OUR
VALUES
OUR VALUES
Presence Driven
The presence of God is the heart and center of our church! We believe the local church is the dwelling place of God on the earth, and our first and primary purpose is to bless the Lord and minister to the Lord Jesus in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. All of our ministry as a local church flows from this place of prioritizing the presence of God and creating space for people to encounter the glory of God in everything we do. (Matthew 21:13; Ephesians 2:21-22)
Gospel
Centered
The Gospel is the foundation of everything we do as a church! The finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and the wonderful Good News of His life, death, and resurrection impact every element of our life and ministry. We celebrate the Gospel and joyfully share in its benefits and blessings, weave it into every facet of the church, and joyfully proclaim it to the lost! (1 Corinthians 15:1-5; John 3:16)
Devoted to
Scripture
Scripture is our ultimate authority and our guide to all things in the Christian life. We believe that the Word of God is inspired, infallible, authoritative, and is the supreme revelation of God to humankind and the primary means by which He speaks and communicates Himself to us. It is to be studied, obeyed, cherished, reverenced, and honored in our midst. Faithful proclamation of the Word of God, exposition of the full counsel of God, and fidelity to biblical doctrine are central to the mission of the church. (1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)
Deep
Discipleship
Discipleship is central to the mission of the local church and fulfilling the Great Commission. The call of the great commission is to go to the nations, but it doesn't stop with making converts. Rather, discipleship is the process of teaching new converts to “obey all that Christ has commanded,” “baptizing them” into the faith and the church community, and then equipping them to participate in Christ’s mission as healthy, holistic disciples. Discipleship is integral to the mission of the Lord Jesus and is central in everything we do as a local church. (Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:12-16)
Evangelism
Christ has called us to share the Gospel and reach those around us through evangelism! Evangelism is the call and responsibility of the local church and of every individual Christian. We must not be only recipients of the Gospel and salvation, but we must become proclaimers of the Gospel and co-laborers with Christ. Both personally and corporately, we must dedicate and devote ourselves to personal evangelism and Gospel proclamation! (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 1:16-17)
Global Mission(s)
We believe that every Christian has a part to play in the global mission of God! Christ has called every believer to go and participate in the Great Commission of reaching every nation, tribe, language, and people group with the Gospel! The mission of the local church is to reach the nations with the Gospel! As a local church, we prioritize local, regional, and global missions! Following the pattern set in Acts 1:8, our goal is to reach our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth with the Gospel! Our vision is to plant churches, send missionaries, and be a church with a mission and on mission in everything we do. (Matthew 28:18-20, 9:36–38; Romans 10:14–15)
Family
We believe the local church is a family, and the Christian life can only be lived in community! The early church set an incredible precedent and example for how Jesus envisioned His disciples to live in community. They devoted themselves both to corporate gatherings in the church and to practicing community by gathering together in their homes. They devoted themselves to fellowship, to sharing meals together, to prayer and the Word, and to discipleship and evangelism all together in community. The Bible calls us a family, a body, and a community. Gathering together in God’s house is not only an addition to the Christian life but also essential for spiritual growth and for fulfilling the mission of Jesus. Christianity is better when we live as a family together in community and fellowship in the local church, the household of God. (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Timothy 3:15)
Passionate Prayer
The local church is called to be a house of the presence of God, a house of prayer! Prayer is the fuel for everything we do as a local church and the only means by which we can fulfill our purpose of reaching the nations with the Gospel. We believe that nothing of eternal significance happens apart from prayer, and thus devote and dedicate ourselves radically to prayer, fasting, and prioritizing the presence of God in our midst. We are passionate about the ministry of prayer, intercession, and seeing the church fulfill her purpose of being a dwelling place for God, a house of His presence, and a place for all peoples to encounter Him as a house of prayer! (Isaiah 56:7; Acts 6:4)
Radical Faith
We are a people of radical faith! We believe that nothing is impossible for the Lord, and we want to radically take Him at His Word and believe and experience every promise He has given to us! We are a people full of boldness and courage; we are not afraid of taking risks for the glory of God because we know He is with us and He is for us! We contend for miracles, for the impossible, and we experience the impossible because our God has called us to live by faith! (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Sound Doctrine
We are committed to sound doctrine and deep theology! The local church is called by God to be the “pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Because we affirm the centrality of the holy Scriptures as the ultimate authority in the church, we believe the local church must prioritize sound doctrine by offering theological education as a central element of the spiritual formation of disciples. The local church and her witness and fruitfulness will only be as strong as her doctrine is sound. Therefore, every believer must be equipped with sound doctrine and deep theology! (2 Timothy 2:15)
Spirit-Filled
We are a people of the Holy Spirit! We believe that the Christian life is meant to be the Spirit-filled life! The same Spirit that was given to His people at Pentecost is active in His church today (Acts 2:1-4). We believe every follower of Jesus can be baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues and be filled with supernatural power to fulfill the mission of Jesus (Acts 1:8)! We want to depend humbly and completely upon the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in everything we do as a church! (Ephesians 5:18)
For the Glory of God
We are a people of the Holy Spirit! We believe that the Christian life is meant to be the Spirit-filled life! The same Spirit that was given to His people at Pentecost is active in His church today (Acts 2:1-4). We believe every follower of Jesus can be baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues and be filled with supernatural power to fulfill the mission of Jesus (Acts 1:8)! We want to depend humbly and completely upon the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in everything we do as a church! (Ephesians 5:18)