Our Values

Independence First Christian Church

Our Values

Who we are and what we do are informed and motivated by our core values. This is true for the individual and for the church. The Independence First Christian Church has scores of values which shape its life as a community of faith. At the top of that list of values are Fellowship, Friendship, and Caring, which in a real sense encompass all of our other values.

Fellowship

Fellowship is at the heart of our connectedness as a community of faith. Key to that sense of community is worship and study, singing and laughter. We enjoy each other and trust our brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a sharing of history and excitement about the future. There is a mutuality in leadership and an openness to receiving each other's spiritual gifts.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

- Acts 2:42

Fellowship begins with worship

Caring

We act out of the love we have received in Jesus Christ. This first means shepherding and nurturing those in the family of faith. From that undergirding comes the commitment and strength to reach out to a world despirately in need of the Good News of Christ's saving grace.

Christian love is compassionate, therefore, we minister to the material needs of the community and world as well. Caring is giving our time, our talents, our substance, and our service.

Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." - John 21:16

Our hands are Christ's hands

Harry Whistler, 100 years old. A model of our values.

Friendship

Love one another

Friendship is our connectedness to each other as individuals. This is first expressed by the warmth and friendliness of the congregation as a whole, and is lived out in the acceptance of each other for who we are as unique children of God. We support each other during times of difficulty. Celebrate with each other in times of joy. We become to each other reliable friends through thick and thin.

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! - Ecclesiastes 4:10

Our Statement of Values

We hold these values to be at the heart of who we are and intend to be as a congregation of Jesus Christ:

We value Fellowship. We seek to live in true fellowship with each other -- the heart of our connectedness as a community of faith.

We value Friendship. We make it a priority to build lasting bonds between members of our church family -- bonds of concern and genuine commitment to one another.

We value Caring. We act out of the love we have received in Jesus Christ by caring for others.

We value Evangelism. We reach out to those who haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and those who have strayed from their beliefs.

We value Prayer. We practice an earnest life of prayer seeking daily guidance, praying for others, seeking God’s vision, combating evil, which enables us to live near the heartbeat of God.

We value God's Word. We communicate God’s Word through positive preaching and teaching under the power of the Holy Spirit.

We value Openness. We open our hearts, facilities and resources to meet the ever changing needs of today’s society.

We value Change. We hold that change and risk are necessary, therefore, we expect well-intentioned failures as well as blessed successes.

We value Honor. We seek to be totally dedicated to honor God in all we do.

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