Core values are the central beliefs which characterize our ministry. These values identify what is of central importance and shape every aspect of ministry. Core values are the DNA of the church, which sets the pattern for every group and every activity.
Biblical truth
Our starting point is God’s revealed truth in the written word (the Bible) and the living word (Jesus Christ). Our beliefs and practices must be founded on the bedrock of God’s truth. As we prayerfully study the Word, we must let it challenge and shape our lives, and lead us into a deeper relationship with God. Biblical truth fulfills our need for a sure foundation on which to build our lives.
A growing relationship with God leads to. . .
Grace life
Through God’s revelation we learn about His incredible love for us. Because we fall short of God’s perfect standard, He has provided forgiveness through the death of His Son. But grace is not something that we need only to obtain eternal life. It is something that we need every day, because we still fall short. Grace frees us from the impossible task of pleasing God by our own efforts. We must learn to walk by grace in a life led by the Holy Spirit.
A heart set free by God’s grace is able to engage in. . .
Authentic worship
Worship is the response of a heart that has caught a glimpse of God’s glory and a taste of His amazing love. True worship is not just going through the motions, but a real encounter with God through His Spirit. As we worship we enter into God’s presence in a special way, and come away changed by the experience. Authentic worship fills an empty place in our hearts which only God can fill.
When we encounter God in His word and through worship, we begin to experience. . .
Life transformation
God invites us to come to Him just as we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way. As we draw closer to Him, He works through His Spirit to transform us in head and in heart, changing us by His grace in a way far deeper than we could ever change ourselves. Life transformation delivers us from the disappointment that we feel in ourselves and provides hope of becoming the people that we have always wanted to be.
A vibrant spiritual life and a heart transformed by God makes it possible to experience. . .
Genuine community
We were never meant to live alone or in isolation. When we trust Him for salvation God makes us a part of His family and makes possible a fellowship that the world cannot know. In a spiritual life shared together, we can grow to care for each other in relationships that even death cannot sever. Genuine community fulfills the deep need to belong, to both love and be loved.
Life together gives us each the opportunity to find our own unique role through. . .
Body life ministry
When God designed the Body of Christ, He intended for each individual to have a significant role to play and an important contribution to make. No one is unnecessary and no one is only a spectator. Through discovering our spiritual gifts and learning to use them, we can each help the Body to function in an effective and healthy manner. Serving as a part of the Body fulfills the need to make a contribution as a valued part of the community.
The overflow of spiritual life shared together in community leads to. . .
Outward focus
God’s heart reaches out to the world, and those who are close to Him share His passion. Just as Jesus intentionally pursued lost people, we too must take ministry outside the walls of the church. Every generation must discover fresh approaches to share God’s timeless message in culturally relevant ways. Through the word of the Gospel and acts of compassion we proclaim God’s love to a lost and dying world. An outward focus gives us the opportunity to do something truly significant that will impact eternity.
These core values grow out of one another and are listed in logical sequence because to a certain extent the latter points depend on the earlier ones. But they are not meant to describe stages of spiritual growth. We recognize that both as individuals and as a church we should be simultaneously growing in all of these areas.