The Body of Christ, the church, is a loving, healing community. Thus, we deeply value the importance of healthy relationships, both with God and with one another. We are to care deeply for others and to provide a safe haven for people who need unconditional acceptance. Therefore, we commit ourselves to one another in authentic relationships beyond Sunday morning. We are to exhibit genuine concern for one another and are committed to developing a climate of acceptance where all people can feel loved and accepted.
(Philippians 2:2-5; John 13:34-35).
We Value the Bible
We value the Bible for it is able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible is God’s Word, written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is vital for teaching, training, and equipping God’s people for every good work. We are challenged to study and know the Scriptures, and to allow the Holy Spirit to apply them to our lives, and the life of this church.
(2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Psalm 18:30; Hebrews 4:12)
We Value Prayer
Communicating with God through prayer is one of the greatest experiences of the Christian life. Honest and persistent prayer is essential to spiritual health and is powerful beyond measure. God responds to the prayers of His people—prayers of confession of sin, thanksgiving for blessings, intercession for others, asking for personal needs, and praise for God’s deeds. Prayer will be our first priority in everything we do.
(Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).We Value Worship
We value a lifestyle of worship that includes both public and private worship for the purpose of connecting with God, resulting in a commitment to service. It is through worship that we offer praise, thanksgiving, and glory to God. Our worship should be biblical, relevant, and celebrative. Genuine worship delights God’s heart and restores and refreshes our lives. Worship is the highest privilege of God’s people and should be given prominence in our church activities.
(Psalm 95:1-2; Psalm 95:6; John 4:24; Romans 12:1-2). We Value Christlikeness
We all should strive, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to be like Christ. Jesus’ life and teachings are the model for our lives. We believe that every Christian should be on an intentional and lifelong journey of discipleship that results in living an authentic, godly life marked by truthfulness, love, holiness, and personal integrity.
(Romans 8:29; 1 John 1:7; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 John 3:2; 1 John 4:15-16).
We Value Growth
Although numerical growth is not necessarily a sign of God’s blessings, and is not a sufficient goal in itself, we believe that God desires for us to reach as many people as possible for Christ. Therefore, we will pursue methods and policies that will facilitate numerical growth without compromising in any way our integrity or commitment to Biblical truth.
(Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:41; 6:7; Ephesians 4:15-16).We Value Local Outreach and World MissionsWe seek to be obedient to Christ’s command to take the Gospel to all people, locally and globally. We believe that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved and that all people should have an opportunity to hear and respond to His gospel. Because lost people matter to God, we are committed to reaching out to them through personal witness, and also through our support for local, national, and global missions. Evangelism is an essential part of Christian growth; therefore, we seek to effectively equip believers for personal evangelism.
(Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 4:12).
We Value Everyone Involved and Participating in Church Life
We believe the Body of Christ, the church, is strengthened as each believer uses his or her spiritual gifts to serve God and people. This church is committed to equipping and developing all members for full participation in the life of the church and helping them become effective ministers within the Body of Christ. We will create an environment in which servant leadership is developed. All members are encouraged to grow in the stewardship of their money, talents, and time in ways that honor God.
