What We Believe

Embracing the Historical Creeds

At the FURNACE, we believe that the historical creeds of the church are the best expression of "what we believe." So, here is our statement of faith.

The 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.

Beyond the creeds

The Inner Room: Our Distinctive Mission

The specific mission focus that makes the FURNACE unique is our call to the Inner Room—that sacred space of communion with God that Jesus spoke of when he said, "the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21).

Jesus made it clear: "I am the vine; you are the branches. Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). This profound truth shapes everything we do. We cannot manufacture spiritual fruit through programs or performance. Instead, we must learn to abide—to dwell in the secret place where Christ meets us in transforming intimacy.

This pursuit of the King and His Kingdom within aligns us with the mystics of historical Christianity: Origen, St. Augustine of Hippo, the Desert Fathers and Mothers, St. Teresa of Ávila, and Julian of Norwich. These spiritual giants understood what much of modern Christianity has forgotten—that the Christian life is fundamentally about interior transformation through divine encounter.

At the FURNACE, we believe that lasting change comes not from external religious activity alone, but from the refining fire of God's presence in the Inner Room. Here, in the hidden place of prayer and contemplation, we are changed from glory to glory as we behold the face of Christ.

Leadership at the FURNACE

The FURNACE is governed by a board of directors, in accordance with Ohio corporate law. The board presently consists of three members and will expand as the ministry grows and matures.

Lead Pastor – Scot Lahaie

Scot brings together a rare blend of intellectual depth and spiritual sensitivity to his role at the FURNACE. As a professor, author, and pastor, Scot has devoted his life to helping others encounter the presence of God in authentic and transformative ways. His ministry draws deeply from both the academic pursuit of truth and the contemplative rhythms of the Inner Room, where intimacy with God is cultivated.

The vision for the FURNACE was born out of years spent walking with people through spiritual warfare and deliverance. Through those experiences, Scot recognized that true and lasting freedom does not come merely by confronting darkness, but by dwelling in the light—by learning to live from the secret place of union with Christ. His teaching emphasizes this mystical and scriptural reality: that we are transformed not by striving, but by abiding.

When he isn’t teaching, writing, or mentoring others in the ways of the Spirit, Scot can be found in his own Inner Room—interceding for the region, listening for the heart of God, and tending the flame that fuels this ministry. He and his family make their home in Canton, Ohio, where the FURNACE is being established as a house church movement—one that seeks to unite ancient contemplative wisdom with Spirit-filled power, rekindling the flame of first love in the Church.

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
— 1 Corinthians 3:16