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Our Past

1971 John and Rhodana Morgans and family moved to Liberty, MO in 1971 and started having Bible studies in their home. Eventually, they were secured a house free of charge as a place of worship for the church.

1972 On the first Sunday of 1972, the church began and held their first official service in the house. In February of that year, they became first church in Missouri to be a recipient of the United Pentecostal Church's  "Christmas for Christ" offering. [Click HERE to learn more about North American Missions and Christmas for Christ].

1976 The church moved to 1310 E. Hwy. 10 in a place called "The Party Room." We stayed here for the next three years while the church worked to raise money.

1979 Ground breaking event took place at our current location on March 25th, 1979, and the church became a corporation on July 2nd, 1979. The first service held in our very own building was on December 15th, 1979. The church is still located at 1315 Nashua Rd next to the Liberty water tower.

Our present

2009 Pastor Morgans retired on June 7th, 2009 after almost 40 years of service unto God and the church. Gary Dornbach was voted in as the new pastor, and he and his wife, Jaqueline, and their 7-month old daughter, Kiera, moved to Missouri from Wisconsin to become Lead Pastor (Click HERE if you would like to learn more about Pastor Dornbach).  

2010 The United Pentecostal Church of Liberty changed its name to "Refuge Church." Refuge Church is still a proud member of the United Pentecostal Church International organization. (Click HERE if you would like to know more about the organization).



our future

2022 The church has continually grown each year for more than a decade, so we launched a Stewardship Campaign to prepare for continued future growth. We traded our existing church with another church who owned 7+ acres off I-35, and we now share space with that church until we can get our new building constructed. The process is underway, and we hope to be in our new location sometime in early 2024!



What We Believe

We would absolutely love the opportunity to connect you with one of our trained and certified Bible study teachers who will meet with you on your scheduling terms and location needs.  


Click HERE to email our Bible Study Director for information about getting together to study God's Word!


 

The Bible:

We believe that the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are without error, infallible, and the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Holy Bible are the complete and divine revelation of God to humanity.

Bible References:  2 Timothy 3:16-17;  2 Peter 1:20-21


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Deity:

We believe in One God - He is absolute in power, infinite in wisdom, holy in His nature, attributes and purpose - possessing total deity. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of humanity. He hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who believe according to His Word.  

Bible References:  Genesis 1;  Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 39-40;  Revelation 4:11


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The Savior:

We believe in JESUS CHRIST, who is both God and man. Jesus Christ manifested (or took on) flesh so that He could pay a price and purchase our salvation with His own human blood (Acts 20:28). He is the image of the invisible God. He died for the sins of all humanity, had a bodily resurrection, ascended into heaven, and will return again.                         

 Bible References: John 1: 1-3, 14; John 3:16; Colossians 2:8,9


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Sin and Humankind:

We believe that all people are sinners by nature and are alienated from God until reconciled with Him. People are totally sinful and unable to remedy their lost condition. They are reconciled to God only by God's grace [God’s unmerited favor,] which is received through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Faith is not the ending point though, for anyone who ever believed in God throughout the Bible always obeyed Him. Therefore, faith and obedience go hand in hand.   

 Bible References:  Romans 5:12;  Romans 3:23-25;  Ephesians 2:8


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Salvation:

We believe that salvation is a gift of God given to humanity by grace and received by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is more than mental agreement, intellectual acceptance, or verbal profession. It includes trust, reliance, and commitment. We cannot separate saving faith from obedience. People are saved by repenting of their sins, being baptized in the Name of Jesus for the remission [removal] of their sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost [the infilling of the Spirit of God.]                  

Bible References:  Acts 2:38-39;  1 Corinthians 2:12-13;  James 2:17-18;  1 Peter 3:21


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The Church:

We believe the Church is the living, spiritual body of believers of which the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head. The church functions as Christ would function in the earth, seeking to find lost souls for the purpose of bringing them to salvation. We believe that the New Testament Church grew because people cared about one another and obeyed the Great Commission to go and make disciples. We aim to invest in the lives of others and also make followers of Christ and His Word. Signs and wonders, including divine healing, are part of the Church’s ministry, as they were part of the ministry of Jesus on Earth, and His Apostles as read about in the book of Acts and beyond.  

Bible References: Matthew 28:18-20;  Mark 16:17;  1 Corinthians 12:12-14;  Colossians 1:18,19


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The Coming King:

We believe there is eternal life in a place God has prepared for those who respond to His grace in both faith and obedience to His plan.  God has a clear plan for our salvation and is "not willing that any should perish." Yet the Bible does say that there is also eternal destruction of those who reject His grace and refuse His gift.                        

Bible References:  John 3:5-6;  John 14:2-3;  Romans 6:23


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Our Biblical Approach:

We base everything we believe solely on the Word of God. If it's in God's Word, we will preach it with love and compassion. If it is not in God's Word, we aren't going to preach something added as a tradition and expect people to follow it.