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Many AICs have sacred narratives about their church's establishment or the life of its founder that include events and symbols that parallel ones from the Bible.

Experiences of all kinds (e.g. birth, illness, environmental changes, gain or loss of wealth) are attributed to spiritual causes. While the Holy Spirit of God is the reason for positive occurrences, negative ones are often attributed to witches or harmful spirits.

Members of AICs strive for a kind of wellbeing that is not only spiritual, but also involves physical health, social connections, and economic security. Each person's wellbeing is intertwined with that of others in their community.

Suffering and evil have distinct causes, usually attributed to evil spirits or witches. AICs try to cure the suffering of their members and often devote significant attention to their physical ailments.

AICs promote Christian ideas about the afterlife, but they vary in whether they emphasize personal salvation upon death, a collective, millenarian salvation, or earthly salvation through making practical improvements in one's daily living conditions.