Our Identity & Mission
Mission: We exist to be spiritually growing followers of Jesus who lead others into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Five Core Commitments of Our Identity:
1. A global vision for the glory of God: We make disciples of all peoples. (Isaiah 49:1-7)
God is engaged in the work of creating and calling a people to worship him, and he gives us the privilege of being engaged in that work. We prioritize establishing, growing, and strengthening local churches both in the US and around the world.
Specific implications:
Worship
Missions
Racial Reconciliation
2. The sufficiency of the Word: God's Word is enough. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
We believe that God works in hearts through his Word. It governs our lives and our life as a church. We prioritize it in our worship and our discipleship. It is our only hope for the renovation of our lives. The further implications of this are the "ordinary means of grace"—God's work through God's ordinary methods.
Specific implications:
Ordinary means of grace
Discipleship
Youth & children’s ministry
3. The life-changing power of the gospel: The Gospel changes everything. (Titus 2:11-14)
We believe that the gospel is the power of God and that it changes everything about us--the way we relate to each other, to God, and to our community. We believe in true conversion—repentance and faith—and in regenerate church membership.
Specific implications:
The gospel in every message
Regenerate church membership
Gospel-motivated sanctification
4. The active ministry of the Holy Spirit: The Spirit works actively today. (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)
We believe the Spirit is powerfully at work in and through the church today. The abuse of the doctrine of the Spirit has led some corners of evangelicalism to almost ignore the "forgotten" member of the Trinity. But we believe that revival in individual lives, in church bodies, and in communities happens through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Specific implications:
Prayer
Evangelism
Gifting for ministry
5. Authentic, growing community: We need each other. (Acts 2:42-47)
We believe that discipleship happens in true community--a taste of heaven on earth. We move toward a culture of discipleship and community, more than discipleship programs. Conversations about the Word and gospel and prayer should be a regular, not surprising, part of our life together. Discipleship is maturing disciples and making disciples.
Specific implications:
Body-wide community
Spiritually intentional relationships
Disciple-making as a normal part of the Christian life
The gathering of the church as true fellowship
