ORDERS OF CONDUCT:
- Always follow the instruction of the Usher when to enter and where to sit. When a seat is assigned to you by an Usher and it’s not your choice, never show resentment but rather accept the seat graciously. It will be regarded as an expression of obedience.
- Be on time. The element of time should always be observed, because your late entrance attracts the attention of others, therefore distracting the services.
- Do not walk when the scripture is being read or during prayer. Such movement disturbs the earnestness of the service and is a distraction to those who seek communion with God.
- Show reverence to the Almighty by STANDING (if able), during “all” scripture and responsive reading.
- Never be so selfish as to occupy two seats by spreading bags and other possessions in a space beside you.
- Do not chew gum during service, eat food in the worship area, drink in the worship area, write notes to one another, talk or show resentment because you disapprove of something that is said or done.
- Do not destroy church property i.e. books, bibles, programs, fans, decoration, envelopes and instruments.
- Turn off all cell phones unless you provide emergency service therefore you are on call, in such a case place your phones on vibrate
Financial Team:
The Church Council of Liberty Grace Community Church is responsible for the accounting and disbursement of the finances. The Deacon Ministry is responsible for the collection of finances. The following are the financial procedures adopted by LGCC:
- The Church Council approves all annual ministry budgets and proposed expenditures for fixed assets
- Deacons and specific members collect the donations during all church services
- A tally and listing of donations is made and verified at the direction of two counters
- The church treasurer deposits contributions following each collection period
- A duplicate tally of the collections goes to the Bishop for accounting and verification
- A financial report is given to all at the end of the year