At Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship you will find students from various Christian and faith backgrounds, and some who may not believe in God at all. We believe that every one has received an invitation from Jesus to come and see what the Kingdom of God is like, so all are welcome at our Gatherings and events. Our students can expect that our style and distinctives will be maintained in our ministry environments at BU Chi Alpha

There are several solid Christian ministries at Boston University  which are needed since there are 32,000+ students! Most of these ministries believe the same essential theological truths and yet also have their own styles, nuances, and theological distinctives of their specific traditions.

We are an approved religious club at Boston University.

The ministry of BU Chi Alpha was birthed out of the charismatic/pentecostal movement which is our distinctive on campus. God is always present at our meetings. At our Friday Gatherings, our meetings are vibrant, informal, full of engaging discussion and we have a lot of fun.  During our musical worship some may be lifting their hands as they worship, some may be sitting down reflecting, others may be clapping along. We encourage people to focus on the presence of Jesus while we worship and participate as they choose.

As you have questions or a desire for more conversation, we are eager to walk with you in your journey with Jesus and we encourage you to talk to our staff or leader team, individually or within a small group setting. You can use the CONTACT button above.

Our beliefs affirm the church’s commitment to sound biblical doctrine and to the core beliefs to which it is committed. Christianity involves essential truths which are taught in sacred Scripture, the Bible, and are meant to embody our faith and guide our practice. These truths—which reveal the nature, character, work and promises of God in the gospel—form the foundation of our faith and the center of our fellowship.

Essential Truths:

We hold to the historic teachings of Christian Orthodoxy as articulated in the Apostles’ and the Nicene Creeds.

Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.

The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (meaning worldwide)  church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the everlasting life. Amen.

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.

1. Scripture is Inspired by God
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired by God and are the revelation of God to man; the inspired, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.

• Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:15-17 - “and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

  1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21

2. The One True God
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM”, the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

• Scripture: Isaiah 43:10,11 - “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior.”

  Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19

3. The Deity of Jesus Christ (Jesus is God)
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:

• a. His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35)

• b. His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22 - 

• c. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.)

• d. His miracles (Acts 2:22, Acts 10:38)

• e. His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

• f. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4)

• g. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Jesus ascended into heaven), (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3)

4. The Fall of Man

Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death. Scripture: Genesis 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19.

5. The Salvation of Man The only hope of redemption for man is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. 

• Conditions to Salvation : Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of, regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, we become heirs of God and the hope of eternal life. Scripture: Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15 (“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”); Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7.

• The Evidences of Salvation
  The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit. The outward
  evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness. Scripture: Romans 8:16 (The Spirit himself testifies with our Spirit that we are God’s children.”, Ephesians 4:17-32; Titus 2:11-12 - For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people (all, again we believe God died for everyone). It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

Distinctives:

6. The Ordinances of the Church (Ordinance: A decree or order, in this case, actions that have been “ordained” by Christ. We have two ordinances in protestant Christianity that apply to all believers. Within our tradition, we adhere to “ordinances” instead of “sacraments” that many other Christian traditions hold to.)

•  Baptism in Water
  The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in the newness of life.  Scripture: Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4.

  *In BU Chi Alpha this looks like having baptisms once a year where people participating can invite family and friends to witness them publicly share their faith and be baptized.

• Holy Communion 

  The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements – bread, and the fruit of the vine – are (1) the symbols expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ; (2) a memorial of His suffering and death; (3) and a prophecy of His second coming; and is participated in by all believers “till He returns!” Scripture: 2 Peter 1:4; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 1 Corinthians 11:26

  *In BU Chi Alpha this can look like explaining what communion is and giving opportunity upon occasion for believers to participate together in taking communion.

7. Spiritual Gifts and Divine Healing

We believe that the Holy Spirit imparts his supernatural gifts for the edification of the Body and for various works of ministry in the world. All the gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in the New Testament church are available today, are vital for the mission of the Church and are to be earnestly desired and practiced. This includes what some call gifts of power (supernatural gifts of the Spirit) such as prophecy, words of knowledge, encouragement, and praying in tongues as described in 1 Cor and in the verses below.

• Scripture: Acts 2:17-19; 4:29-31; 1 Cor. 12-14; Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Thess. 5:19-21; 1 Peter 4:10, 11

The Holy Spirit empowers us to be a witness, that is to share the good news of Jesus to the world around us. We see the believer filled with the Holy Spirit to do miraculous and empowered works for God’s glory.  As John the Baptist says in Mt 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Believers can experience a baptism in the Holy Spirit. This was a common experience in the early Christian Church. With it comes the power for service, the bestowment of spiritual gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9). With the Baptism in the Holy Spirit comes such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost (Mark 16:20).

*In BU Chi Alpha this might look like making space in our large and small group settings to listen and be sensitive to how the Holy Spirit is leading, and allow the supernatural gifts of the Spirit to be shared for the building up of the community/body of Christ. It will look like desiring all God has for us and being hungry for the empowering work of the Spirit in our lives in multiple expressions.

Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from physical sickness, mental sickness, emotional trauma, and demonization is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers. We believe we can experience this now, and that we will experience it in eternity. 

• Scripture: Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16 - “Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

*In BU Chi Alpha this looks like praying for those who are sick and knowing God can heal. We absolutely also believe God called medical professionals to be involved in our lives as needed.