Communicating with God by talking to Him regularly, extensively, and earnestly Prayer is a beautiful gift of God that allows us to be in constant communication with our loving father. It also communicates our deep love for each other in God’s family that we take the time to bring each other’s needs before Him. Prayer is a powerful tool God has given us for seeing His will accomplished, and it is the only way to victory in spiritual warfare. We believe that this victory can only happen if we turn to Him with a humble and pure heart, seek His face and His ways and pray like we never have before.

“Pray continually”

(1st Thessalonians 5:17 NIV)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

(Philippians 4:6 NIV)

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

(Ephesians 6:18 NIV)

Welcoming others into our church, our homes, and our lives God has welcomed us as a stranger on His doorstep.

We had nothing to offer Him, and He had everything to offer us. We invite others into our lives in the same way. Expecting nothing, only wanting to share what we have with them. We ask ourselves the question, “who gets invited into our circle?” and then we answer the question in the same way that God has answered it. Anyone we encounter.

“Welcoming others into our church, our homes, and our lives God has welcomed us as a stranger on His doorstep. We had nothing to offer Him, and He had everything to offer us. We invite others into our lives in the same way. Expecting nothing, only wanting to share what we have with them. We ask ourselves the question, “who gets invited into our circle?” and then we answer the question in the same way that God has answered it. Anyone we encounter.”

(Hebrews 12:2 NIV)

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

(Romans 12:13 NIV)

“Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

(Matthew 25: NIV)

Building relationships with each other as we follow Jesus together.

We believe that Christian community is built through one to one discipling relationships, as well as in small group and larger group gatherings. In each of these settings we look to deepen the relationships through sharing our lives, our joys, our sorrows, and our struggles. The purpose of this community is to help us grow in our understanding and practice of our faith.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

(Acts 2:42:47 NIV)

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV)

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

(Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV)

Celebrating our different experiences, perspectives, gifts, and personalities.

We have a unity that doesn’t come from looking or acting the same, but instead through our beliefs, our shared values and our common goals. Therefore we can not only celebrate our differences, we can cultivate the things that God has uniquely given to each member of the body and use them for God’s glory and each other’s benefit.

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.”

(1st Corinthians 12:12-18 NIV)

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

(Romans 12:4-8 NIV)

Serving Jesus fervently through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Our lives of service for Jesus are not dutiful and boring. We are being transformed into the image of Christ which by definition means that He changes us from the inside out. This means that not only are we are obedient to Him, but that our obedience comes from a place of devotion and enthusiasm.

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord “

(Romans 12:10 NIV)

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”

(Colossians 3:23 NIV)

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together s one for the faith of the gospel.”

(Philippians 1:27 NIV)