Mission and Values
Reaching Out
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Making Connections
Hebrews 10:24-25
Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Becoming Ambassadors for Christ
2 Corinthians 5:19-21
In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on the behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
PRESBYTERIAN and REFORMED
Presbyterian describes how we organize and govern ourselves. It comes from an ancient Greek word meaning “ruled by elders.” A team of trusted servant leaders (our pastors and elders) leads the church. These leaders work together as peers in directing the life and mission of the church.
Reformed means that we trace our roots to Protestant Reformation, when John Calvin and others led the movement to reform the Church according to Scripture. It also means that we believe in the absolute sovereignty of God, and that the highest good is His glory. This historical and theological heritage is often expressed in the five Solas (Onlys) of the Reformation:
God’s grace alone is the only way to be reconciled to Him;
Faith alone is the only means of receiving God’s grace;
Christ alone is the ground of God’s saving grace;
Scripture alone is the only infallible authority for belief;
God’s glory alone is the ultimate purpose for our lives.
As a Reformed church we have one confessional standard: the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. This confessional standard is subordinate to God’s Word (Sola #4); it simply provides an organized, thematic presentation of the message of the Bible. Our “Essentials of the Faith” (see, "Doctrinal Statement") document is a summary of orthodox Christianity taken from the Westminster standards.
EVANGELICAL
To be evangelical is to believe that Jesus is God the Son who became flesh and lived among us and died for us. Through Jesus Christ the forgiveness of sin and freedom from its guilt and power is offered to those who through repentance and personal faith come to Jesus. This salvation is found in no one else. As Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14.6). The good news of God’s love needs to be shared with the world.
CHARISMATIC
To be charismatic means to encourage the use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit both privately and publicly, whenever we meet. We do not want to restrict the use of these gifts, but we do expect their use to be orderly and for the building up of everyone who is influenced by them. We are not a demonstrative group, but we do love the Lord and want His power to operate among us.