We define a “core value” as a principle quality without which we cannot even imagine ourselves existing. For example, you might hear someone say that they are “all about that” when you mention wanting to “having a good time” at a party they are hosting. This reveals a core value of fun or amusement. This host can’t even imagine a party of his even taking place if it wasn’t a “good time”! So it is that we as a church cannot even imagine ourselves existing if these core values were not true of us.
Click on each core value to learn more.
Inviting
Inviting others to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and to join us as we follow Him as our Lord.
There are two parts to Inviting:
- We, to use the words of the Apostle Paul, are “not ashamed of the gospel…” (Romans 1:16). So we are all about inviting or introducing people to the person, life and message of Jesus Christ. At that point, choosing to believe in and follow Jesus Christ is between those persons and God and we respect the process people need to go through to make such a profound decision. Still we consider it a distinct honor and core responsibility to be “human-divine matchmakers” if you will.
- The second part of this core value is that we are a welcoming church, one that readily and warmly invites people to become a part of our fellowship, whether a person is a committed follower of Jesus Christ that is simply looking for a church or someone who is searching for answers and wants to consider the Christian perspective.
Connecting
We Connect with each other by establishing genuine friendships in which we mutually pray for, encourage and hold one another accountable to our commitment to follow Jesus.
We have no desire to be a congregation of friendly strangers, dishing out shallow greetings Sunday after Sunday while underneath the surface rages the challenges of this life and a dire thirst for the kind of friendship we all need in order to make it through them. So while we understand that people develop genuine friendships in different ways and at different paces, this church is passionate about seeing that it does happen.
Growing
We Grow in our knowledge of God through study of the Bible and in the love and character of Christ expressed in our daily lives.
If we do indeed believe in an infinite God, can we ever reach a point where we can say that we don’t need to learn more about him!? The most direct source we can learn from is the Bible, God’s inspired Word written to us and for our benefit. We are all about being good students of the Scriptures.
But notice that we are also all about growing not only in knowledge but in what is often called “wisdom” or applied knowledge. We’re not satisfied with being just “book smart” but “life smart”, seeing the ancient teachings of Christ formed in our very character and actions.
Serving
Serving each other and our community by discovering, developing and deploying our spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities.
We strongly believe in and value the unique gifts, talents and abilities that each individual has and the call that each Christian has to express those through service in their local church and community. If you don’t think your “good at anything”, we’ll prove you wrong! What’s the best way to discover and develop these instruments of service? Deploy yourself! In short, we desire to be a church where, to use athletic imagery, the “bench” is empty.
Sharing
We Share in the financial expenses of ARCC and in meeting the urgent needs of our congregation and community as the LORD leads us.
Due to the abuses of a very small group of pastors and churches, many churches shy away from talking about money. In contrast we think that being silent on something which plays such an integral part of our daily lives is courting even further abuse. Instead, we bring our faith to impact our stewardship of the financial and material assets with which we have been entrusted. That faith inspires us to be generous in meeting the financial needs of ARCC (both collectively in our ministry expenses and individually in our members who are in desperate need) and the needs of our community.
