We understand that simply giving mental assent to certain beliefs does not make a real difference in life. Only what is truly believed is lived out in our daily lives. Therefore what we say and do and think is affected by the following core beliefs and values:
1) Above all else we endeavor to love God the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit with everything we have because Jesus said all else depends on our loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving one another as much as Christ loves us. (“Great Commandment,” Mark 12:30; “New Commandment,” John 13:34)
• Core Value: Love Trinity & Others
2) We make disciples of Jesus Christ because Jesus told us in the Great Commission to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
• Core Value: Discipleship
3) We seek to reach lost people with the good news of Jesus Christ because they matter to God. Therefore they matter to us. (Luke 19:10)
• Core Value: Evangelism
4) We call people to salvation in Jesus Christ because real life is found only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (John 14:6)
• Core Value: Salvation
5) We strive for deep spiritual transformation because spiritual maturity is God’s goal for every believer. (Ephesians 3:16-19)
• Core Value: Sanctification
6) We look outward in ministry and service to help real people with real needs in real ways because God calls the church to serve Christ in the world. (Matthew 25:35-36, 40)
• Core Value: Mission & Outreach
7) We daily gain an “audience of One” with God because a vital prayer life is essential to an intimate relationship with God. (Matthew 26:40-41)
• Core Value: Prayer
8) We passionately worship God because that is our reasonable response to our Heavenly Father who loves us with extravagant abandon. (John 4:20-24)
• Core Value: Worship
9) We seek Christian friendship with other believers in the church because Jesus said we must be connected to God and to one another to produce anything of lasting value. (John 15:1-8)
• Core Value: Connection
10) We practice whole-life stewardship of our prayers, presence, giving, and service because we understand everything we have is a gift from God. (Matthew 6:19-21)
• Core Value: Stewardship
11) We read, study, and preach the Bible because it is inspired by God and is our rule and guide for teaching and training to live God's way. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• Core Value: Primacy of scripture
12) We approach the Christian faith from our Wesleyan Methodist heritage because we believe that history provides the best, most balanced biblical theology to reach a hurting world that is lost without Christ.
• Core Value: Methodist heritage