Mission-Vision-Values-Beliefs

Mission

  The mission of the Church was stated very clearly when Jesus gave these instructions to his followers:

  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."    Matthew 28:18-20

  At Atonement, we summarize that “Great Commission” in the following mission statement:

Make Disciples, Grow Disciples.

  That’s the first and most important answer to the question “Why are we here?”  As followers of Jesus (disciples) ourselves, that’s what we and all Christians are called to do.  Make new disciples and help existing disciples grow.  And what is a disciple?  Pastor Tim has provided one very brief answer that’s helpful;

A disciple of Jesus is
one who is entrusting their entire life into his care,
and investing their entire life into his mission.

Vision

  The Mission Statement above gives the general answer to “Why are we here?” Our Vision Statement gets more particular. It puts into words how we have heard God calling this congregation to pursue the Mission.

Vision Statement

We will GO to people in need
Not waiting for them to come
Delivering invitations to new life in Jesus
Delivering God’s love
By sharing our blessings and using our gifts.

  We often summarize the Vision in the words of this slogan: “We Deliver for Jesus!” 

Core Values

  While Mission and Vision answer the “Why are we here?” question, our Core Values and Bedrock Beliefs give a clear picture of who we are.  In naming our Core Values, the congregation sought to describe the things that are most important to us, and that we strive to live into.  Like everyone else, we’re still sinners and don’t always live these out.  But we believe these Values do express the heart of our true identity.  In addition, the congregation was courageous enough to name our “Negative Values.”  These are the places that we have found ourselves most likely to “slip” in our life together.  By naming them we are making a significant move towards resisting them. 

Core Values

Love for Jesus, Mission, Respect
Family and Joy,
And to resist Apathy, Self-centeredness
and the Myth of Scarcity.

Bedrock Beliefs

  To list everything we believe would take quite a long time!  But it’s important to be clear about which things that we believe are the most important, most defining about who we are.  The congregation deliberated and came up with a list of the Beliefs that are most central to us, which have been grouped into four topic headings as follows;

Bedrock Beliefs

God is present and active in our lives and in the world.

• God speaks to us through prayer, each other, and creation, and in the revelation of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible.
• Through the Holy Spirit, we receive guidance, hope, comfort and strength to overcome the challenges of this world.
• God touches us through Baptism and Communion.

God is generous to all people.

• God loves unconditionally.
• God gives the gift of eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• God forgives our sins.
• God provides for all people.

God calls us to work.

• God calls us to extend God's grace and to be a blessing to all people.
• God calls us to share the good news that Jesus Christ is the savior of all.
• God calls us to strive for justice and healing in the world.
• God calls us to live as servants to one another.

God is faithful.

• God promised and sent a savior.
• Jesus promised and the Father sent the Holy Spirit.
• God has promised never to leave us.
• God has promised to destroy death.
• God has promised to renew the whole creation.

[Mission]-[Vision]-[Values]-[Beliefs]