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MISSION AND VALUES
MISSION
At Faithful City, we believe that God has made it very clear what he wants His church to be about. We find this mission in what the Bible calls the great commission and the two greatest commandments.
Jesus Christ clearly gave us our marching orders in Matt. 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 obey everything that I have commanded you. And Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”.
This means our mission is clear: Make Disciples. Making disciples means seeing people go from unbelief to become whole-hearted followers of Jesus, in every place God puts us and sends us. He is to be the King of their lives, where they worship Him and honor and obey His will for their lives. Baptizing them. Baptism is the sign His people have a biblical covenant relationship with Him that is held up and sealed by what Christ did for us on the cross. It is lived out together as a worshiping community of forgiven people who belong to Him. Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Obeying everything He commands of us is our grateful response to what He has already done for us on the cross, the fruit of the salvation God has freely given to us in Christ. We trust in Jesus atonement for our sins, instead of trying to earn our acceptance with God by our own obedience, which the brokenness of our sin makes impossible. Instead, as believers, we obey from the heart, as those who have been forgiven and freed from sin. I am with you always. We follow Jesus in a personal relationship, no longer trying to earn our way into his presence, living our lives for His purposes. We are seeking to live in the intimate presence of God in Christ.
Inside of this Great Commission are the two foremost commandments which Jesus said sum up all the others. Love God…from Deut. 6:5 - “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” To put it simply, a love for God and His glory and purposes should be the motivation for everything we do. At Faithful City, we prioritize God’s glory and faithfulness to His ways and purposes above our own.
Likewise, the Bible says that the second greatest commandment Love your neighbor, … from Lev. 19:18b - “…you shall love your neighbor as yourself…” The Bible tells us that if we don’t have love for our neighbor, then we simply don’t know the heart of God. The church is to be an outpost for the Kingdom of God in a broken world and that looks like sacrificial, generous, and compassionate love for all people. After all, Christ loved us even when we were His enemies.
CORE VALUES
Christ-centered (living in the presence of God)
It is exclusively through our union with Jesus Christ that we may know God intimately, living in His presence, being reconciled to God, and live our lives for God. Therefore, our theology, ministry philosophy, biblical interpretation, preaching, counseling, and outreach efforts are all centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ. (Lk 24:27,44; Jn 1:1-18; 5:39,46; Gal 4:4-7; Heb 1:1-4; 2 Cor 5:14-15)
Under authority (of Jesus, of the Scriptures)
Jesus Christ is the head of this church and the Bible is His revealed Word. We submit to Christ and His Word as the final authority for all aspects of life, faith, conduct, and ministry. (Jer 9:13-16; Jn 1:1-18; Col 1:18; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim 3:16-17; Heb 4:12; 2 Pet 1:16-21)
Biblical community (an authentic inter-generational fellowship)
Life is meant to be lived together in community where people know you and you know them. We are committed to praying specifically for one another, authentically speaking the truth in love to one another, and encouraging one another in the faith. (Acts 2:44; Eph 4:15-16; Heb 10:25; Jas 5:16)
Loving care (as a family who belong to Christ)
Mercy & justice (to those who are being invited into His presence)
Every person has inherent dignity because they are made in the image of God. Therefore, we honor and value every individual by being committed to serving the marginalized and oppressed, working for the reconciliation of all races and ethnicities, and defending the right to life from conception to natural death. (Gen 1:27; Ps 146:9; Is 1:17; Jer 9:23-24; 22:3; Mic 6:8; Matt 25:31-46; Jas 2:1-7)
Hopeful evangelism (to those called into obedience of faith)
Every human being is utterly lost and headed for eternal destruction, yet the gospel has the power to save anyone who believes. Therefore, we will clearly articulate the gospel to anyone who will listen in the hopes that they will be saved from destruction and follow Christ in obedience. (1 Cor 1:18-24; 15:3-5; 2 Cor 4:1-6; Rom 10:14-15; Gal 1:8-11; 2 Tim 4:2)
Spiritual growth (of those who are called to follow Him)
Truly trusting Christ should become evident in the life of believers by repentance from sin, and an increasing desire to follow Jesus in obedience to His commandments. Following Jesus personally and daily is the definition of discipleship. Every circumstance in life is an opportunity to become more or less like Jesus. By the help of the Holy Spirit and the instruction of the Word, we labor to help everyone in our community to become conformed to the heart and character of Christ. (Jn 14:26; Rom 8:26-29; 12:2; 1 Cor 9:27; Eph 4:20-24; 1 Jn 2:1-6)
Kingdom commitment (to seek those yet to return to Him)
Every believer (and believing church community) is called to share the gospel and make disciples. In fact, the Kingdom of God is where God's will is honored and obeyed. Therefore, we devote significant spiritual and financial resources toward this end, including equipping our members as disciple-makers and leaders, sending missionaries, planting churches, and supporting outreach initiatives. (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Rom 10:15; 2 Cor 8:1-7; Phil 4:15-20)