WHAT WE BELIEVE

Vision, Values & Mission

Vision: God's particular call for Immanuel

"We are a Fellowship of Believers Pointing the Way to Jesus"

Values: The essential marks that shape our identity and guide our actions

1. Expectant Prayer: Prayer is at the heart of a relationship with the Lord where we come to trust him for all things. (1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:16)

2. Authority of the Bible: God's Word, as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures, is the inerrant standard by which we are taught what to believe and how to act. (2 Timothy 3:16)

3. Baptism and Holy Communion: We praise Jesus for his gifts of Baptism and Holy Communion and follow the ancient custom of weekly Communion. (Luke 22:19,20)

4. Godly Leaders: God wishes us to be under the spiritual covering of godly servant leaders, beginning with bishops and continuing through priests, deacons and lay leaders. We look for leaders who express humility, honesty, transparency and a servant's heart. (Mark 9:35; 1 Timothy 3:1-13)

5. Nicene Creed: We hold fast to the faith outlined in the ancient creed whose roots are grounded in the Church Council held in Nicea in AD325.

6. Mission: We are committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those who do not yet know him as Lord and Savior through personal relationships and through the planting of new congregations. (Mark 25:15; Acts 2:46,47)

7. Spirit-led Worship: God-focused worship must be Spirit-led, and should be balanced, intimate, and relevant to our cultural setting. (1 Corinthians 14:26-33; Hebrews 12:28,29)

8. Discipleship: We work to nurture and develop our people for their journey in faith placing a special emphasis on children and youth. (Proverbs 22:6; 1 Timothy 4:11-16)

9. Release of the Spirit: God blesses the faithful with Spiritual gifts that we may glorify him and grow his Church. (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:38,39)

10. Sacrificial Giving: God honors us as we give sacrificially of our time, our talent, and our money to support his work. (Malachi 3:10; Mark 12:42-44)

Mission : The charge given to us by the Lord.

Our walk in faith begins with worshiping the Lord of heaven and earth.

We cannot love the Lord unless we also love our neighbors enough to help them physically and spiritually. To do that we need to have a personal relationship with the Lord and the empowering of the Holy Spirit which requires a disciplined life.

We express this simply at Immanuel by stating:

It's about God; it's about others; it's about us

From Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Romans 11:36

Our focus is first and foremost on God. He Created as a Father. He Redeemed us through His Son, Jesus. He makes us Holy through His Spirit. Our response to God's love begins with Worship. We worship as a body of believers as we hear His Word, break bread at His table, sing His praises. pray and give sacrificially. We worship as individuals through: personal prayer and holy living.

As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you. John 20:21

If we say we love the Lord, we must also love our neighbors. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus transformed sinners and reconciled us to God. At the end of His ministry, He sent out all who follow Him to share the Good News of Jesus with others. We call this Evangelism. We seek the salvation of the lost and their adoption into Christ's Church through: Baptism. Sharing our faith. Hospitality. Acts of service. Starting new churches.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

I Corinthians 12:27

Jesus doesn't just save us. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit He also nourishes and sustains us through the Church. Here we grow in our knowledge and love of the Lord and for one another. We call this Discipleship. We mature as disciples through living out Christ's love by studying His Word, exercising our spiritual gifts, participating in home fellowship groups, youth ministry and children's ministry.