FOLLOWING THE WAY OF JESUS FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE CITY

We love people where they are, not where we wish them to be. This is the beauty of grace and the beauty of the gospel. Our DNA is that God has loved us in Jesus. As we learn to receive His love, become rooted in relationship, we, in turn, love our neighbors as ourselves . Love compelled Jesus, and therefore love compels us.

The Church’s modus operandi should be to live out a response of radical love that we first received in Jesus (Mk 12:30-31; 1 Jn. 4:19; 2 Cor. 5:14-15).

Everyone is welcome, whoever you are, whatever your background, come and see. Hospitality invites, hospitality says, you belong here. People from all different walks of life were invited to discover who Jesus was. When the hurting and the broken came — they were changed. As a church, we recognize that any relationship requires risk. Why? People are messy. So, we invite people into relationships to listen and hear their story. We say, come as you are and leave changed (Jn. 1:38-39; Jn. 4:7-26; Lk 19:1-9).

We believe in a church where real relationships can be found—real relationships where people can be seen, known and loved. Through Jesus, new and deep friendships are possible. This new community, a gospel-formed community, includes people from different backgrounds coming together with one main commonality— they have put their faith in Jesus. A community that is shaped and formed by Jesus, grows into a supernatural community where God’s presence is made known.(Eph. 2:19-22; Acts 14:19-20).

People weren’t made to hide. We’re afraid that if people look too closely at our lives, they may not like what they see. So, what do we do? We craft the image we want others to see. We’re afraid to be real, to be honest, to be transparent. We believe the church should be a place where no masks are required. Why? Because the church is a place were broken people, real people, are becoming more like Jesus (1 Thess. 2:8; 2 Cor. 12:10).

We are desperate for God’s word and Spirit in our lives. We believe the Bible is true…every word of it. It is God’s word for us that strengthens, corrects and equips us. We believe that how we perceive God’s word will determine our overall spiritual health. In the same way, we are a church that is dependent on the Holy Spirit to empower us for service, cleanse us and conform us more into the image of Christ. As a church, we desire to experience a word-soaked and spirit-filled life (Col. 3:16; 2 Tim. 3:16; Act 9:17; Eph 5:18).