A VISION
With the transforming power of the Holy Spirit
we will glorify God the Father
and reflect the life and teaching of his son, Jesus the Messiah
CHRIST CHURCH in the FOOTHILLS
MESSAGE
The central message of Christianity is the death, burial
and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus, himself, taught that the
greatest commandment is love: love God with all your heart, soul, mind
and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Moreover, it is by love
for one another that we are recognized as Jesus' disciples. These teachings
will be the core around which our message emanates. We will promote open,
honest and comprehensive study of the Bible as God's word. We look to the
New Testament as a record of the experiences and teachings of Jesus and
the earliest Christians. Our view of Scripture will not be rigid or homogenized,
but will recognize a variety of expressions and models for practice found
among the New Testament churches. Application of teachings in our time
will be made after carefully assessing the situation and circumstances
of the original setting and comparing that with ours, placing more emphasis
on God's grace and less on human rules. CHRIST in the Foothills will stress
Bible study, not to figure out what or who is right or wrong, but so that
we may accept the righteousness God gives through Jesus. We will look not
at ourselves, but to Jesus, whose life has endured as an unequaled example
for 2,000 years. We will learn acceptance of each other as we maintain
a non-sectarian environment of free expression of faith.
MISSION
The central mission of Christianity is to make disciples
of all nations, baptizing believers in the name of the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, and teaching them what Jesus taught. Our mission is directed
to those who have never known the good news of Jesus, to those whose commitment
has been incomplete and to those who may have turned away from active expression
of faith because of negative experiences with organized religion. Our mission
will be carried out primarily in the area in which we, as a church, meet
for worship and in the areas in which we, as individuals, live. Our mission
will be carried out indiscriminately. All persons are created in the image
of God and are proper candidates to receive the gospel of Jesus and the
fellowship of Christians, regardless of race, color, physical ability,
or economic, educational or social status. Baptized believers are accepted
as free, equal and one in Christ, and are invited to participate fully
in our times of worship and study together. We will grow in the knowledge
and practice of God's word. While we will affirm those with special gifts
and training for teaching, we will also learn from each other as we explore
the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. Church in the FOOTHILLS will see
itself as part of the larger community and as making a difference in that
community. We will honor a variety of valid traditions from the Biblical
text and from our own experiences rather than defining one way as the only
way. The relative importance of all matters will be determined by their
proximity to the cross.
MINISTRY
The central ministry of Christianity is service. Jesus
came not to be served, but to serve. He demonstrated that those who are
great and those who are leaders are those who serve. Leaders in the Christian
community must be selected from those who have the ability and the willingness
to serve. We are all servants and we are all priests. We take seriously
the priesthood of all believers. Our service to one another is a way of
showing love and honor. Our ministry is not ultimately described in terms
of programs, works, pre-conceived ideas or our own sense of needing to
do something. Ministry arises as we develop awareness of those around us
and their needs which we can adequately address. As we have opportunity,
we will be of service in the larger community where we worship and live,
helping those with physical, spiritual and emotional needs as we are capable.
We will do this as individuals, as a church and in cooperation with other
churches and organizations. Christ CHURCH
in the Foothills will attempt to bring healing
to those who are hurting, and be an oasis for those in the deserts of physical
need and spiritual neglect.
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