Let's be honest, we aren't there yet. But we have a vision of where we want to go and a plan for how to get there.
We have a vision of a church that is for people who aren't used to coming to church, but know there is something bigger to this life. We want to create a place where they can experience the truth about God in an environment where they feel safe, and where they can be challenged about their lives in a way that is empowering instead of condemning.
We have a vision of a church that is informal, relevant and contemporary. Where there is always a warm, friendly welcome, passionate worship, and a clear message that relates to people's lives. We want to create a place where anyone can come along and be treated like part of the family.
Above all else, we believe that we need to keep our eyes firmly fixed on God. We have a vision of a church who has Jesus Christ as the head, and who is helped daily by the Holy Spirit. A church focused on loving God and loving one another.
We consider the Bible to be God's Word, and that we need it to guide us and instruct us in how to live life right. We have a vision for a church that is Bible based and passionate about understanding the message of this book.
We believe in a God who equips us personally to achieve His purpose for our lives. This purpose is to worship Him, serve Him in the church, and serve the needs of the community around us.
It can be hard to keep our eyes on the prize - especially in this world, where something is always clamouring for our attention. Some of the things that take our time and energy are really good things, but we believe in the importance of keeping that vision and the greater purposed focused in our minds.
What does it come down to? In order for God to build his church, we need to be obedient to two things -
1. The GReat commandment
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength... and love your neighbour as yourself." Mark 12:30-31 (ESV)
2. THE GREAT COMMISSION
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
We believe that God wants all of His people to have a real impact in their community, and he wants us to put His kingdom and righteousness first. When we do this, He will give us all the things we need to live our lives to the full for Him.
In order to empower one another and those in our community, we will seek to value -
1. Servanthood
In all that we do we will serve one another and reach out into our community, using our gifts and talents for the cause of Christ.
2. Passion for the cause
Throughout our day we will reach out to those who are not used to coming to church and invite them to meet with God. We will structure our Sunday services to demonstrate God's love for ordinary people.
"For the Son of man came to find and restore the lost." Luke 19:10
3. GENEROSITY
We will seek to mirror the generosity of God to fulfil the vision of the church in all that we do by giving regularly to the local church.
And through generosity, we will seek to build each other up and allow Jesus to build His church.
Our Approach
We will reach out into our community with an invitation that could change people's lives. We want to invite them to come to church to meet with God. That's our mission: bringing God and people together.
As a church we need to be relevant to the lives of those around us. We will present God to them in a way that they will understand and on Sunday we will show the love of God to them by:
- warmly welcoming newcomers amongst us
- enabling newcomers to be at ease with the format of our service
- giving biblical teaching that relates to everyday life
- offering friendship and care throughout their time with us
By prayer and faith we believe that God will draw men, women and their children to Jesus by Hi Spirit. Only God can do this part. Our job is to be 'the body of Christ.'