Simplicity We are a fellowship of people intent on discovering and enjoying the simplicity of life in Christ. We realize that we live in a hectic and fragmented world and are caught in a tug-of-war for our attention and affections. A plethora of desires, demands and responsibilities compete for our time and energy. We Christians are not immune to the tugs and pulls of life's distractions. Everything around us calls us away from a simple, loving, life-changing relationship with Jesus. We have also come to realize that even religious activities can wrench us out of the arms of God's warm embrace. Sometimes we lose sight of Him because of the many good things in which we are involved. Because of the many distractions that crowd our lives, we have adopted the following core values: worship, nurture and outreach--upward, inward and outward. Worship and Prayer Worship is recognizing and responding to God's great worth. We give our time and energy to the things we value most. Worship is what we do in response to His love. Everything we do is a reflection of how we value Him. Worship settles us at His feet and settles the question of Who is in charge and what matters most. Worship places Him on a throne far above everything else in our lives. And when we give ourselves to Him, He affects stunning transformation in our lives. Prayer is communing with God and walking with Him in a posture of trust and confidence. It changes us and changes the things around us. Nothing of lasting value is accomplished apart from a loving, trusting attachment to our heavenly Father and His heart. And that happens when we give ourselves to prayer. Our goal is to look into Father's eyes and reflect His nature and character. Fellowship and Nurture Jesus said, 'by this (your love) shall all men know that you are My disciples.' For that reason we look for ways to really know and authentically show our love to one another. We have fashioned our meetings and limited our schedule in order to accomplish those ends. Too often Church meetings are anonymous gatherings. We long to have His love freely flood our times together. For that reason, our meetings are participatory. Paul said, 'every one of you has something to contribute for the common good.' We believe that Church is not a spectator sport or entertainment, but an every member activity. We believe that Church ought to look and act more like a family than an orphanage; more like an organism than an organization. God created nuclear families as the single most important centers for nurture, training and growth. They are also the frontline source of cultural and societal health. That is why we place great emphasis on the health and vitality of our families. We learn about ourselves and others in our families. We learn how to love, communicate, serve, forgive and understand others in the context of home life. We believe that there is no greater representation of God on earth than the family. Our goal is to look and act like a family. Outreach and Service Folks who are not yet Christians are quite literally dying for a glimpse of the Master. Christians are living snapshots of who He is and videos of what He does. We are His heart and hands extended. Paul said, 'He has put us on display... we are His workmanship, designed to do His works'. We realize that the Church is not a refrigerator designed to preserve saints. Nor is it a museum dedicated to displaying historic treasures to visitors who happen in. Nor are we a theater offering entertainment to busy folks in need of diversion. Nor are we a local service club offering glad-handed fraternity and fun. God designed the Church to function like a kiosk in a busy shopping mall. He put us on display in the very center of a world crowded with broken lives, shattered dreams and lost hope. His mandate is, 'go into all the world', not 'invite people to your church'. Listen to what He said to His friends just before He ascended back to His Father. Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28.18-20 We are His ambassadors, His emissaries, His representatives. He commissioned us to disciple nations; that is, to bring His nature, love and life to all the world. We have the wonderful privilege of presenting the Good News to people weary of bad news. We have the awesome responsibility of bringing the discipline--the will of God--to a world lost in darkness and dying in a barren spiritual desert. Our goal is to provide Living Water to the thirsty and the Bread of Life to the hungry.