What is Our Vision?
Emily and I believe that the gospel changes everything. Our vision is for our church to be a family of missionary servants.
Family: As believers, we are all part of the family of God as His children as found in Ephesians 1. Because of that, we should care for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Just like a family, we should be part of one another's daily lives by sharing meals, working alongside each other, and generally living our lives side by side. We should encourage one another, pray together, cry and laugh together, and ultimately love each other as people adopted by the same Father. Family guards each other from sin and works together in times of need. A family lives life in community. We believe the gospel makes us a family.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
- John 13:34–35
Missionary: Christ came to seek and save the lost as it says in Luke 19:10. We are commanded as God's children to follow the same mission that Christ portrayed for us. Jesus Christ was the ultimate missionary by coming to Earth to save sinners through His perfect life, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection. Believers have the honor and privilege to serve in the same mission by sharing the love of Jesus with everyone we come into contact with. Believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to "seek and save the lost" with the message of the gospel. We have the opportunity to invite unbelievers into the normal rhythms of our lives with gospel intentionality. We believe the gospel makes us missionaries.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
- Matthew 28:18–20
Servant: In Philippians 2, we see that Jesus was a perfect picture of a servant when He willingly was obedient to the Father, even to the point of death on a cross. This picture should then push us to live similarly, humbly laying down our lives for the sake of others. We can do this through service to the church, the community, our families, our friends, and so many other avenues. We serve as Christ served us: joyfully, willingly, and unconditionally. We the gospel makes us servants.
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:8
Emily and I pray that the Spirit would continue to refine our lives to model the characteristics of Christ, specifically as we seek to be a family of missionary servants. No matter where you are and in what context, we should always be asking ourselves, how can I live with gospel intentionality?
- Aaron & Emily