ENGAGED MEMBERS
AND
STATEMENT OF FAITH
Introduction
Romans 12:4-5 – For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
As Christians, we are sons and daughters of God and members of God's household (Eph. 2:19). We have been commissioned with a high calling to live from our new identity alongside other believers within the body of Christ. A healthy church, much like a healthy physical body, is made up of people who are sacrificially committed and equipped to accomplish the works that God has prepared in advance for us to do. We are all ambassadors of the Kingdom of God and in His sovereignty, He placed us in this city, at this time and for a reason (Acts 17:26-27).
1 Peter 4:8-10 – Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace…
Being an engaged member of Mission Community Church is really about being part of a family. An intentional commitment to a local body of Christ cultivates a healthy church culture and community. A disciple of Jesus readily embraces the biblical principle of being an engaged member, in unity with the rest of the body. This unity is expressed in the ways we love God, ourselves, other fellow Christians, as well as non-Christians. When you are an engaged member, you are committed to the local church. You are able to share in both the responsibilities and rewards of an intentional pursuit to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Additionally, it allows church leaders to steward the people and resources that God has entrusted to them through love, leadership, counseling, prayer, teaching, and guidance.
What is the commitment of an ENGAGEd member?
A commitment is a promise made between parties, and should not be taken lightly. Being an engaged member at Mission Community Church includes understanding the Mission, Vision, Values, the Statement of Faith and the expectations of those engaged. Though this commitment defines the engagement between you and the church, it should also be viewed as a commitment to God, as we link arms to pursue God’s purposes for our church.
Mission
To pursue the presence of God, partnering with the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the Kingdom of God through signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts, and disciple believers to proclaim the good news of Jesus to families around us and abroad.
Vision
To be a loving, multicultural community of believers, a lighthouse to those around us. To see hearts healed, families made whole, and all people experiencing transformation through personal encounters with God.
Values
WORD & SPIRIT - We are anchored in the Word of God, while experiencing freedom in the Holy Spirit.
GOD’S PRESENCE - We passionately pursue the heart of God and His presence through His Word, anointed worship, and prayer.
COMMUNITY - We are a loving church family through which God can touch our city and the world.
DISCIPLESHIP - We equip and empower believers to do the work of the ministry.
WHOLENESS - We embrace our identity as God’s sons and daughters, receiving the benefits of salvation in body, soul and spirit.
STEWARDSHIP - We glorify God and bless others with everything He has entrusted to us: time, giftings, and finances.
Statement of Faith
Essentials
The following statements represent our understanding of biblical Christian truths and form the foundation of all we do and teach. Because these are essential Christian beliefs, all those engaged at Mission Community Church should be able to affirm them.
The Bible: We believe the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments were written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that their words accurately represent the Word of God (2 Peter 1:19-21). The Bible is without error, trustworthy in all it teaches and authoritative in all it commands (Prov. 30:5). In the Bible, God reveals Himself to us and teaches us to live in a way that glorifies Him (John 20:31).
2 Timothy 3:16–17 - All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
God: We believe that there is one God who has always existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19). The three persons of the Trinity share the same divine nature and are equally deserving of worship and praise. God sustains and rules over all things in His perfect power, wisdom, and love (Heb. 1:2-3).
2 Corinthians 13:14 - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Creation: God created all things from nothing, and continues to sustain them through His power and will (Col. 1:16-17). According to God’s original design, all of creation was good and without sin. Humanity (both male and female) was uniquely created in the image of God and given authority to care for the rest of creation. As image-bearers, all people have intrinsic dignity and value, and are worthy of respect and compassion (Gen. 1:26-27).
Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Sin: We believe that sin entered the world when Adam and Eve succumbed to the temptation of Satan (Gen. 3:6-7). This sin fractured God’s designs and introduced futility, discord, and death. All mankind has been born into the effects of that original sin (Rom. 5:12). Apart from Christ, our corrupt nature is opposed to God and leads us inevitably into further sin.
Romans 8:7 - For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
The Gospel: We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who took on flesh to live as a human (John 1:14). He lived a life of perfect obedience and holiness, making Him a perfect sacrifice. On the cross, He died to pay the penalty for the sins of His people. He rose again after three days, demonstrating His victory over sin and death. Those who trust in Him are saved from their sins and immediately enter into the Kingdom of God (Col. 1:13-14).
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 - For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
Salvation: We believe that those who place their faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord are saved from their sins (Rom. 10:9). Believers experience forgiveness for their sins and are declared holy and accepted by God, on account of Christ’s righteousness. Believers are also given a new nature that is no longer in bondage to sin (Gal. 2:20). Although salvation is by grace through faith, Christians are called to work out their salvation by putting sin to death and growing in Christlikeness (Phil. 2:12).
Romans 3:23–24 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
God’s Kingdom: We believe that those who place their faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord are welcomed into His kingdom (John 3:5). Jesus is currently reigning as a perfect and righteous King in the unseen, spiritual realm (Heb. 12:2). We are called to live as citizens of this unseen Kingdom and work by the power of the Holy Spirit to make it a reality on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
The Church: We believe that the universal church is made up of all those who have trusted in Jesus as Savior and follow Him as Lord. The church is meant to glorify God and continue the ministry of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, especially by making disciples (Matt. 28:18-20). God intends for church to be experienced in the context of a local congregation. The local church is a body of believers that gathers regularly for prayer and worship, preaches the Bible, practices discipline, and observes the ordinances (Acts 2:42-47).
1 Corinthians 12:27 - Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Ordinances: We believe that the New Testament teaches two ordinances: Baptism and Communion (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Ordinances are symbolic acts of remembrance instituted or ordained by Jesus. There is no blessing inherent in the ordinances; they do not save us and do not, on their own, convey grace or blessing into our lives. However, when we participate with genuine faith, the Holy Spirit uses the ordinances to help us grow in spiritual maturity.
Acts 2:38 - And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
The Future: We believe that Jesus will return to finish the work He began during His earthly ministry (1 Thess. 4:16-17). He will defeat the devil once and for all and restore all things that are and have been under the curse of sin and death. He will judge the living and the dead, assigning people to their eternal destinies (Matt. 25:31-46). Unbelievers will experience eternal punishment, forever separated from the goodness of God’s presence. Believers will reign with Jesus forever in the new heavens and the new earth.
Revelation 11:15 - Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world
has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
Distinctives
The following statements express our position on doctrines that are important, but not essential. Faithful Christians and Gospel-teaching churches may hold various positions regarding these doctrines. Our beliefs in these areas are part of what makes us distinct. We do not require those engaged to affirm these positions. However, they should understand that these positions will inform the things we teach and the ways we conduct ministry. Furthermore, no one engaged as a member at our church should teach in a way that contradicts these positions or be divisive over them.
Word and Spirit: We believe it is not only possible to value both the Word and Spirit, but it is imperative that we do so. We are passionate about teaching God's truth from His Word, but at the same time we desire to experience the Person of the Holy Spirit in tangible ways. The Holy Spirit is not just a doctrine to be studied, but a Person to love, worship and submit to. As we look to the Scriptures, we believe that all the gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit are intended to be experienced today in the same manner as they were in the early church. At the same time, the Scriptures teach us to use the gifts in an orderly way. We are excited to continue developing an environment in our church, where we can be anchored in the Word, but free in the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 1:4–5 - For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
Revival: We believe that God desires to do amazing things in and through the church. We boldly pray that revival would come to our church and our city would be transformed. We pray not only that the lost would be saved, but that all Christians would understand and experience the fullness of what Jesus has purchased for them. Furthermore, we believe that revival is something that should be experienced in the individual hearts of believers on a continual basis through regular encounters with God.
Ephesians 3:20–21 - Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Worship: We believe that chains are broken and lives are changed as we worship God. Worship draws us into God’s presence, connecting our hearts with His. When we are near the Father, we become more like Him (2 Cor 3:18). God commands us to worship Him for our benefit and transformation.
Psalm 95:6 - Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
Spiritual Gifts: We believe that all the spiritual gifts experienced in the New Testament continue to be active today (1 Cor. 12:4-11) and that every believer has been given a spiritual gift(s) for the purpose of building up the body. These gifts should be prayerfully desired and cultivated, and can be used to build up the church and give evidence to the power of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 14:1 - Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
Five-Fold Ministry: We believe that Jesus continues to give gifts to the church in the form of apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers to build up the local church by equipping the believers to do the work of ministry. Jesus embodied all five of these gifts perfectly, and we believe the church needs all five if they are going to represent Him well to the world. Because of this, we see each gift as significant and each one should be given a voice and a platform to bless and impact the church.
Ephesians 4:11–12 - And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit: We believe that every believer receives the Holy Spirit upon salvation. We also believe we can always receive more of the Holy Spirit by simply asking our heavenly Father (Luke 11:13). Scripture commands us to be continually filled (Eph. 5:18) with the Holy Spirit, and we believe that Christians should continually seek to have fresh encounters, fillings, and refreshment from the Holy Spirit, commonly referred to as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Simply put, we believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is when a person, who is already a believer, receives extraordinary spiritual power for the purpose of Christ-exalting ministry and deeper intimacy with the Father.
Ephesians 5:18 - And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.
Children: We believe that children can have meaningful encounters with God and play a significant role in the life of the church. Children who trust in Jesus do not receive a “junior” Holy Spirit. There is much we can learn from their childlike faith (Luke 18:17), and their participation at church is encouraged and valued.
Matthew 19:14 - But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
Engagement: We believe that God’s intention for His people is that they would be committed, and actively engaged in the local church. He did not design the Christian life to be lived in isolation. God uses Christian community to change lives and this kind of community living requires intentional effort and commitment. Engagement in a local church provides the context for community to flourish.
Hebrews 10:24 –25 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
OUR COMMITMENT:
As overseers and leaders of Mission Community Church, we will protect, equip, lead, and care for each individual engaged believer. We commit to:
Seek God’s will for our church community through prayer and the study of Scripture.
Appoint new leaders (including members of the staff who serve the body) according to the criteria assigned to them in the Scriptures.
Steward our resources to the best of our ability for Kingdom impact.
Care for and seek your growth as a disciple of Christ by equipping you for service.
Pray for you regularly, and particularly when you are sick.
Provide teaching and counsel from the entire Word of God.
Be on guard against false teachers and teachings.
Lovingly exercise discipline when necessary, for the glory of God, for the good of the one disciplined, and for the health of the church as a whole.
Set an example for, and remain committed to, the expectations for all engaged members.
Remain humble, teachable, and approachable as we lead this church family into increased measures of faith, hope, and love.
your commitment:
As those who have experienced the life-changing grace of Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to reflect the character of Christ through the pursuit of certain attitudes and actions, while rejecting others. The Scriptures refer to this as “living by the Spirit” (Romans 8) and as engaged members at Mission Community Church we affirm and commit to the following:
Beliefs:
I have trusted Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins and now follow Him as my Lord.
I have been baptized in water as a symbol of my conversion and new life in Christ.
I live my life as a committed follower of Jesus, committed to holiness, wholeness and my church family.
I affirm the sacredness of sexuality and marriage. I will be faithful to my spouse, and I believe Scripture teaches that sex is a blessing to be rightly experienced only within a heterosexual marriage. I will avoid sex outside of marriage, pornography, living as husband and wife when not married, and/or homosexuality.
I will follow the wisdom of the Lord by refraining from intoxication with alcohol and/or drugs.
I affirm the essential doctrines of the Statement of Faith as foundational to biblical Christianity.
I understand the distinctive positions described in the Statement of Faith, and I affirm them.
Church Life:
I commit to participating fully…
in prioritizing consistent church attendance. I know that God uses worship, preaching, and prayer to transform my life, and my presence can minister to those around me.
in participating in discipleship and worship opportunities offered by the church. I recognize that these activities play an important role in my spiritual growth.
in giving financially to support the ministry of the church. My joyful, regular, and sacrificial giving is a sign of my trust in God’s continued provision in my life.
in serving regularly to meet the needs of the church, to minister to others, and to develop my spiritual gifts.
I commit to pursuing community…
in practicing hospitality by intentionally inviting other believers into my life.
in taking advantage of opportunities to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones.
I commit to promoting unity…
by considering the needs and preferences of others as more important than my own.
by refraining from gossip and complaining and will instead choose to speak life.
by pursuing reconciliation whenever relationships are broken.
I commit to willingly follow…
by submitting my life to the Scripture as the highest authority, guide and standard.
by recognizing the authority of the leaders God has placed over the church, and following their leadership as Scripture instructs (Hebrews 13:17). If I have questions or concerns, I will address such directly with them.
by embracing biblical church discipline as determined by my church leaders. (Matthew 18:15-20; Hebrews 12:11)
Personal Life:
I commit to cultivating my relationship with God and to abide in Jesus…
by regularly pursuing intimacy with God through Bible reading, prayer, worship and seeking the guidance of Holy Spirit.
by growing in my practice of spiritual disciplines such as fasting, meditation, and solitude.
by prayerfully seeking to identify and develop my spiritual gifts.
I commit to pursuing holiness…
by preserving my witness as a Christian, and seeking to live in a way that is above reproach.
by living according to the standards of God’s Word, even when they contradict the values of our culture.
I commit to embracing a Kingdom lifestyle…
by seeking opportunities to build relationships with the lost and share the gospel with them.
by stewarding the time and resources God has given me.
by seeking to joyfully serve others.
ENGAGEMENT Commitment RECAP
By entering into this commitment to becoming an engaged member at Mission Community Church, I agree to the following:
I have read the Mission, Vision, and Values of Mission Community Church.
I have read the Statement of Faith and I understand the position of Mission Community Church as stated in both the essentials and the distinctives. I believe in the essentials; I affirm the distinctives and will not create division over them.
I have read the commitment of Mission Community Church leaders, and I will pray for and support them in the unique calling to shepherd this local body of Christ.
I have read the engagement commitment of Mission Community Church, in the areas of Beliefs, Church Life, and Personal Life. I joyfully embrace this church family.
I desire to be held accountable to keep these commitments, and I welcome encouragement and correction if needed.
Philippians 1:3-5 “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”