Our Foundation

What is the foundation that keeps us focused on this vision? God’s Word, the Bible. We believe that the inspired Scriptures are the ultimate source of truth. Therefore, the Bible has full sufficiency and authority for everything we believe and practice in our individual lives, our families and our church. Our passion is to understand God’s Word so that we can live it out for His glory.

 

Our Purpose

    Displaying the glory of God…

    Ephesians 3:10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

    Ephesians 3:21 …to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.

 

    …by Delighting in Him

    Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

 

    …by Declaring His Truth

    Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

    John 17:17  “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.

 

Our Priorities

 Acts 2:42 And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

 

    Word Driven—

The content and method of all ministry is driven by biblical principles. Strong biblical teaching emphasizes the implementation of biblical truth in all of corporate and individual life and ministry. We seek to equip saints for ministry.

 

    Fellowship Focused—

We encourage transparent relationships with one another that stimulate growing Christ-likeness. We desire that loving service for believers and unbelievers characterizes our church

 

    Christ Centered—

In all ministries and teaching, we will seek to focus everything around the glorious person and work of Christ and the hope we have in Him. We strive to live and minister with a big view of our great God.

 

    Prayer Saturated—

Individual / family prayer is encouraged, and corporate prayer is prioritized to provide greater stimulus and impetus for intercession.

 

Distinctives

    Strategic Simplicity—

We strive to keep our ministry simple and strategically focused on our God given priorities. Thus, we carefully limit the areas that we focus our ministry energies on. 

 

    Expectant Equipping—

We seek to equip all to maturity, many to leadership; expecting that God will prepare His people to do the work of the ministry. We emphasize holistic development in godly character, biblical knowledge and life and ministry skills.

 

    Everyday Evangelism—

Reaching  out to the lost boldly and appropriately should be part of the “DNA” of every ministry. Our outreach will emphasize God’s people consistently sharing the good news with the lost.

 

    Purposeful Participation—

Broad participation (families, singles, young, mature) in all aspects of ministry is emphasized. From corporate gatherings to ministry service to small groups, all are encouraged to openly participate.

 

Our Plan

    Corporate Worship—

We gather to exalt God, equip God’s people and minister the love of Christ to one another.  We meet each Sunday at our church building (1620 N. Monroe St.).

 

    Care Groups—

 Care Groups will be the foundation for spiritual care.  Application driven Bible discussions and loving relationships provide the atmosphere for spiritual growth.

 

    Consistent Outreach—

 We equip, encourage and provide consistent opportunities to reach out to the lost with the Gospel.

 

    Equipping Opportunities—

 We will equip God’s people through as many means as possible: preaching, classes, discipleship, etc.

 

    Frequent Fellowship—

We emphasize consistent fellowship with God’s people in order to “encourage one another to love and good deeds.” Showing the love of Christ to one another is encouraged in both planned and casual settings.

 

    Service in the Body—

We equip and encourage all of God’s people to invest their gifts and talents to serve one another in the body of Christ.

 

Leadership & Organization

    

    a. Elders-These are a team of biblically qualified men who shepherd, oversee and lead a local body of believers (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).

    1) An elder is the same as a pastor, shepherd and overseer (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2; 1 Tim. 5:17).

    2) Some elders are financially supported by the church while others are self supporting (1 Timothy 5:17-18, 1 Cor. 9:9-14).

    3) Elders are to be the primary examples of leading through serving (Matt. 20:26, John 13:14,15; I Peter 5:3) 

 

    b. Equippers- Gifted teachers who devote themselves (under the Eldership) to establishing and setting in order, a church. Specifically, they give themselves to training leaders, being sent or training to send others to establish new churches (I Timothy 4:1-16, 2 Timothy 2:2-6, 4:1-4, Titus 1:5 ff., I Timothy 3:1 ff.).

 

    c. Deacons -These are men and women who minister in the church in special areas of service (Acts 6; 1 Tim. 3:8-10).

    1) Deacons must meet the biblical qualifications and be tested before being entrusted with deacon responsibilities (1 Tim. 3:10).

    2) Although deacon work is under the oversight of the elders, deacons are given appropriate authority and responsibility so that they can free up the elders to focus on specific ministry areas (Acts 6).

 

    d. The Congregation-All believers are commanded to be part of a local assembly of Christians (Heb. 10:24-25).

    1. Serve-All believers are called to serve one another in the local body through encouragement, exhortation and exercise of their spiritual gifts (John 15:13; Gal. 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16).

    2. Submit-Believers are commanded by God to submit to the oversight of the elders of their local church (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 16:15-16; Heb. 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:1-3).