Vision, Mission & Values
OUR PROPOSED NEW VISION
“Striving To Be Loving & Authentic Followers of Jesus”
Because of the amazing love, hope and faith that we have found in Jesus Christ,
We want to be followers of Jesus who live and breathe His mission,
people who love to worship God
people of obedience and joy
people who proclaim new life in Christ.
We want to be ambassadors of Jesus, an authentic church family,
people of humility and integrity
people of mercy and reconciliation
people of peace and grace.
We want to engage our world with Jesus’ love and passion,
risking deep friendships with our neighbours
caring for the needy and the marginalized
identifying with the hurting and lonely
working for justice in the midst of injustice.
OUR PROPOSED NEW MISSION
A Faithful Community – All on Mission with God:
Vibrant in Love
Intentional in Growth
Active in Service
Our plan is to be
a faithful community of Christ-followers -
all on mission
with God
where we
live, work and play; connecting people around us with the truth
and transformation found in Jesus Christ alone. We will stay on mission with
God by creating…
a vibrant
church family united around our growing
love
for God,
one another and our neighbours – excited about sharing the love of Christ with
others.
an
intentional culture of
growth,
developing
followers of Christ who are transformed
and empowered by the Presence and Word of God.
an active
community, equipped with a
servant’s
heart, actively serving others in a generous,
creative, spontaneous, joyful and selfless manner.
OUR PROPOSED NEW GOALS/EXPECTATIONS
In order to be a faithful community – all on mission with God - we will follow clear goals and expectations for every believer who calls EastRidge their home.
To Be Vibrant in love:
We will love God by nurturing a growing relationship with Him.
We will love one another by helping believers connect with one another relationally at increasingly deeper levels.
We will love our neighbour by taking an incarnational approach to our community.
To Be Intentional in Growth:
We will develop an intentional approach to growing transformed disciples of Jesus Christ for every age group.
We will offer opportunities for growth in large settings, in small group settings and in mentoring or coaching situations.
We will equip believers to serve the people in their world – at work, at home, at play, and in their local and global neighbourhoods.
To Be Active in Service:
We will become an equipping church – investing in believers lives as we encourage, train, empower and release them for ministry.
We will enable people of every age - children, teens and adults – to love, evangelize, disciple and serve.
OUR PROPOSED NEW CORE VALUES
Acceptance – we want to see others through the eyes of God because he has accepted us and we have all been wonderfully made in His image.
Authenticity – we want to be known for our integrity, transparency, sincerity and humility.
Bible – we want to be people who know, understand and apply the Bible, the written record of God’s revelation to humanity.
Celebration – we want to celebrate God, one another, and life in Christ, exhibiting lasting joy no matter what life might throw at us.
Compassion – we want to sacrifice our needs for the needs of others, bringing God’s healing touch as we care for the whole person.
Community – we want to connect with one another in deep and meaningful relationships, entering into each other’s lives.
Faith – we want to be godly risk takers, creating a culture of courage, empowered and emboldened by the Holy Spirit.
Generosity – we want to use the generosity of our time, resources and finances to change lives for the better.
Mission – we want to be people who passionately spread the transforming love of God in our local and global neighbourhoods.
Prayer – we want to develop intimacy with God and to be people who pray first and act second, expecting to see evidence of God’s power around us as we pray.
Transformation – we want to be followers of the Truth, being transformed by the truths of God’s Word and the Spirit of God who lives in us.
Worship – we want to serve and encounter God in every area of life – in song and in the arts, in school and in work, in our homes and in nature, in sports and in recreation.
Bringing the Hope of Jesus Christ in a Changing World.
EastRidge, as a loving member of God’s family, is passionately committed to prayer and obedience to God’s Word, so that we are prepared and engaged in effectively proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our changing world.
The following ten core values define who we are as a local church, joined together with the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada and the Church of Jesus Christ worldwide.
Evangelical Theology (1 Timothy 1:3-5 & 4:15-16)
Worship (1 Chronicles 16:29; John 4:23-24)
Prayer (Matthew 21:13; James 5:16)
Worldwide Evangelization (Matthew 28:18-20; Rev. 7:9 -10)
Cultural Relevance (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
Vision & Direction (Romans 12:5-8; 1 Corinthians 12)
Loving, Forgiving, Caring Relationships (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 John 4:20-21)
Spiritual Development (Romans 12:1-2)
Anointed Preaching (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16)
Small Groups (1 Peter 5:5-2)