Beliefs
Word & Christ-Centered Ministry
We hold that God’s Word as revealed in the Bible is the only trustworthy guide to faith & life, and its self-testimony is that it is all about Jesus (Luke 24:44). Our hope to be rightly related to God, others, self, and our world begins with the Person of Jesus! Therefore, our ministry centers on how the Father so loved the world that He sent His Son on the greatest rescue mission in human history (John 3:16). In the Incarnation Jesus became fully man like us, yet without sin. After dying on the Cross to fully pay for all our sins, the eternal Son of God was raised bodily from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father in victory. King Jesus now pours out the Holy Spirit on His Church in order that we might be united to Him. In light of the good news, the posture we take before the Lord Jesus has eternal implications. The only way to be pardoned of all our sins against the Holy God and to receive eternal life is to turn away from our own works & idols (repentance), and to place our trust in Jesus alone.
Praying Ministry
We hold that prayer is the indispensable human vehicle by which believers can advance God’s Kingdom. Prayer and fasting are necessary to our mission as the most significant advances come via God’s work and not our own. Scripture tells us the end times have already come in Jesus’ resurrection and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:17-36), so we now live in the age of the Spirit! Our model is Ephesians 3:14-17 where Paul prays to the Father that the saints will be strengthened with power by the Spirit so that Christ may dwell in their hearts. Having established our need for a Christ-centered ministry, we recognize the way folks are united to Christ is by praying to the Father that the Holy Spirit do His re-creative work. And prayer is not a spiritual gift given to some, but the necessary instrument given to all believers.
Incarnational Ministry: Patience & Presence
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
We hold that we must follow in the steps of Jesus by being a church that is in and with our neighborhood. This requires a ministry of patience and presence. Patience is not passive, but rather active listening and learning how to love. The individuals who make up communities are all born with unique personalities and life experiences by which they interpret the world. So, it requires time and consistent presence to gain sufficient understanding of each other in order to build meaningful relationships and trust. We will be a church known for hospitality.
Relationally Honest
We hold that we must be incarnational while recognizing we are not the city’s Savior! Therefore, we are honest & forthright in admitting that we are equally in need of a divine miracle. This honest posture is required to build meaningful friendships. If relationships are primarily built upon ministering to or serving others, it is unhealthy & hinders genuine friendship. The gospel takes root when we walk side by side as those who are mutually broken, but who in Christ are privileged now to participate in the life of God & His community. We acknowledge God alone can break down remaining walls of hostility (Ephesians 2:14-16), so we look to Christ for reconciliation, pray for the Spirit to work, and commit to this path until God’s glory is made evident.
City Involvement
We hold that in Christ, all things are being reconciled to Him (Colossians 1:19-20). Therefore, this church seeks not only reconciliation with God, neighbor, and self, but also with the world in which we live. We are active in Elkhart and for Elkhart, seeking to understand its concerns, praying constantly for its welfare, and rightly stewarding all its resources.