Our Core Values are expanded statements of identity that we have carefully prayed through and crafted in order to honor the Lord in all that we do. They help define who we are as a unique church called to serve and worship in a unique place. We have identified seven Core Values below:
We have been reconciled to God through the transforming work of Christ, and therefore, every aspect of our lives is shaped by the Gospel. Our salvation, identity, and mission are all rooted in this Gospel. As a church, we seek to point people to Christ and help them find their hope and joy in Him.
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God, and therefore the final authority in all matters of belief and practice. We seek to grow more and more in the grace and knowledge of Christ, by growing in our knowledge of and obedience to His Word. We are therefore committed to expository, Christ-centered preaching of the Bible, and teaching the whole counsel of God’s Word in various contexts.
God, as a trinity, exists in eternal and perfect community, and has created man to live in communion with Him and with one another. As Christians, we are called to share life together, investing deeply in redemptive relationships. We express our commitment to community every time we meet. However, our small group ministry is the primary context where Christ-centered community is grown.
The central mission of the church is to make disciples. This means that a vital part of our DNA is a culture of multiplication. We want to multiply new disciples, being faithful ambassadors of the Gospel in our community and beyond. We want to multiply growing disciples, by teaching the whole counsel of God’s Word and faithfully shepherding people toward maturity in Christ and works of service. We want to multiply disciples who are leaders, by investing in potential leaders whom God raises up, and giving them opportunities to serve and lead. We believe this mindset should so permeate our church that every member would place a high priority on multiplying disciples.
The family is at the heart of God’s design for discipleship. Husbands and wives are called to help one another grow toward Christ-likeness. Parents are called to train their children to know and love the Lord. A family is called to be a picture of Christ’s love to the world. Therefore, we seek to minister to the whole family, equipping each member to apply the Gospel to every aspect of life. Our children’s and youth ministries are a vital part of this, existing to come alongside of parents in training their children, but never to replace them as the primary spiritual influence.
Each person is uniquely created in the image of God, designed to enjoy communion and fellowship with Him. As a church, we seek to know and serve people individually. We want to minister to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, by connecting the riches of Christ to the realities of life in a fallen world. We also seek to help people discover their gifts and equip them to use those gifts in service to Christ and His kingdom.
We believe our witness to the world is not an event but a way of life. We want to impact the world with the Gospel, by living as ambassadors of Christ in every area of life. Our mission field begins here in Lakeland, but extends to the nations. We want to be a church that passionately shares the good news of Jesus Christ with our friends, neighbors, family-members, and co-workers. This commitment also means we generously support and partner with those who are taking the Gospel to the world through overseas and U.S. mission endeavors.