1. Prayer - Urgent and Passionate
The goal of our prayers is to know and do the will of God. We believe without passionate prayer driven by our understanding of the urgency of the times, the church is anemic and incapable of the mission Christ has given His followers. We don’t want to offer God suggestions He might want to think about, but rather wait upon Him to reveal His will that we may pray in agreement with Him. We believe prayer is the engine, the power source, our connection to the will of God so that we may see Him do His work through us. When it comes to seeing the dynamic, powerful work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, in our church, prayer is plan A and there is no plan B. (Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 18:18-20; 1 John 5:14-15; James 4:3; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
2. Grace - New Life in Christ
God has called us to proclaim new life in Christ that is available to every person. This new life is in no way connected to the old life. When a person comes to faith in Christ, repents of sin and receives God’s grace, they are immediately changed. This change is an actual exchange of who they used to be for who Christ is. The life of Jesus is placed within them through His Holy Spirit and the person has a brand new identity - Jesus. We do not strive hard to be like Jesus, but we surrender to Jesus who lives His very life in us. (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 15:5; Philippians 4:13; Colossians 1:26-27; Romans 6:5-7)
3. Truth - Growing Through His Word
God’s Word gives a comprehensive view of life. It is the Creator’s explanation to us about His existence, our existence and the meaning of the world and everything around us. It tells one continuous story about His redemptive plan for mankind. Studies have shown that only a very small percentage of American Christians know and live a truly Biblical Worldview. Sadly, there has been a great influence of culture on the theological development of modern American Christians. The Bible applies to all of life, including the family, human sexuality, the role of government, human origins, absolute truth of right and wrong, economic systems and how we are to live in every area of life. (Colossians 2:6-8; Matthew 7:24-27; Hosea 4:6; John 8:31-33; Colossians 1:15-17; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 4:8)
4. Identity - Jesus-Centered
It is our intention and desire to place Jesus Christ at the center of everything we do. We believe for a church to be healthy, Jesus must be exalted, lifted up, and central in every ministry, age group and event. Jesus is our source for all of life, both as individuals and as a community. He defines our relationships, as we are His body and He is our message to the community around us. We believe everything begins and ends in Jesus. (John 15:4–5; Ephesians 4:15–16; Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 3:3-4; Colossians 3:17; Psalm 27:4)
5. Intergenerational - Connecting Generations
God is at work in every generation, and each generation reflects the nature of God in different ways. Cultivating relationships across generational lines sometimes requires us to push through uncomfortable situations, but God’s Word teaches us to be intentional about breaking down any barriers that might divide us. We want every person from the youngest to the oldest to know they are part of a community that is greater than their particular peer group. The Lord has shown us that He desires Christian Community across generations because it is essential to following Christ; it is life-giving and it builds the church that God designed for us--one that leads to a legacy of faith that outlives us. (Acts 2:46-47; Ephesians 4:1–6; Genesis 17:7; Exodus 12:14; Hebrews 10:24-25; Deuteronomy 6:1-7)
