MISSION, VISION, & VALUES
OUR mission: IMPERFECT PEOPLE JOINING JESUS ON HIS MISSION OF LOVE AND RESTORATION.
HOW WE CARRY OUT THE MISSION
WE MAKE DISCIPLES through sharing the good news of Jesus with our words and our lives.
WE MATURE DISCIPLES through growing in our understanding and application of the new life Jesus offers.
WE MULTIPLY DISCIPLES through equipping and sending people on the mission Jesus gave to “go and make disciples.”
our vision: IGNITING A MOVEMENT OF RADICAL LOVE THAT TRANSFORMS OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD.
HOW WE CARRY OUT THE VISION
LOVE GOD - We believe loving God must be pursued in every facet of life, not just at weekend gatherings. We want to be a community that is most excited about one thing: The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
LOVE EACH OTHER - We believe the Bible teaches that our relationship with God is meant to be fleshed out in the context of community. Truly loving each other involves mutual care, consistency, and authenticity as we seek to grow as disciples of Jesus. This is a radical call in a church culture of mere attendance and casual involvement.
LOVE EVERYWHERE - Since we live in Washington County, we are committed to loving this great place in word and action. We will be deeply involved in our communities and lavish love and care the same way Jesus would if He lived here today. But we don’t stop there. We are called to that same love for people outside our borders and throughout the world. We want God’s love for all of humanity to be ours as well.
CORE VALUES
THE GOSPEL CHANGES EVERYTHING - [A NEW LIFE IS AVAILABLE]
When God sent His Son to take our punishment for the evil all of us have done, the story of humanity changed 180°. Everything is transformed when someone embraces and lives by the truth of this Gospel. We move from death to life; from lost to found; from broken to hopeful. We become part of God’s mission to bring love, hope, and restoration into the world. (John 15:15; John 3:16-18; Romans 10:9-13; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:22-23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 4:9-10)
LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS - [GOD LOVES ALL OF HUMANITY, SO WE DO TOO]
God defined love in the greatest, most generous way possible when He sent His Son to take our punishment for sin. Time and time again He offered forgiveness when it wasn’t deserved. His is a radical, crazy love, and the world is desperate for it. He gives love freely to all, regardless of their past or present; He sacrifices everything for others; He forgives and freely gives to everyone. There are no precursors—we are simply loved by God. God is defined by love, so we will be too. (Matthew 5:44-47; Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:10; 1 Corinthians 14:6; Colossians 3:14-16; 1 Peter 4:8-10; 1 John 3:16-18)
AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS - [IT’S OKAY TO “NOT BE OKAY”]
We are a unique collection of people in different stages of life. Some are hurting, some are celebrating, and it is all okay. We are not perfect, nor do we pretend to be. This is why God created for us the community called “church.” He intends for us to engage this life with the help of others, and to be strong when others need it. To do that, we must be real, honest, and open with each other. (Proverbs 27:17; Mathew 5:23-24; Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 12:5; Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:13; Hebrews 10:24-25)
MULTIPLY DON’T MAINTAIN - [WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO MOVE]
Every living thing in God’s creation is made to replicate and multiply. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to multiply as well. Jesus’ last command before He left earth and ascended to heaven was to “go and make disciples.” We have no option: we must pass on to others the new life we have received in Christ. This is also true of the local church, which must multiply itself in the community, the region, and the world. (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 6:40; John 13:15; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Ephesians 4:11-15; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 2 Timothy 2:2)
RADICAL GENEROSITY - [EVERYTHING WE HAVE FOR EVERYONE ELSE]
Since the beginning of time, God has been the embodiment of generosity by making us stewards of what is rightfully His. We deliberately pray for God’s blessing in our lives, not to keep or hoard, but so that God would reach someone else through our generosity. However, we understand generosity is not limited to material things. We believe we should also be radically generous with the grace, mercy, and forgiveness that God has extended to each of us through Jesus’ death. (Luke 6:30; Luke 12:33; Luke 21:1-4; Acts 2:45; Acts 20:35; Romans 12:13; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15)