Mission Vision Values Commitments

love_GodMission

Love God, Love People, Pass It On

Yes, it really is that simple. We believe that was Jesus’ own commission to his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20. We are called to be a kingdom of God-centered church that  equips/forms/disciples/teaches followers of Jesus to live the ordinary Christian life of being a disciple, and making disciples who make disciples.

Vision

Our vision is to be a regional church; the spiritual and intellectual hub among Vineyard Churches in the Nature Coast and throughout Florida.

We will:

  • Be a missional church with community outreach and global missions
  • Plant six additional daughter churches/satellites in the Nature Coast area.
  • Unify the Christian churches of the Nature Coast around the kingdom of God through prayer and cooperation/collaboration.
  • Establish the Joseph Project in three phases: Dream Center (education), Food Bank (storage & assistance), and Emergency Relief Center
  • Commit significant resources and be a catalyst church for the 4-14 Project to reach youth ages 4-14 with the gospel of Jesus. The 4-14  Project includes quality children’s Christian education, a youth & family center for the entire community, child care, and more.
  • Become a training center to equip the saints & provide pastoral internships
  • Build a Vineyard Pastors’ Retirement Village.

Values

We believe in Jesus’ commission to his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20. At the Vineyard Christian Church we love God, love people, and pass it on.
All Vineyard churches share five core values that make them part of the Vineyard movement. These core values are central to our identity and define the way we do ministry, and how we understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.

  • The Theology and Practice of the Kingdom of God

The primary message of Jesus in his earthly ministry was the kingdom of God (the kingdom of God is upon you, the kingdom of God is near you, you are not far from the kingdom, the kingdom of God is like . . .) and his teachings were accompanied by the works of the kingdom, both natural and supernatural. Because this was the focus of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we also make his teaching and practice of the Kingdom our focus. We believe that the Kingdom is not just the future universal reign of God, or simply the Christian Church. We believe that the Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God both in its present manifestation of salvation, deliverance, healing, etc. (Mark 12:34, Matthew 9:35, 12:28), and in its final manifestation of the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21).

  • Experiencing God

Experiencing God is not just our commitment to know about God, but to know him intimately, encounter him through worship, prayer, salvation and the present manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, and in divine guidance (dreams, visions, prophecy, words of knowledge, words of wisdom, discernment and much more). It also means to reveal the Father heart of God to those who do not know God, and to come into a full knowledge (heart, mind and soul) of his great love for humanity, and for the individual.

  • Reconciling Community

By Jesus’ reconciling us to himself, by taking on our sin and not counting our sins against us as we deserved, he gave to the church the ministry of reconciliation (2Corinthians 5:18-21). We share this gospel of reconciliation by pointing others to this same forgiveness and reconciliation with Christ, by demonstrating this same spirit of forgiveness, not harboring bitterness and resentment in our hearts toward others. Jesus put to death the enmity that exists between male and female, Jew and Greek, slave and free through his body so that we might be one (Ephesians 2:14-21). Therefore, wherever there is division, tribalism, racism, sexism, or any other division among people, we are  called to be a people of peace and reconciliation, and not to contribute to the sectarianism of the world.

  • Compassionate Ministry

We believe our actions must reflect Compassionate Ministry. The works of the church should be filled with compassion even as the Father heart of God is filled with compassion. Jesus did not come to the earth simply because he was duty bound, or it was the right thing to do. He was not compelled by the law or anything greater than himself, but by the love of the Father for the world, that no one should perish but through faith in Jesus Christ they should have everlasting life (John 3:16).

  • Culturally Relevant Mission

Ministry should be contextual, treating every place the gospel is preached as an outpost of the kingdom of God; not as our homeland, translating the good news into the vernacular of the recipients. While cultivating a Culturally Relevant Mission mindset, we recognize that our values are different, our worldview is different, and our priorities are different from those who are of the world. As saved and set-apart people, our thinking is different. Therefore, we must be like missionaries, learning afresh how to speak the language of our city, the next generation, and the people of this world. This never means compromising the truth, lowering the standards of right and wrong, or messing with the message. We simply go afresh to the old, old story, and think through what is culture and what is the Word of God. That which is culture can be rethought, and repackaged. That which is Scripture must be held onto and fought for without change or compromise. We  don’t mess with the message, but we do adjust the medium by which we share the message.

  • In addition to these we value beauty. 

God is beautiful and His creation reflects His beauty: God created man and woman in His image and likeness who also create works of beauty. For this reason we value the arts, expression, and creativity.

Five Commitments

  •  Serve People

God has designed each one of us with unique gifts and callings to serve the body of believers and the world at large. At the Vineyard we provide you with opportunities to use those talents to serve God by volunteering in the local church.

  • Give Back to God

We consider it a privilege to give back to God what he has so freely given us. We celebrate generosity and the work God does through our consistent and sacrificial giving.

  • Extend the Kingdom

This church exists to extend the invitation to the kingdom of God and to experience God’s forgiveness and mercy through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

  • Build Community through LifeGroups 

Participating in a small group is one of the best ways to build community and encourage spiritual growth. Through our LifeGroups you can connect with others as you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

  • Live a Godly Lifestyle

To love God through a lifestyle of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, and to avoid the works of the flesh: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like that.

 

 

What’s  Next?

If you like what you see and heard, and you are willing to commit to those five things than we want to invite you to bring us a small cross to add to our church wall; it is an informal way of saying, “I am in!”

We do not ask you to sign anything, or take an oath, because actions speak louder than words. Our goal is not a bloated roll of members, or a building full of religious consumers. Our goal is Love God, Love People, and Pass it on!

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