Values

The word of God is our life. Therefore, we aspire to see God’s word rightly understood and applied in every area of our lives, in our homes, and in community. 

(Deuteronomy 8:3, Psalm 12:6, 119:25, John 15:7-11, 2 Tim. 3:16, Hebrews 4:11-13)

Jesus Christ is God-in-flesh, therefore we worship and honor Him as the Son of God. The exaltation of Christ is the central and supreme purpose of God in the world. We add our joyful “Amen!”  as we promote the glory of Christ in our lives, at home and in the world. 

(Isaiah 9:6-7 John 1:1-14; Phil. 2:9-11, Col. 1:15-20; 2:5-11)

The Spirit of God, our helper and comforter, empowers us for service, emboldens our witness, and shows us Jesus. Therefore, we strive to be filled with the Spirit, keep in step with the Spirit, and to bear the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, at home, and in our communities. 

(John 7:37-39, Gal. 5:16-25, Romans 8:1-11, 1 Cor. 12:4-11)

The cross of Christ is the defining aspect of our discipleship and our witness to the world. Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me.” Therefore, we seek to fully identify with Christ in his death, that we might also be fully identified with him in His resurrection, in our own lives, at home, and in our communities. 

(Matthew 16:24-27, 1 Cor. 2:1-5, 2 Cor. 13:4, Galatians 2:20-21, 6:14, Phil. 3:7-11)

Recognizing that we are powerless to change ourselves, our families, or our world, we rejoice that God delights to show himself strong on behalf of a humble people. Therefore, we commit ourselves to constant prayerful dependence upon God, casting our cares on Him who cares for us. (Isaiah 57:15, 66:2,  Matthew 6:5-15, John 16:23-27, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Heb. 4:15-16, 1 Peter 5:6-7)

God has called us, not only as individuals, but into a body, so we strive to forge strong, family connections with our church community. As members of this local expression of the body of Christ we work to love and serve one another according to the gifts that God has given us until the day we see him face to face. In this way, we will bear strong witness to the power of God’s reconciling love. 

(John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13:13, Ephesians 2:11-22, 4:1-16)

The last commandment Christ gave us before ascending to the right hand of the Father was to go and make disciples of all nations. This is why we desire to see each of our values practiced not only in our own lives and homes, but in our communities. In obedience to this command, we pursue authentic relationships with our neighbors and give our resources to reach Western New York and the world. 

(Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 8:4, Romans 10:13-15, Phil. 4:14-20)