Our Purpose, Vision, Mission and Values

The Spirit of God was with over three years ago as we first gathered in a living room for Home Church. The Spirit is with us now in a sacred space, where hundreds of lives have been saved since it was dedicated over 100 years ago. After standing empty, void of worshippers for the last few years, God had a plan to fill a once vibrant ,beautiful chapel with His worshippers again and here we are. While we celebrate the past 3 years of being MCCC, it is exhilarating to think to the future about what God has in store for us next. As a body of believers, we have made a commitment to be led completely by the Holy Spirit of God and we continue to ask the Spirit to give us God’s vision for the future of Misty Creek Community Church. We are thrilled to celebrate our three year launch anniversary, to witness the mighty power of God through worship, and to be a part of the continued growth of His church.

Purpose:

Misty Creek exists solely to love God, love people, and make disciples that make disciples. (Matt 28:18-20; Mk 12:30-31) We desire to be completely led by the guidance, power and discernment of the Holy Spirit. (1 John 3:22-23; 1 John 5:14-15; Romans 8:14) “

Matt 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mark 12:30-31“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

1 John 3:22-23 “ Receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”

1 John 5:14-15 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

7 Romans 8:14 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

Vision:

Our vision is to produce God conformed lives addressing spiritual, relationship, health, finance, education, and leadership issues.

(Is 61:1-4) The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

MISSION:

Gather, Grow, Go. (Acts 2:42-47; 5:12-14; 20:20)
Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

GATHER – We gather every week as God’s family to celebrate and be challenged and encouraged in our new life in Christ.

GROW – We grow in our relationship with God and the church family through “Growth Groups” (aka: small groups).

GO – We recruit, equip, and deploy God’s people on Jesus’ Rescue Mission as individuals, groups, and as a church.

CORE VALUES:

1. Prayer at all times –We believe that all we do should start, run, and end thoroughly saturated in prayer. (Col. 4:2; 1 Thess 5:17) We gather every Thursday for Power Hour of
Prayer. Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 1 Thess 5:17 pray continually

2. Come as you are, Don’t stay as you are –We believe Jesus calls all to come as they are, but loves us too much to let us stay as we are. Transformation is an expectation. (Matt 4:17; Mk 6:12; Lk 5:32; 13:3; 15:7; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 26:20; Rom 2:4; 2 Cor 7:10; 2 Pt 3:9) Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

3. Be Authentic Disciples –We believe Christianity is a relationship with God that defines and directs us through Scripture and His Spirit, being demonstrated by a new way of life of obedience, faith, and accountable community. (Mk 12:30-31; Jn 15:9-12; 1 Jn 3:10; 5:2-3) John 15:9-12 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

4. Transformation through small GROUPS –We believe the best place to experience life change, meaningful relationships, spiritual growth, and effective mission is in a small group. (Matt 10:1; Acts 2:46; 5:42; Col 4:15; Heb 10:24-25) Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

5. Live in community –We believe Christianity is personal, but not private and is lived out and fully experienced in sharing life with others. (Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35; 5:42; Rom 12:10-16; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 4:2; Heb 10:24-25) Acts 2:42:47 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

6. Every Christian is a MISSIONARY and MINISTER –We believe God has called every person to proclaim the message of Jesus and serve in team ministry using their God-given gifts/ resources. (Matt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15; Eph 4:11-16; Rom 12:3-8; 1 Pt 4:10-11) Eph 4:11-1611 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

7. The healing is in the HELPING –We believe the fullness of God’s healing in our life is experienced when we spend ourselves on helping others. Messy lives touching messy lives. (Is. 58:6-12; Slide 31 Luke 6:38) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

8. We’re blessed to be a BLESSING –We believe God blesses our lives to bless others and the more we bless the more blessed we will be. (2 Cor 1:3-4; 8:7; 9:6-11; Lk 6:38) Slide 33 2 Cor 1:3-43 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

9. PEOPLE matter to God –We believe in the value of every human being and take seriously the mission of reaching people for Jesus, locally and beyond. (Ps 33:13 -15; 139:13-14; Gn 1:26-27; Jms 3:9) Slide 35 Psalm 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me

together in my mother’s womb.14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

10. Intentional radical acts of KINDNESS –We believe the best way to share the message of Jesus is with intentional and radical acts of kindness done in Jesus name. (Lk 6:27-31; Matt 10:7-8; 25:31-46) Luke 6:27-31 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

11. Culturally RELEVANT and ENGAGING –We believe we should try to reach people in a way they UNDERSTAND and that ENGAGES the culture. (Matt 11:19; 15:1-3; Jn 5:18; 1 Cor 9:19-23 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 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. 21 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. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

• We have a redemptive approach to life and culture. In an ever-changing world, we have ever changing methods with the never changing message. We look for the good, for opportunities to build bridges and use all aspects of life (holidays, art, entertainment, sports, etc.) to honor and glorify God and share the message of Jesus. We think “out of the box” to reach those who don’t know Jesus.

12. WHATEVER It Takes –We believe Jesus set the example and called us to live His mission whatever it takes, no matter the cost. (Mk 10:45; Lk 9:23-25; 2 Cor 5:15)

1 Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 9:23-25 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

These 12 Biblical Core Values represent the uncompromisingly devoted, outward, missional, sacrificial, and servant-hearted focus modeled and taught by Jesus for all Christians to follow.