As a church, these elements form the building blocks that make us who we are. They shape our vision, affect our chemistry, and empower us to "develop and deploy non-religious followers of Jesus Christ". These are our core elements:
Ug |
Uncensored GraceBecause God's love cannot be earned, we believe in fostering an atmosphere of radical forgiveness, free acceptance and uncensored grace.We believe this grace should be the first thing others notice and the last thing they forget. We believe in forgiveness for the past, acceptance for the present, and hope for the future of every person we encounter. We value being a church of uncensored grace. Romans 5.7-9; 1 Corinthians 13.13 |
Cg |
Continual GrowthBecause life is a journey, we believe that change is expected, transformation is essential, and none of us are ever finished.We believe God's grace compels each of us to a lifetime of growth as we learn to think and live and love like Jesus. We call this growth "discipleship". We believe discipleship takes place in community, that it shapes us individually, and that it results in lives marked by increasing humility, stewardship, and love. We believe in being a church of continual growth. Ephesians 4.14-17; Colossians 1.10-11 |
As |
All of us ServingBecause all of us have gifts to be invested, we believe that everyone in our community is called to be a minister for Jesus Christ, and that this ministry leads us to serve others before ourselves.We believe that in God's Kingdom there are no minor roles and because of this we desire to equip all those in our community to go from sitting to serving. We believe in being a church with all of us serving. Ephesians 2.10; Galatians 5.13-14 |
Es |
Engaging the ScripturesBecause the Bible is God's true Word, we believe that all of the truth, beauty, and complexity of the Scriptures must be communicated creatively, explained practically, and lived out actively by each and every one of us.We believe that God's Word is our compass, given and inspired by the Holy Spirit, to guide us down every road of life. We value in being a church that engages the scriptures. 2 Timothy 3.16; 2 Peter 1.20-21, 2 Peter 3.16; John 10.35, John 17.17, Psalm 18.30 |
Of |
Outward FocusBecause God has called us to be a community that looks outward first, we believe in continually asking ourselves the question: "What would Christ have us do to bring His love to unchurched people?"We believe that we've been called to be a different kind of church, a church that changes the spiritual landscape of our community for the better. We seek to accomplish this by sharing our stories, serving others, building relationships, and equipping everyone within our community to be an everyday evangelist for Jesus Christ. We in believe in being a church with an outward focus. Genesis 12.3b; Matthew 7.12; 1 Corinthians 10.24; Philippians 2.3-4 |
Mm |
Ministry MultiplicationBecause the rapid expansion of the Kingdom of God requires exponential growth, we believe in being a church that multiplies at every level.We believe that because people matter, numbers matter, and for this reason we desire to think strategically and act decisively for maximum impact in all areas of ministry. We believe in planting churches that plant churches that plant churches. We believe in being a church that is intentional about ministry multiplication. Acts 2; Matthew 28.18-20 |