Who we are and Why we do what we do 

 
Thanks for taking a few minutes to check us out. It is our belief that the church is both organic and an organization.  The church is organic in that its very life and purpose is an expression of the life and leadership of our Lord Jesus Christ,  However, it is an organization in that certain people are called and appointed to serve in various leadership capacities in order to keep the church on track in the fulfillment of God's mission.  
 
Unfortunately, the 2000 year history of the church shows a consistent slide from organism with little form to organization with little Spirit.  We desire to maintain a sufficient amount of form and organization in order to stay in sync with God's word (Titus 1:5), while at the same time, continually reminding ourselves that God is in charge, and that the Holy Spirit must be allowed to direct and/or re-direct as he deems fit (Acts 16:9-10).

Submission to our Head:
First and foremost, we are submitted to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and the "head of the body, the church" (Col. 1:18).  This is more than a matter of theological truth; our very life and purpose is wrapped up in him, for "In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3).

Mission:
Three Bible passages underscore the mission we have been given by God:

"[God] reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation...We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us" (2 Cor. 5:18-20).

"Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.'  And with that he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" (John 20:21-22).

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age'" (Matthew 28:18-20).

Vision:
We believe that the mission of God is universal in nature--all followers of Jesus Christ are presented with the challenge to be a reconciling force in a broken world.  However, each individual church must discover and implement its own unique expression of that mission.  It is our privilege to: "Help people experience a new life in Christ, walk with them as they grow in their understanding of his grace and truth, watch as they discover their God-given gifts, and release and support them in the fulfilling of his call."  In the simplest of terms, we want to "Make more and better disciples."

Strategy:
Strategy has to do with how we believe God would want us to accomplish our vision.  We see it as an issue that impacts us both corporately and individually. 

Corporate strategy:
Our home groups serve as a place for discipleship and ministry development.  Home groups are where connections are made with God and with other followers of Jesus.  This is where we get to process life in light of the Scriptures. It's also where our ministry skills are developed as we learn how to pray and minister to one another.

Corporate strategy also includes the task of assisting believers in their discovery of God's will and purpose for their life.  We do this in a couple of ways: One, through a gift assessment class specifically designed to help folks learn where their gifts and passion lie.  Two, through one-on-one coaching.  Coaching and mentoring provide skill development, confidence, support and focus

Individual strategy:
We believe that every believer is empowered with gifts from God that allow them the opportunity of making significant contributions to the fulfillment of God's eternal purposes. We call this the DNA of Spiritual Gifts:

D> Discover your gifts & passion
N> Nurture your gifts
A> Apply your gifts

Benchmarks:
While we aren't committed to the idea that numbers should be the sole determining factor as to  whether a ministry is successful, they can help us determine whether a ministry is being effective.  Therefore, we have set as a benchmark that of 80% of our adults actively engaged in a home group.  We set this goal because we believe the home groups are the most effective means of discipleship and leadership development.

Values:
Values serve as the underpinning for everything we do, which means that all we do must be built on LOVE:

L> Listen & learn in order to share insight with others
O> Offer a blessing.  Affirm others for who they are and what they do
V> Voice a prayer.  Support others in their victories and pain
E> Eat together. Re-discover the beauty of breaking bread together (or coffee)

Love means we will be there for one another.   The Bible uses several terms that key in on our unique relationship with.  We are "the household of faith," the "body of Christ," and "the family of God," all terms that underscore the fact that there is a level of expected support we are to provide for one another.