Values

Values are different than beliefs. Two churches can agree completely on beliefs but have different values. Values are what get us out of bed… what drive us… and what give a church a feel and culture. These are our values. That doesn’t mean we do these things perfectly, but they’re what we think important and want to grow in.

Jesus in Us—If we don’t have Jesus, we don’t have anything. That means everything we do is unapologetically about him and getting to know him better. You will not hear a sermon or Sunday School that does not drive you back to Jesus (if you do, we have failed). Love for Jesus always results in obedience to his commands (John 14:15, 21). We are not perfect yet, but perfection is our goal (Philippians 3:12). We want our church to be a safe place for sinners to become more and more like Jesus (Matthew 11:28).

United in Jesus—As his disciples, we are seeking to find our deepest and most fundamental identity in Jesus (Galatians 2:20). We believe that Jesus and his Gospel defines us more than our political affiliation, cultural background, and social status. We recognize that, when these things define us more than Jesus, we inflict great pain and bitter heartache to each other. Therefore, we are committed to becoming a community of repentance, where we strive together to turn from our sin and labor for peace.

Joy in Reverence—God is God and we are not. He is holy, glorious, and all-powerful. He is patient, loving, and kind. This simultaneously gives us joy and makes us stand in awe. We earnestly desire to take him seriously and always approach him with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28-29). 

Faith in Community—We do not believe that you can love Jesus and not love his community (the church). The Bible tells us that the church is his body (1 Corinthians 12:27), his family (Mark 3:35; 1 Timothy 3:15), and his kingdom (Revelation 5:10). The church is the context in which the Christian life is lived out. We cannot follow Jesus without being involved in the lives of other believers and that includes our leaders. Expect the pastors, elders, and deacons to get to know you. None of us has arrived. We need each other. And that means we must have a place where we can be real and vulnerable.

Truth in Simplicity—We are absolutely convinced that we are not smarter than God. It is for this reason that, in all we do, we want to be rooted in God’s word. When the Bible says one thing and we believe something else, we’re the ones who need to change. We don’t have a fancy building. Our worship isn’t fancy. The message of salvation is simple and we want our church to be as well.