The mission of August Gate is to be disciples who make disciples who grow to know, love, and follow Jesus together by His grace.

To be disciples of Jesus means we have believed the Good News that Jesus’ finished work on the cross and in the empty tomb has brought us into a new relationship with God and we are now spending the rest of our lives growing in the pursuits of discipleship. The more we know Jesus, the more we want to love Him. The more we love Jesus, the more we want to follow Him. The more we follow Jesus, the more we want to know Him and the cycle repeats.

In order to accomplish this, we live in three rhythms of discipleship. We gather every week to know, love, and follow Jesus together. We grow in Knots to know, love, and follow Jesus deeply.  We go on mission to help others know, love, and follow Jesus like we do.

The vision of August Gate is to multiply disciples and saturate the St. Louis Metro region and beyond with Gospel-centered, missional churches.

Discipleship, by definition, cannot be kept to ourselves. As disciples grow in the pursuits of discipleship and regularly live in the rhythms of discipleship, many will be sent to plant churches and see disciples made not only in the St. Louis Metro region, but to the ends of the earth. 

In rural communities, August is the month that everyone’s eyes turn toward the Harvest. The St. Louis Metro region is commonly referred to as the "Gateway to the West."

August Gate is simply a play on words that means “Harvest the City." We hear Jesus speak about this harvest in Luke 10:2:

"And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'"

Scripture
The Bible is the fully inspired Word of God. It has been written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In the original manuscripts it is without error and is the final authority for all matters of faith and life. It is the only source for Christian doctrine, and is accessible to all - that is, it is perspicuous and self-interpreting, yet must be divided rightly to be effective in teaching and doctrine. (Matthew 5:18; Mark 13:31; John 8:31-32; John 20:31; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

Godhead
There is one true and living God, eternally existing in three persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. They are equal in their essential nature, attributes and perfection. Each executes a different but harmonious function. (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3;  Romans 1:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Father
We believe that God the Father is infinite yet personal, transcendent yet immanent, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He orders, arranges and controls all things according to His own sovereign purpose. He infallibly knows all that shall come to pass, He hears and answers prayer, and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Luke 10:21-22; John 3:16; John 6:27; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6)

Son
Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, has always existed and became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. Jesus lived a sinless life and freely offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice for our sins through His death on the cross. After His physical, literal death, He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now is exalted at the right hand of God. He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. Jesus is the only mediator between God and man and salvation is found in no other. Anyone who accepts Him as Lord and Savior will worship Him for all eternity. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2; John 1:14; John 14:6; Acts 1:9-10; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:24; Romans 8:34; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:1-2)

Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and Son, and convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He is the Supernatural agent in regeneration, sanctifying and empowering all who believe in Jesus Christ. He provides those in whom He dwells with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right. He dwells in all believers from the moment of salvation and is the evidence and seal of that salvation. He uniquely gifts every believer to enable them to fulfill their role in the body of Christ and His mission in the world. (John 16:8-11; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 1:13)

Salvation
Man was created by God in His own image; he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual and eternal death. This brings separation from God, and as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and therefore under condemnation. Those who trust in Jesus Christ, repent and forsake sin are saved. We become new creatures, are delivered from condemnation, and receive eternal life, which is a free gift of God given to man by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. All glory is due to God alone, since salvation is accomplished solely through His will and action. (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:17; Genesis 5:2-3; John 1:12; John 3:14; John 5:24; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:18-19)

The Church
The church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made of all born-again persons of this present age. The establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament scriptures. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by building its members up in the faith by instruction of the word, by fellowship, and by keeping the ordinances for the advancement and communication of the gospel to the entire world. (Acts 2:42; Acts 14:27; Acts 18:22; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:19-22; Ephesians 4:11-13; Ephesians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 10:23-25)

The Ordinances
Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Christian Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water, which is a public testimony of the believer’s new life in Christ, his or her identification with the Lord's death, burial and resurrection, and therefore becoming part of the body of Christ, the Church. The Lord’s Supper, foreshadowed for thousands of year by Passover, was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. The elements of communion are symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and serve to remind us of the sacrifice He made, and proclaim the hope of salvation that comes from this sacrifice. These two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 22:15-20; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 18:8; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)