We believe that grace changes everything. It is by grace that we are enabled to glorify God and it is by grace that we find joy in this life and throughout eternity. The message we proclaim is not a message of what you must do for God, it is a message of what God has done for you in Jesus Christ. This is what grace is all about. This is what we mean when we speak of the gospel - it is the message of all that God has done for us in Christ.
This gospel message, the message of grace is found in the Bible, the Word of God. So we rely on the Bible to guide us in all that we are and all that we do.
With that in mind, we are seeking to build a unique community, unlike anything else in the world. A community of grace, a community of love and a community on mission.
A Community of Grace
Grace changes how we relate to God. In the Bible, the book of Ephesians says:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).
We live in a world where acceptance and value are based on performance and production. This is true in the business world, sports, education, arts and many other activities and institutions. This is true even in many religious communities where the message is that if we obey then God will accept us.
But the Christian message says that acceptance is based solely on the grace of God. Grace is how we come into the community of faith, and is the means by which we grow in the faith. The gospel of grace is not the ABC's of the Christian life; it is the A to Z of the Christian life. For us the gospel is always the answer, it is always the solution. As a church we are not united by what we do for God, are united around the knowledge that we are joyful recipients of His grace.
A Community of Love
Grace changes how we relate to people. In the Bible, the Gospel of John says:
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35).
Since the gospel of grace is the A to Z of the Christian life it has definite and practical implications in how we relate to one another. In a performance based culture we live with competition, pressure and criticism. And, sometimes those are found in religious communities, just with a bit of a spiritual twist. Our desire is to create an atmosphere of unity, love, acceptance and forgiveness.
No, we don't accept that which is clearly in rebellion to God, but our response is to offer the forgiveness and grace of the gospel, not condemnation.
So when you come to our church, you won't be treated as a prospect or a potential resource. You will be invited to share the love, acceptance and forgiveness that is the birthright of all who follow Christ. We hope that with our unified life together, we will present a winsome and compelling alternative to those who have never tasted such love, acceptance and forgiveness.
A Community on Mission
The gospel changes how we relate to those outside the church. In the Bible, the book of Jeremiah says:
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper (Jeremiah 29:7).
Too often, the church has been known more for what it is against than what it is for. We are not against anyone; rather we are for the people and the city amongst whom we live. We have an outward, servant, missional focus, rather than an inward, isolationist focus. We seek their peace and prosperity of our city and it's people.
We don't see the world as a battlefield, but as a mission field. Our mission is to bring Jesus and His message of grace to our city and its people. And we do this in the midst of ordinary life. We want to be known as those who are for the gospel of grace and for sharing all of its benefits with those around us. We each have time, talent and resources which we seek to give generously for the sake of the gospel of grace and the peace and prosperity of our city and its people.
In seeking to be a community of grace and love and on mission we also hold the following values.
Reliance on God's Resources, not Human Resources
God loves to continually pour out His grace on His people . . .
