Core Values

How We Do Things

Our mission defines ‘why we exist’. Our vision defines ‘who we are’ and who we strive to be. Our purpose describes ‘what we do’ in relation to our mission and our vision. Our beliefs obviously state what we believe, while also stating what ‘unifies us’ and ‘sets us apart from the world.’

Our core values, however, describe ‘how we live’ out our mission, vision, purpose, and beliefs. They flesh out who we are as a church. Our core values are the things that are most important to us as a church and the things we choose to be identified with. As we evaluate all of our ministries, we must ask ourselves if our values are being upheld.

Our Core Values as a church are:

1. Authenticity:

We believe that real, open, honest, and accountable relationships create community and foster growth. We are committed to a Biblically based Small Groups ministry where this can take place within our church. Small Groups are the best way for people within the church to connect, do ministry, and for pastoral care to take place.

2. Biblical:

We believe that the Bible is the final and ultimate authority in all we do, and that it should direct our lives and our activities as a church community and as individuals.

3. Communication:

We believe that creative, clear, practical, relevant, and exciting Bible teaching is a key catalyst for life transformation through Christ. We believe in openly communicating the state of the church and its needs to its members.

4. Creative Arts:

We encourage artists, writers, photographers, film makers, and musicians to use their God-given gifts for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom. We encourage the advancement of art in our communities, appreciate it where we find it, and redeem it for use in God’s Kingdom.

5. Elders:

We honor those older than us in our communities, recognizing that they are an asset to our growth, and not a hindrance. We actively seek the wisdom, leadership, and advice that they have to share.

6. Family:

We nurture the development of stable-Biblically-based family units.

7. Freedom:

We proclaim freedom in Christ from addiction, bondage, and sin. We embrace freedom in Christ in one’s decision making, as long is God is glorified, His Kingdom is advanced, and our freedom is not used as an excuse to sin. We also encourage people to express freedom in their worship as long as it is to the glory of God and respectful to the advancement of His Kingdom.

8. Fun:

We strive to actively enjoy the gifts of God by having fun in our gatherings and our personal lives, not taking ourselves too seriously, and encouraging humor- all while showing proper reverence to a Holy God and respect for people created in His image.

9. Hospitality:

We will be a community of hospitality- welcoming with open arms those God brings into our midst to show them the grace, love and hope of Christ.

10. Intentional:

We choose to plan and prepare for all of our activities- not simply leaving sacred things up to chance. We seek excellence by doing whatever our hands find to do with all of our might. We commit everything we do to the glory of God and to the advancement of His Kingdom.

11. Life:

We uphold the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception until the moment of natural death. We believe that every human was created in the image of God and that their life matters to Him, and should also matter to us. Because of that we commit to seeking out betterment and justice on behalf of all human life.

12. Mystery:

We acknowledge that we don’t have everything figured out in this life. We know only what God chooses to reveal to us. We encourage and embrace tough questions that lead us to a further understanding of God and His Word.

13. Priesthood:

We believe that every Believer, regardless of their profession, is a minister and is responsible for sharing the grace, love, and hope that they have found in Christ within their communities. We will empower and expect the members of our community to be active and involved in the ministries of the church.

14. Relevance:

We our intentional about being relevant in the ways we communicate our message so that our audience can understand. And we are intentional in being relevant in the environments we create in order to communicate our message so that our audience enjoys and is comfortable in them. We strive to be all things to all men so that some may be saved.

15. Sabbath:

Just as God chose a day to rest on; we are committed to a rhythmic lifestyle of work and rest- but not religious about what days of the week we do so.

16. Simplicity:

We choose to keep our activities as a church deep, yet simple as to not over-clutter our schedules so that we can spend the majority of our time being a community of grace, love, and hope in our homes, neighborhoods, and the marketplace.

17. Spirit Led:

We submit our lives and our activities as a church to the control of the Holy Spirit, acknowledging that our plans are nothing compared to His and always being open to His leading.

18. Stewardship:

We recognize that everything belongs to God-including our time, our money, our resources, our relationships, and our planet- and we choose to manage these things well to the glory of God and for advancement of His Kingdom. Out of thanksgiving we strive to be joyfully generous with the things God has blessed us with for the advancement of His Kingdom and for the betterment of the world around us.

19. Truth:

We are not willing to compromise the truth, yet are committed to progressively and relevantly reaching the lost. We desire to recognize truth in our culture, and redeem it for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.

20. Youth:

We are committed to training our children and our youth in the Way they should go, so that when they are old they will not depart from it. Our young people are not the Church of tomorrow, but the Church of today and the use of our resources must reflect that.