History of TTIS
Thu Thiem International Service began as a thriving house fellowship (Crossroads International Fellowship) that grew under the leadership of Kevin Black. In 2010, Steve Murphy, a pastor from South Africa, brought the fellowship into partnership with Pastor Trương Văn Ngành, whose congregation was working hard to complete the construction of the current church building.
Having become the international congregation of Thủ Thiêm Evangelical Church in District 2, HCMC, the fellowship adopted the new name “Thu Thiem International Service,” affectionately called “TTIS” to this day.
Our expatriate congregation eventually obtained an official license from the Department of Religious Affairs to conduct English worship services and continues to operate under the continued oversight of Pastor Ngành.
We are a non-denominational, evangelical congregation led by elders and deacons, and we exist in grateful partnership with the Vietnamese congregation of Thủ Thiêm Evangelical Church.
Vision & Values
At TTIS, we aim to make disciples and display the love of Jesus Christ within Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and around the world through our three-fold emphasis on:
Word – expository and Christ-centered preaching of Scripture
Worship – heart-felt expressions of individual and corporate devotion to God
Works – Spirit-empowered ministries of mercy and gospel outreach
Worship – heart-felt expressions of individual and corporate devotion to God
Works – Spirit-empowered ministries of mercy and gospel outreach
As an international congregation comprising worshipers from many countries, ethnicities, and church traditions, we deeply value unity amid the diversity of expressions that are present among us and seek to honor the lives and contributions of those who serve our community during their sojourn with us.
Statement of Faith
The elders of TTIS subscribe to the following points of doctrine as a faithful summary of the core beliefs of biblical, historic Christianity.
I. Scripture
The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments were authored by divinely-inspired human writers, and they are the only infallible and sufficient standard for establishing and evaluating all traditions that pertain to saving knowledge and spiritual practice. Scriptural texts may vary in style, content, and clarity, but the ultimate interpreter of Scripture is Scripture itself. The illumination of the Holy Spirit is necessary for the right understanding and application of His Word.
2 Tim. 3:15–17; Prov. 30:5–6; 2 Pet. 3:2, 15–16; John 16:13–14, 17:17
2 Tim. 3:15–17; Prov. 30:5–6; 2 Pet. 3:2, 15–16; John 16:13–14, 17:17
II. The Triune God
There exists only one true and living God, a pure and most absolute Spirit, in and of Himself infinite in glory and perfection. He is eternal, unchanging, incomprehensible, ever-present, almighty, and worthy of the highest love, worship, and obedience. This one God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each identical in divine substance, glory, and power but also distinct in personal properties in relation to each other and particular roles in relation to creation.
Exo. 3:14; Deut. 6:4, 32:4; Isa. 46:9–10; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
III. God the Father
The Father is the First Person of the Trinity. He is the unbegotten source of all divine life and the Maker of all that exists, designing, sustaining, and governing His creation by His eternal decree while maintaining human freedom and responsibility. He is the lawgiver and the architect of humanity’s redemption, sovereignly appointing His saints to salvation from before the foundation of the world and working all things according to the counsel of His will, to the praise of His glory.
Ps. 33:6; John 5:26; 15:26; Isa. 61:1; Eph. 1:11; Acts 4:27–28
There exists only one true and living God, a pure and most absolute Spirit, in and of Himself infinite in glory and perfection. He is eternal, unchanging, incomprehensible, ever-present, almighty, and worthy of the highest love, worship, and obedience. This one God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each identical in divine substance, glory, and power but also distinct in personal properties in relation to each other and particular roles in relation to creation.
Exo. 3:14; Deut. 6:4, 32:4; Isa. 46:9–10; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
III. God the Father
The Father is the First Person of the Trinity. He is the unbegotten source of all divine life and the Maker of all that exists, designing, sustaining, and governing His creation by His eternal decree while maintaining human freedom and responsibility. He is the lawgiver and the architect of humanity’s redemption, sovereignly appointing His saints to salvation from before the foundation of the world and working all things according to the counsel of His will, to the praise of His glory.
Ps. 33:6; John 5:26; 15:26; Isa. 61:1; Eph. 1:11; Acts 4:27–28
IV. God the Son
The Son is the Second Person of the Trinity, eternally begotten of the Father, and the Word through whom all things were made. As the only Mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ took upon Himself a fully human nature, was born of the virgin Mary, perfectly fulfilled the Law, and died on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. He was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended into heaven, where He continues to intercede for His people.
John 1:1–3; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:14–18; Isa. 53:6; 1 Cor. 15:3–4; Rom. 8:34
The Son is the Second Person of the Trinity, eternally begotten of the Father, and the Word through whom all things were made. As the only Mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ took upon Himself a fully human nature, was born of the virgin Mary, perfectly fulfilled the Law, and died on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. He was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended into heaven, where He continues to intercede for His people.
John 1:1–3; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:14–18; Isa. 53:6; 1 Cor. 15:3–4; Rom. 8:34
V. God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, who eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is the Lord and giver of life, awakening sinners to embrace the gospel, applying the benefits of Christ’s work to their lives through His conviction, comfort, and counsel, and assuring them of their adoption as children of God. He empowers believers to bear spiritual fruit and imparts them with spiritual gifts for the edification of the church.
John 15:26; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:22–23; Rom. 8:15; 1 Cor. 12:4–11
VI. Salvation
God created man and woman in His image, but Adam’s disobedience resulted in a sinful humanity alienated from God and under His righteous judgment. Reconciliation is entirely the gracious work of the triune God, whereby the Father sends the Son to save sinners, Jesus Christ satisfies the penalty of their sin, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies them through faith alone. Divine grace is not conditioned, merited, or manipulated by human effort. It flows from His eternal love and results in transformed lives that glorify God.
Eph. 2:1–3; 1 Pet. 1:1–3; Eze. 36:26–27; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 2:14
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, who eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is the Lord and giver of life, awakening sinners to embrace the gospel, applying the benefits of Christ’s work to their lives through His conviction, comfort, and counsel, and assuring them of their adoption as children of God. He empowers believers to bear spiritual fruit and imparts them with spiritual gifts for the edification of the church.
John 15:26; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:22–23; Rom. 8:15; 1 Cor. 12:4–11
VI. Salvation
God created man and woman in His image, but Adam’s disobedience resulted in a sinful humanity alienated from God and under His righteous judgment. Reconciliation is entirely the gracious work of the triune God, whereby the Father sends the Son to save sinners, Jesus Christ satisfies the penalty of their sin, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies them through faith alone. Divine grace is not conditioned, merited, or manipulated by human effort. It flows from His eternal love and results in transformed lives that glorify God.
Eph. 2:1–3; 1 Pet. 1:1–3; Eze. 36:26–27; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 2:14
VII. Christian Living
Believers are called to holiness and obedience to God’s commands, and they are empowered by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate evidence of a true and living faith. These good works include the Christian duty to love one’s neighbor, promote human flourishing, and submit to the civil authorities for the public good. In matters not expressly directed by Scripture, believers are free to exercise their conscience under the lordship and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Phil. 2:12–13; Jas. 2:18; Gal. 5:22–23; 1 Pet. 2:17; Rom. 14:4
VIII. The Church
Christ is the Head of the Church, comprising all true disciples throughout the ages. Christians are called to assemble in local congregations, to whom Christ has given the authority to propagate the gospel, conduct worship, administer ordinances and discipline, and display God’s love to the world. The regular officers of a church are elders and deacons, who shepherd and support the members to use their gifts for proper and effective ministry.
1 Cor. 1:2; Heb. 10:24–25; Gal. 6:10; Acts 6:2–4; 1 Pet. 5:1–4
Believers are called to holiness and obedience to God’s commands, and they are empowered by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate evidence of a true and living faith. These good works include the Christian duty to love one’s neighbor, promote human flourishing, and submit to the civil authorities for the public good. In matters not expressly directed by Scripture, believers are free to exercise their conscience under the lordship and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Phil. 2:12–13; Jas. 2:18; Gal. 5:22–23; 1 Pet. 2:17; Rom. 14:4
VIII. The Church
Christ is the Head of the Church, comprising all true disciples throughout the ages. Christians are called to assemble in local congregations, to whom Christ has given the authority to propagate the gospel, conduct worship, administer ordinances and discipline, and display God’s love to the world. The regular officers of a church are elders and deacons, who shepherd and support the members to use their gifts for proper and effective ministry.
1 Cor. 1:2; Heb. 10:24–25; Gal. 6:10; Acts 6:2–4; 1 Pet. 5:1–4
IX. Sacred Ordinances
Christ has instituted baptism and the Lord’s Supper as signs of our participation in the new covenant, to be received by faith. In baptism, ordinarily, a new believer signifies their union with Christ by being immersed in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the Lord’s Supper, the church remembers and communes with Christ through the emblems of bread and wine.
Matt. 28:18–20; Rom. 6:3–5; Col. 2:12; 1 Cor. 10:16–17, 11:26
Christ has instituted baptism and the Lord’s Supper as signs of our participation in the new covenant, to be received by faith. In baptism, ordinarily, a new believer signifies their union with Christ by being immersed in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the Lord’s Supper, the church remembers and communes with Christ through the emblems of bread and wine.
Matt. 28:18–20; Rom. 6:3–5; Col. 2:12; 1 Cor. 10:16–17, 11:26
X. Final Judgment
Believers, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, cannot lose their salvation but will certainly persevere to the end. The souls of dead believers enter Paradise until the final resurrection. God has appointed a day when Jesus Christ will return to judge the world. The bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised. The wicked shall go into everlasting punishment and the righteous into everlasting life.
John 6:40, 10:28–29; Luke 23:43; Acts 10:42; 2 Thess. 1:7–10
Believers, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, cannot lose their salvation but will certainly persevere to the end. The souls of dead believers enter Paradise until the final resurrection. God has appointed a day when Jesus Christ will return to judge the world. The bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised. The wicked shall go into everlasting punishment and the righteous into everlasting life.
John 6:40, 10:28–29; Luke 23:43; Acts 10:42; 2 Thess. 1:7–10
Membership at TTIS
Church membership is the biblical call for all baptized believers to join a local church. If you plan to reside in HCMC for the next while, we invite you to consider becoming a member of TTIS.
In membership, we communicate to one another ...
In membership, we communicate to one another ...
"I Agree that this church’s doctrine, values, and structures align with Scripture so that I am able to willingly cooperate and participate in its ministry."
"I Belong in this local assembly of the universal body of Christ and am recognized as a believer in good standing within this community."
"I Commit to protect and propagate the gospel and to spur others toward our common vision of making disciples within this church and beyond."
Membership at TTIS is an ongoing process that simply starts with sharing your personal testimony of salvation and baptism with the elders of the church. Click here to find out more.
"I Belong in this local assembly of the universal body of Christ and am recognized as a believer in good standing within this community."
"I Commit to protect and propagate the gospel and to spur others toward our common vision of making disciples within this church and beyond."
Membership at TTIS is an ongoing process that simply starts with sharing your personal testimony of salvation and baptism with the elders of the church. Click here to find out more.