MISSION statement
Our Mission Statement flows out of our Vision Statement: it describes how we as a church will join in God’s work to transform people’s lives through Christ.
Where there is a + sign, you can click for a description.
+ Developing authentic relationships with Jesus Christ
Everything we do comes back to our relationship with Jesus Christ. Whether you’ve heard the name “Jesus” before but you’re not sure who He is, or you just committed your life to Christ yesterday, or if you’ve been walking with Jesus for the last 80+ years, God calls each of us to grow closer to Him each and every day. (Colossians 2:6)
We do this by:
Connecting with God
+ IN WORSHIP
We connect with God when we gather together to worship Him. But God also calls us to worship Him with our whole lives! (Matthew 22:37-38)
+ In His Word
We connect with God by studying the Bible, His infallible Word to His people. By studying the Bible we grow in our understanding of who God is, who we are as His people, and what God instructs us to do with the lives He has blessed us with. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
+ In prayer
We connect with God when we come to Him in prayer. Communication is the foundation of every relationship, and this is true of our relationship with God as well! God has invited us to speak with Him about all aspects of our lives, the good and the bad, and He responds by granting us His peace. (Philippians 4:4-7)
+ Connecting with His Church
The Church is the gathering of God’s people. God works through the Church to draw people to Himself, to teach and instruct His people, and to bless the communities in which He raises up local churches, including ours! Unlike the Israelites, God’s people in the Old Testament, God’s people today are not one nation; rather, God calls His people from all nations. These are the people God gathers together and this gathering is the Church. (Revelation 5:9-10)
+ In fellowship
When we connect with God’s Church in fellowship, we follow God’s instructions to encourage each other in our lives and faith and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) In fellowship, we grow in our relationships with each other, laughing together in joyful times, mourning together in sad times, and always encouraging each other to live worshipful lives. (Acts 2:42)
+ In faith formation
When we connect with God’s Church in faith formation, we recognize that our faith should continue to grow throughout our lives. Similar to growing intellectually through classes as school, growing spiritually by gathering as the Church is an important part of lifelong faith formation. (2 Peter 1:5-11)
+ In Bible study
When we connect with God’s church in Bible study, we don’t just study for understanding, we study for action! We live our lives differently because of what we learn from God’s Word to us. (James 1:22)
+ In small groups
When we connect with God’s church in small groups, we encourage each other toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24-25) In small groups, we help each other to see where God is calling us to repent of sin and grow (Galatians 6:1-2) and to see how God is working in each of our lives.
+ In the use of spiritual gifts
When we connect with God’s church in the use of spiritual gifts, we recognize that God has blessed us with these gifts to build up His church. (1 Peter 4:10-11) In using our spiritual gifts, we see that God blesses each of us differently and yet we are united in Christ. (1 Corinthians 12)
+ In the stewardship of our resources
When we connect with God’s church in the stewardship of our resources, we realize that all we have is from God...we’re merely responding to His blessings! In good stewardship of our resources, we gather the wisdom and discernment that God has blessed members of our church with in order to be a blessing to our community and to share the life-transforming gospel of Jesus with more people. (Luke 16:1-13)
+ Connecting with His World
While the Church is called by God to be distinct from the world, we are also called to be light to a world. God calls us to be His representatives to the world, whether here in our own neighborhoods or on the other side of the planet! We joyfully respond by sharing the love of Christ through our words and actions so that we answer God’s command to go out into the world and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20).
+ In witness
When we connect with God’s world in witness, we joyfully glorify God by being obedient to His instructions to be a light to others. (Matthew 5:16) In witnessing to others, the words we speak and the actions we take show others how we have been transformed by Christ’s Holy Spirit working in us.
+ In promoting biblical justice
When we connect with God’s world in promoting justice, God works through us to begin fixing some of the brokenness of the world caused by sin. (Isaiah 1:17) In promoting justice, we see that one aspect of God’s holiness is His love of justice and He wants His followers to love and do justice.
+ In acts of service
When we connect with God’s world in acts of service, we recognize that being a follower of Christ is more than just words: it is action! (Philippians 2:3-8) In acts of service, we seek to follow the example Jesus gave us by serving and caring for one another. (Amos 5:24)