Anchored in Word, Rooted in Christ.

Join us every Sunday at 5:00 PM

in Cascais, Portugal

Join us every Sunday at 5:00 PM

in Cascais, Portugal

Join us every Sunday at 5:00 PM

in Cascais, Portugal

Planning a Visit?

We're delighted you're here. We are an international, English speaking, Bible-based, Christ-centered church where God's Word is faithfully taught, the gospel is joyfully proclaimed and believers grow together in faith and love. Below you'll find the location details, we can't wait to meet you and welcome you into this community.

Address

Rua Cmte. Joaquim Teotónio Segurado 165, 2750-642, Cascais

Portugal

Rua Cmte. Joaquim Teotónio Segurado 165, 2750-642, Cascais

Portugal

Directions

Central Cascais, near the Cascais tribunal.

Parking

Street parking available, additional parking nearby.

Children's Ministry

Children ages from 3-10 are invited to attend Children's Church following our worship time.

Children's Ministry

Children ages from 3-10 are invited to attend Children's Church following our worship time.

Join us later for coffee

We'd like to meet you as we invite you to join our family.

Join us later for coffee

We'd like to meet you as we invite you to join our family.

Get Anchored

Our theological convictions are rooted in the historic Reformed Baptist tradition. We affirm that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, and for the glory of God alone. In all our preaching and teaching, the Bible is our highest authority.

Whatever your church background, you are warmly welcome to worship with us as we seek to glorify God by being anchored in His Word and conformed to the image of Christ.

CURRENT SERMON SERIES

Join us as we journey verse by verse through the book of Romans, discovering the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, and the transforming power of God's grace. Access all the previous recordings here.

Beliefs

Who we are is shaped by what we believe and the purpose to which God has called us. Our Mission, Vision, and Statement of Faith together express the principles that guide our ministry and our commitment to serving Christ faithfully.

MISSION

Our church exists to glorify God by faithfully preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching the apostolic doctrine, cultivating prayer, fostering biblical fellowship, breaking of bread and making disciples — so that believers grow in Christ-likeness by His grace and are sent to the nations for the spread of His glory.

VISION

To see a generation transformed by God’s grace into Christ-like disciples, living for His glory and ready for the return of our King.

MISSION

VISION

To see a generation transformed by God’s grace into Christ-like disciples, living for His glory and ready for the return of our King.

MISSION

VISION

To see a generation transformed by God’s grace into Christ-like disciples, living for His glory and ready for the return of our King.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

Our faith is more than a collection of beliefs—it is the foundation of who we are, what we teach, and how we live. The statements below summarize the biblical truths that guide and shape our community, and point us to the hope found in Jesus Christ.

The Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed.

The Person & Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption.

Sanctification

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification and seeks to produce His fruit in us as our minds are renewed and we are conformed to the image of Christ. Though indwelling sin remains a reality, as we are led by the Spirit we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, freely keeping his commandments and endeavoring to so live in the world that all people may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven.

We believe as God’s chosen people — holy and dearly loved — we are called to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, pursuing holiness relentlessly for without holiness no one will see the Lord.

The Church

We believe that the church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons.

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures.

We believe in Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as scriptural means of testimony for the church.

Gender & Marriage

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that the term marriage has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, incest, prostitution, rape etc) is sinful and offensive to God.

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who genuinely confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity.

The Godhead

We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—co-eternal in being, co-eternal in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections.

The Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that through Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; man is depraved and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition.

The Perseverance of the Saints

We believe all believers are exhorted to persevere in the faith, knowing they will have to give an account to God for their every thought, word, and deed. The spiritual disciplines, especially Bible study, prayer, worship and confession, are a vital means of grace in this regard.

Nevertheless, the believer’s ultimate confidence to persevere is based in the sure promise of God to preserve his people until the end, which is most certain.

The Ministry & Spiritual Gifts

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts. All members of the Church are called to demonstrate the reality of the kingdom. The ascended Christ has given gifts for the equipping of Christ’s body so that it might mature and grow.

We believe that Elders are qualified men charged to shepherd the church in oversight and teaching, while deacons are qualified servants who help with the operational aspects of the church ministry. While men can be gifted in many other areas, Women also play a vital role in the life of the church, but in keeping with God’s created design, they are not permitted “to teach or to exercise authority over a man”. Women are encouraged to teach other women/children, testify, prophesy, evangelize, serve as a deacon etc if they are gifted in any of these areas.

The Return & Eternity

We believe the consummation of all things includes the future, physical, visible, personal, and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the bodily resurrection of the dead, the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. In the consummation, Satan, with his hosts and all those outside Christ, will be finally and forever separated from the benevolent presence of God, enduring eternal conscious punishment; but, the righteous, in glorious bodies, shall live and reign with Him forever, serving Him with unending praise and glory, and receiving unending joy.

The Person & Work of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry as Representative, Interce ssor, and Advocate.

We believe Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead.

Salvation

We believe the Scriptures teach that salvation is a gift from our merciful God, given by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and not by human works, so no one can boast and all glory belongs to God. Those who die apart from this free gift of grace will experience eternal punishment under God's wrath in a place referred to as Hell.

We believe the Lord desires all people to repent, to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Eternal Security & Assurance of Believers

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are therefore secure in Christ forever. This in no way gives us permission to take our salvation for granted. In fact, Scripture teaches the opposite: we are to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling" knowing that "it is God who works in us, both to will and to do His good pleasure". Furthermore, the Word of God clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an opportunity for the flesh.

We believe that it is the privilege of every believer to rejoice in the assurance of salvation through the testimony of God's Word. The assurance of our salvation rests upon God's faithful promises and His power to keep us from falling.

The Great Commission

We believe that Jesus commands us to go and share the good news of His love for humanity. Our daily lives are a mission to introduce and reconcile people to God. Everything we are as believers should come from the love of God that transformed our lives. Everything we do as believers should center on the Great Commission fueled by His love in our transformed hearts.

The Scriptures

The Godhead

The Person & Work of Christ

We believe Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead.

The Person & Work of the Holy Spirit

The Depravity of Man

Salvation

We believe the Lord desires all people to repent, to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Sanctification

We believe as God’s chosen people — holy and dearly loved — we are called to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, pursuing holiness relentlessly for without holiness no one will see the Lord.

The Perseverance of the Saints

Nevertheless, the believer’s ultimate confidence to persevere is based in the sure promise of God to preserve his people until the end, which is most certain.

Eternal Security & Assurance of Believers

The Church

We believe that the church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons.

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures.

We believe in Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as scriptural means of testimony for the church.

The Ministry & Spiritual Gifts

The Great Commission

Gender & Marriage

We believe that the term marriage has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, incest, prostitution, rape etc) is sinful and offensive to God.

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who genuinely confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity.

The Return & Eternity

STATEMENT OF FAITH

Download the Statement of Faith pdf

confession OF FAITH

Read the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

Our Story

Anchor Bible Church (ABC) began in early 2026 when a small group of us started meeting informally to seek our God-given calling in Portugal. What began as simple conversations soon became weekly online prayer gatherings and intentional planning as we sensed the Lord's leading and sought His direction in establishing a Bible-centered fellowship devoted to the faithful teaching of Scripture and the faithful stewardship of the gifts He had entrusted to us for His kingdom.

Soon afterward, in the Lord's providence, we began meeting as a home Bible study group every Saturday. Before long, we outgrew our home meeting space as the Lord continued to add people. He graciously provided a larger place for us to gather through the kindness of a local church, where we continued our Saturday Bible studies.

Then, in God's perfect timing, on 24 May 2026, we held our inaugural Sunday worship service as a newly established church.

Since then, the Lord has been mercifully building His church, bringing together people from different walks of life to worship Christ in spirit and truth. Our desire as a church is to grow in obedience to God's Word through the power of the Holy Spirit and to follow the pattern of the early church by devoting ourselves to the teaching of God's Word, prayer, the fellowship of the saints, and the breaking of bread.

We remain grateful for the Lord's faithfulness and look forward with joyful expectation to all that He will continue to do for His glory as He conforms us to the image of Christ.

Meet the Pastor

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

Colossians 1:28

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

Colossians 1:28

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

Colossians 1:28

OUR STORY

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

I'm Bobby Thomas and this is my wife Lavin Bobby.

It is a joy to serve Anchor Bible Church alongside a faithful team of brothers and sisters. It was by God's grace that He opened our eyes to the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ and the wonder of His plan of salvation. Since then, our desire has been to see lives transformed through the proclamation of His Word and to make disciples of all nations wherever the Lord sends us.

Lavin and I consider it an undeserved privilege to be part of God's kingdom work here in Portugal. We are deeply aware that we are unworthy of such a calling, yet in His abundant mercy God has entrusted us with the care of His precious flock, which He purchased with His own blood.

Our earnest prayer is that we would remain faithful to Christ and His Church. If it pleases the Lord to use us in this ministry, may He continually equip us by His grace, and may those who know us see less of us and more of Christ.

As a shepherd of Anchor Bible Church, I desire to depend continually on God's strength to faithfully preach and teach His Word, lovingly shepherding His people toward maturity in Christ while trusting Him to continue His sanctifying work in both Lavin and me until the day we are with Him in glory.

Our prayer is that Christ alone would be exalted, His Church strengthened, and every one of us continually transformed by the power of His gospel through the work of His Holy Spirit.

How can we serve you?

We have our weekly zoom and monthly in person prayer meetings, but feel free to fill out the form below with your prayer requests if you cannot attend either of these, or feel free to drop any questions.

Please enter a valid email address if you would like us to reply by email.

Weekly Prayer Meeting

30 Minute Zoom call | 7:30 - 8:00 pm

Every Thursday, except on the last week of the month

Zoom link sent out every Thursday on the Faith and Fellowship WhatsApp group

Monthly Prayer Meeting

Last Saturday of every month at 10:30 am

Church hall at Rua Cmte. Joaquim Teotónio Segurado 165, 2750-642, Cascais