Grace Community Church What We Believe

Mission
We exist to experience the grace of God in our lives and to extend the grace of God to our community.

Core Values
These core values specify the basic philosophy of Grace Community Church's ministry:
  1. JESUS FIRST:
    This church exists to exalt Jesus Christ and to glorify God.
  2. TRUTH COUNTS:
    We are committed to the truth of God's word-the Bible.
  3. LOVE IS KEY:
    The church as a body, army and family is God's tool to accomplish His purposes. Love and unity are the marks of a Biblical church.
  4. PEOPLE MATTER:
    This church provides opportunity for every member to be equipped for ministry.
  5. START HERE:
    Our mission strategy is progressive, starting in this city and reaching out to our nation and world.

Cultural Values
These cultural values explain the unique culture or personality of Grace Community Church:
Open- We are a church that aggressively welcomes people into our lives and into our Church family. We do not create or tolerate walls that keep people from having a chance to meet Jesus Christ and grow and serve him. We are not an exclusive club or a holy huddle that is hard to penetrate. We welcome and purposefully open our doors to believers, seekers, and those far from God.
Authentic- We are honest, real, and approachable people in an honest, real, and approachable church. There is no spin, hiding, or image creating. We say it like it is and there is an atmosphere of trust.
Relational- We are a church of small groups where people grow in close, loving, giving, and receiving relationships. Our target is for each person to be in a small group to help them be in touch with others.
Engaging- We are creative, current, relevant, and Holy Spirit lead, always targeting action and life change. Our priority in communication is that people actually engage with God and His word and their lives are transformed.
Excellent- Everything we do is done well in order to honor God. We pay attention to the details and strive to give our best.
Core- We hold core the truth of evangelical Christianity and in particular to the gospel of Grace. In other areas, there is room to disagree. We do not have a rule book. We always remain flexible outside of our core beliefs.
Focused- We are uncomplicated in our ministry plan. We focus on steps, not on programs. We streamline in order to hit the goal. The simple approach is always the best.
Collaborative- We acknowledge that we are part of the "big church" and will work and team up with others whenever possible. We will give and receive in order to see the mission go forward more effectively.

Statement of Faith
The following statement of faith, which Grace Community Church embraces, preaches and defends, receives its foundation from the Bible, the infallible Word of God, which this church accepts as final in all matters of faith and practice:
We Believe... the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We Believe... there is one almighty, perfect, and triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, eternally coexistent personalities of the same essence.
We Believe... in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
We Believe... in the justification of the sinner by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
We Believe... in the personality of the Holy Spirit, and in His ministry of convicting and regenerating sinful men, and indwelling, sealing, and empowering believers.
We Believe... in the fall of man from the state of innocence in which he was created to one of total depravity in which he is devoid of spiritual life, and incapable, apart from divine power, of pleasing God.
We Believe... in the bodily resurrection of the saved to immortality, and in the conscious eternal suffering of the lost.
We Believe... that the church universal is composed of all true believers and that all the various members of this spiritual body should assemble themselves together in local churches for worship, prayer, fellowship, and teaching with the view of being equipped to carry out the great commission.

Critical Success Factors
Passion for God- Know and experience God deeply.
Connecting People- No one stands alone.