Our Core Values and Vision: Loving  -Contributing – Sharing –Connecting - Growing As defined in the Great Commission, the Great Commandment and throughout the New Testament

 

Core values about Loving:

·          Our highest privilege as human beings is to "love God and enjoy Him forever."

·          Both corporate and private worship are vital to a thriving Christian life.  

·          God desires a voluntary daily relationship with us.

·          Church should be a place where people are free to worship the Lord from their heart.  

·          Worship is much more than just singing, it is the total expression of our life. 

·          When we worship corporately, we lay down our style preferences for the sake of the whole body. 

·          We are responsible for maintaining a loving atmosphere in our church. 

 

Core values about Contributing:

·          God has made everyone unique, with different abilities, backgrounds, and passions to make us effective in ministry.  We teach the importance of understanding our God given S.H.A.P.E.

·          We will build ministry around our people, rather than ‘forcing’ people into ministry they are not equipped to do

·          All Christians need to at times do a ministry simply because it needs to be done.

·          All Christians are formed to contribute to the Kingdom of God. 

·          We need and will pray for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for effectiveness in ministry.

·          Our goal is quality ministry, not volume of programs. 

·          We will not continue ministries beyond their life cycle just b/c we have done them in the past.

·          We will do ministry as a team and support others.   

·          We will strive to avoid the trappings of titles and position, and will seek to be consumed with serving one another in humility.

·          While many churches are stifled by a phenomenon that 20% of the people provide 80% of the support, our vision is that 100% of the people will provide 100% of the support. 

·          The church is financed by the tithes and offerings of God’s people.

 

Core values about Sharing:

·          God loves everyone and wants them to know His Son Jesus Christ.

·          We must stay committed to evangelism, because the tendency for a church is to lose its outward focus.

·          We want our growth to be the result from attracting people not presently connected to an evangelical church.

·          We work strategically; while at the same time put our entire reliance on the power of God's Spirit and His Word to transform people.

·          It is our responsibility to adapt our styles and approaches to the un-churched in order to reach them.   It is not the responsibility of the un-churched to adapt to our styles and approaches.

·          We can find exciting ways to reach the un-churched community. 

·          We are willing to invest our lives and resources locally, nationally, and internationally to reach people.

Core values about Connecting:

·          We are called to belong, not just believe.

·          A person is designed by God to grow in community with other believers.  Christianity is NOT a spectator sport.  We are to participate with others.

·          Support, accountability, fellowship, sharing life and sharing faith happen best in small groups.

·          After attending New Life, we will strive to help people join an appropriate Connection Group

·          Commitment to a local church family produces relational and ministry strength.

 

Core Value about Growing:

·          God meets us where we are and helps us grow from there.   Continuing growth is natural to a person who has given their heart to Christ.  Col 2:6,7

·          Love (not guilt) motivates healthy spiritual maturity.

·          Growing in Christ is a process, not a one time event. God wants every Christian to become like Jesus

·          As we mature spiritually, it is evidenced in the mind, the attitudes of the heart, and in actions.

·          Discipleship must be intentional, practical and applicable to life.

·          Discipleship must be more than INFORMATION; it must lead to Biblical TRANSFORMATION.  

·          We are to train ourselves to be Godly, in strong cooperation with the work of the Holy Spirit.

 

Next GOALS - Preparing for the Future

As part of our  3-5 year plan, preparing for us to accommodate a congregation of 300 regular enthusiastic worshipers every Sunday, the following building changes would need to be made.   While we do not define success in numbers, the natural result of a healthy church will be growth.

Phases proposed for 2006

Phase 1: Building a 3200 sq foot Ministry building - In Progress.

Purposes:  Children Church Ministry Center, Connection group/ Wed Night Children’s Ministry area, small group fellowships and dinners.

Cost: $Approx. 275,000

Phase 2:  Connect our 2 buildings with a patio / picnic design, with outdoor baptismal tank.

Purposes: Gathering area for fellowships, including Lemonade in the shade and baptismal celebrations, and cookouts.  To include shaded areas,  built in grill, serving area, fountain, benches.  Project to include renovation of the pond area to make better use of space, and include a large grass area for Wed night outdoor activities… sidewalks to connect buildings.

Cost: $20,000

Phase 3 Interior Renovations

Purposes: To enlarge our sanctuary to provide for the needs of a growing congregation.  Includes, removing permaneant walls at the back of the Sanctuary for Sunday AM seating, remodeling of stage, enlarging the lobby area, updating our media equipment, enlarging 2 Sunday School rooms, moving the choir.

Cost: $20,000 - $25,000

Time Frame:  To be started after congregation approval and continue throughout the year.

Funding:

Total Cost of all 3 phases:

Cash available for building: $120,000

Needed to be raised in 2005:   $40,000