What we believe

Greetings in the name of Christ! We invite you to come and join us for Sunday worship whether you are new to the area or have been here for a long time. Here are a few things we’re proud to tell you about Christus Victor:

We welcome all. This is a place for all who are seeking God’s love and grace. We welcome all because God welcomes all, regardless of race or culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, or relationship status. We welcome all without regard to addictions, physical or mental health, imprisonment, financial circumstances, political views, or anything else that too often divides us. Our unity is in Christ.

We are committed to service. For over fifty years, our congregation has been a leading voice for community activism and reconciliation, welcoming strangers and loving neighbors. In the late-1960s, we opened the first racially-integrated kindergarten in Ocean Springs. In 1992, we organized the Coast’s first AIDS walk. When Hurricane Katrina devastated our community, we immediately opened our doors to relief efforts. Later, we opened Camp Victor in downtown Ocean Springs, hosting thousands of volunteers and professionals from around the country. We carry forward this legacy to the needs of today.

We proclaim the gospel. It’s in our name Christus victor: Christ the winner. God defeated the power of sin and death once and for all through the cross. Because of this, we are set free to love and serve our neighbors. We are a community bound together by common hope and common joy.

Come and see for yourself. You have a place here!

About Lutheranism

We are Lutheran. We identify with a theological heritage that began with Martin Luther. In many ways, he was the first Protestant, seeking to reform the church in 1517. As Lutherans, we believe that we are saved by God’s grace by faith apart from works.

We believe in the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In our preaching and teaching, we trust the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.

We believe strongly in the vision of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), which declares that:

  • Claimed by God’s grace for the sake of the world, we are a new creation through God’s living word by the power of the Holy Spirit;

  • Gathered by God’s grace for the sake of the world, we will live among God’s faithful people, hear God’s word and share Christ’s supper;

  • Sent by God’s grace for the sake of the world, we will proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, serve all people following the example of our Lord Jesus, and strive for justice and peace in all the world.

For more information about what makes Lutherans unique, check out the following link:  What do Lutherans believe?