About Us: Statement of
Ministry
We want our church to be a community whose members corporately and
individually put into effect the threefold priority of God first,
God’s family second, and God’s work in the world third.
While realizing this is a biblical mandate, our expressions of it are
not fixed but are a growing process as we are led by the Holy Spirit
(Rom. 12:1-2).
We want a dynamic
relationship with the Lord and His Word.
Therefore
We participate in joining together to celebrate and to worship the Lord
through preaching, singing, Communion, baptism, giving, prayer, praise,
and sharing the Lord’s Word and His works (1 Chron. 16:27-29).
We believe that it
is scriptural to train believers.
Therefore
We participate in the process of equipping and educating believers
(children, youth, and adults) for the work of the ministry through
Bible studies, small groups, Sunday School classes, fellowship
activities, and training experiences (Eph. 4:11-13). We participate in
the ministry of overseeing and caring for one another through
encouragement and counsel in order to present every person complete in
Christ.
We want a dynamic
relationship with nonbelievers.
Therefore
We participate in outreach to our community and world through
relationships. We pray for God to open up doors for the good news of
salvation to be expressed and experienced in a realistic, relational,
and responsible manner (Matt. 28:19-20).
We want people to
be healed and delivered, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore
We organize, conduct, participate in inreach and outreach to our
community and world through ministering healing and deliverance to the
whole Man via the Word of Faith, accompanied by Signs and Wonder. We
pray for God to open up doors for the good news of salvation to be
expressed and experienced in a realistic, relational, and responsible
manner. Moreover, we pray for the realization of the global Mandate on
this commission (Matt. 28:19-20).
The scriptural basis for this statement:
“To be active
disciples of Christ by attracting and leading the unsaved to Jesus . .
.”
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age (Matt. 28:19-20).
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
“. . .
challenging all Christians to dedicate themselves to the ministry”
Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer
your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this
is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will
is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Rom. 12:1-2).
“. . . and to
stimulate an atmosphere for Christian maturity that results in
Spirit-filled believers reaching out to others”
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare
God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may
be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge
of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of
the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:11-13).
“. . . and a
powerful ministry serving our city area and beyond.”
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every
disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on
them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a
shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is
plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matt.
9:35-38). “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them
from their destructions” (Psalms 107:20), “And they went
out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many
devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed
them” (Mark 6:12-13). Thy people shall be willing in the
day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the
morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth(Psalms 110:3). Mark 16:17-20
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after
the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat
on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere,
the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs
following. Amen (Mark 16:17-20). How God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good,
and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with
him(Acts 10:38).
THE PERSONALITY OF THIS STATEMENT OF
MINISTRY
This purpose has a personality that has been, is, and will continually
be reflected in this Body of Believers. Within this statement there are
words that describe the atmosphere that we desire at church: words that
point to Christ as the Head of the Church are also intentionally used
in our Statement of Ministry!
A. The Atmosphere of the Church
1. We want to be a growing church.
2. We want to be a magnetic
church. Right after Jesus gave us the Beatitudes in Matt. 5, He made
two interesting statements concerning Christians. He said, “You
are the salt of the earth” (v. 13) and “You are the light
of the world” (v. 14). Jesus’ expectation of our lives is
that we should be a preservative to our society. Our lives should, as
salt, make those around us thirsty for Jesus. We ought also to be light
on the path of a darkened, troubled world. We become beautiful when our
attitude toward Christ, others, and ourselves is right. An attitude is
nothing more than “an outward expression of an inward
feeling.” When we are inwardly attractive we become an outwardly
beautiful demonstration of love to those around us.
3. We want to be an
encouraging church. Heb. 10:25 states that we are not to “give up
meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but . . .
encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day
approaching.”
4. We want to be a church
with multiple ministries—“a dynamic ministry
serving ...” To minister is to reach out and meet needs.
Jesus taught us that the highest form of ministry is service to others.
We do injustice to the word ministry by restricting its use to pastors
or full-time ordained ministers. The importance of lay ministry is
demonstrated in Matt. 26:6-13. A woman came, poured perfume on Jesus,
and expressed her devotion to Him. Others complained about the cost of
the perfume—evidence that they did not understand that ministry
to others is more important than cost or status (for she was a lowly
woman). Jesus was so touched by her ministry to Him that He declared,
“Wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she
has done will also be told in memory of her” (v. 13).
B. The Attitude of the Church
1. Reach the lost for Christ. “For the Son of
Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).
2. Preach the doctrine of
entire sanctification. “For God did not call us to be impure, but
to live a holy life” (1 Thess. 4:7). “May God himself,
the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole
spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).
3. Equip believers for a
dynamic ministry (Eph. 4).
C. The Achievement of the Church
1. Disciple believers in God’s Word. A disciple
of Christ is one who loves and obeys the Lord’s teachings.
2. Send others into
full-time Christian service (Acts 13).
3. Provide a climate for
spiritual growth. The only thing beautiful about our church is Jesus.
When, as a congregation, we sense His presence in our services, then
all is well. When He comes, lives are changed, hurts are healed, and
joy is received.
4. Grow a great church in
our city for God’s glory.
Conclusion
Our Statement of Ministry will be a faithful guide into the future.
This Statement of Ministry will infuse direction, prayer, and energy
into the Body of Christ. As we cooperate and worship together, God will
honor and bless our resources in order that we might reach a hurting
world for Christ’s sake.
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