Purpose, Mission and Core Values
Biblical Motif: Trinity
We are invited into relationships with God and one another, because of the Trinity.
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Because of Father’s love,
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through the Son’s loving action by
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the Spirit’s loving presence and empowerment.
Biblical Life Purpose:
To invite others into an authentic relationship with God and join with them in demonstrating the welcome heart of God in an increasingly diverse world.
Life Mission:
To help the family of God become a welcoming, invitational people who are reaching and touching those around us in a diverse world with the gospel and love of God by
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Communicating the message of Christ
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Building a welcoming inclusive faith community (neither Jew or Greek, Slave or Free, Male or Female.)
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Fostering intimacy with God
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Promoting opportunity for and participating in community impact and justice efforts
Life Vision:
I envision a welcoming Christian community marked by life-flourishing hospitality, authentic relationships and a transformative intimacy with God that impacts the larger community in holistic ways.
Core Beliefs and Core Values
Authenticity:
Definition: living congruently or moving toward living congruently according to the likeness of Jesus in honesty and self-awareness; transparent with God and trusted others.
1John 1:5-10 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; and in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth of God is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
John 8:31-32 …If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
1John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The one who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
Inclusivity:
Definition: Inclusivity is an evangelistic idea that involves the desire to reach everyone by every means possible. Inclusion is an intentional, incarnational act to move beyond our comfort within race, gender, class and ethnicity and invite others into relationship with ourselves and ultimately with God.
Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
Galatians 3:26-29 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
1Corinthians 9:19-23Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law, so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Ephesians 2:19 …But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household…
Hospitality:
Definition: Hospitality is the act of creating welcome in a community so that all might hear the message of truth and understand the reality of God’s love. Creating welcome means communicating well and using language people understand, incarnational ministry, involving the full range of diversity by inviting people of all ethnicities, class and gender into fellowship and ministry so that it will be seen that all are welcome here. Hospitality means that all will be able to flourish and discover their uniqueness in Christ.
2Corinthians 5:14- For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God who reconciled the world to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Equality:
Definition: Equality has to do with valuing all people according to the love of God and seeing them as he sees them. Worth or kinds of service are not determined by social position, race, gender, class, or wealth. Equality involves seeing beyond social constructions of value and ordering and empowering each to fulfill their destiny in Christ as one united with Christ. Though we have specific genders and ethnicities our new gender and ethnicity is Jesus. We do not melt and lose our distinctives but we join into a new community on the basis of union with Jesus Christ—in which all are valued as sons—or inheritors.
Acts 2:17-18 I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream d reams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days and they will prophesy.
Galatians 3:26-29 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Ephesians 1:5-6, 13 He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves….and you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Diversity
Definition: valuing the rich uniqueness contributed by others who see or experience the world differently than myself. This involves listening, observing, and hearing the perspectives of others and listening and hearing God. This also involves the gifts of awareness received by being in relationship with diverse others. (awarenesses or inacuracies in my own worldview and awareness of my behavior and views affecting others).
Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (listen to one another, hear one another, learn from one another)
Phillipians 2:1-9 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross.
James 3:13-17 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly and unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
Transformation:
Definition: Becoming more like Jesus, sharing the things on his heart and living in the way reflected by his heart.
2Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
1John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The one who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
1John 4:7-12 Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins…if we love one another, God’s love is made complete in us.
