Statement of Values

A. We value THE PURSUIT OF GOD. We are hungry to know God's presence, hear His

voice and follow hard after Him.

Psalm 63:1-3: O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my

body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you

in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better

than life, my lips will glorify you. 

B. We value CHRISTLIKENESS. We desire that through the power of the Holy Spirit

Jesus' love, mercy, grace, truth, purity, power, and integrity would shine through all

that we are and do.

Ephesians 5:2: and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up

for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

C. We value BEING SPIRIT-LED. We honour Jesus as our Head and the Holy Spirit as

our Counsellor and the Administrator of our churches. We seek to be actively

responsive to the Holy Spirit's daily leading of our personal lives and ministries and

of the local church.

Galatians 5:5: But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for

which we hope. Romans 8:14: because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of

God.

D. We value PRAYER. We believe that prayer is essential, because it is our

primary means of communion with God, and because of our personal lives and ministries

and of the local church.

1 Thessolonians 5:16-18: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all

circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6: Do not

be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with

thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

E. We value DISCIPLESHIP. Our intent is to teach all believers to believe Jesus'

words, obey His commands and do His works. We aim first to grow as disciples of Christ

ourselves and then to make disciples of others.

Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on

earth has been given to me. Therefore go 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 I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the

very end of the age."

F. We value THE KINGDOM OF GOD. We aim to move in the signs of the present

fulfilment of the kingdom, invoking the Spirit's powerful presence, ministering

through the Spirit's gifts, and seeing God heal and work wonders.

Mark 1:14, 15: After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the

good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent

and believe the good news!" 

G. We value the MERCY OF GOD. We believe that mercy is fundamental to all that

God does in salvation. We, therefore, aim to extend mercy to one another and to all to

whom we minister.

Colossians 3:12, 13: Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe

yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with

each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive

as the Lord forgave you. 

H. We value INTEGRITY. It is important for us to speak the truth, deal honestly,

and live uprightly.

Ephesians 4:15: Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up

into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 

I. We value SERVANT LEADERSHIP. We believe that Christ has put significant

leadership authority in the hands of the pastor and associates. We aim to exercise

that authority with humility, selflessness, grace, care for the sheep, and a sincere

desire to build up the Body of Christ.

Mark 10:37, 44-45: They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at

your left in your glory." 

J. We value THE INDIVIDUAL, single or married, and we want to enable and support

mature relationships and family growth.

Romans 12:9, 10: Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be

devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves.

K. We value UNITY. We are convinced that all who belong to Christ are one in His

Body, the Church. We aim to maintain unity by honouring all who call on Jesus' name

and by seeking reconciliation with all parts of the Church.

John 17:21-23: that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in

you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I

have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in

them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that

you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

L. We value COLLEGIATE RELATIONSHIPS. We are honoured by every person whom God

adds to the Vineyard. We aim to work together to build the Church through maintaining

mutual respect, open communication, determined cooperation, and believing and speaking

the best about each other.

I Corinthians 13:4-7: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not

boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily

angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with

the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

M. We value REALITY. We aim to walk in the Spirit and see real supernatural works

of God. We aim also to function on the natural plane based on God's leading in

conjunction with excellent, rational thinking.

James 1:5: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all

without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 

N. We value SIMPLICITY. We wish to do nothing for "religious effect" but rather

to operate in natural low-key, non-hype patterns. We desire to do the ministry of

Christ with joy.

Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

O. We value being CULTURE CURRENT. We aim to develop an atmosphere of ease, and

to speak, act, and dress in ways in which our culture can respond positively. For

example, we reflect this value through worship music that is of a popular style.

I Corinthians 9:19-23: Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to

everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the

Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not

under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became

like one not having the law though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's

law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the

weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save

some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.