ECB Mission Statement & Core Values
Mission Statement
Graciously and lovingly empowered by the Holy Spirit and guided by the Word of God, we exist to embrace, live out, and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ for the glory of God.
Core Values: What Defines our Church?
- Biblical Authority
- Gospel Culture
- Prayer
Biblical Authority
Our highest and final authority is the living and active Word of God. Humbly submitting to the inerrant Word of God will make our church a place of clarity, conviction, and comfort, while guarding us from sentiment, tradition, and pragmatism. Only a church shaped by the Word of God, and not the wisdom of humans, will produce the environment that honors Christ and reflects His beauty.
Gospel Culture
Since the gospel of Jesus Christ is embraced by us, our dynamic will reflect that belief in our relationships, tone, and atmosphere.
We are accepted and unconditionally loved by God because of His grace though our faith in Jesus and His saving work for us on the cross. We are not accepted and loved by God because of our goodness or performance. Our actions toward one another are based on the truth of the Gospel and not our performance. This creates a culture that:
We are accepted and unconditionally loved by God because of His grace though our faith in Jesus and His saving work for us on the cross. We are not accepted and loved by God because of our goodness or performance. Our actions toward one another are based on the truth of the Gospel and not our performance. This creates a culture that:
- Welcomes one another as Christ has welcomed us.
- Provides the gospel regularly, not only for salvation, but as the ongoing source of transformation and hope.
- Values honesty over hiding, making people feel safe expressing their struggles, sins and doubts without fear of rejection or shame.
- Gives time for the Holy Spirit to work in people to grow, to mature, and to heal.
- Seeks to honor one another.
- Naturally exudes joy. Joy of being fully known and fully loved. Joy of freedom from condemnation. Joy of belonging to Christ and His church.
Prayer
Since we are created dependent beings in constant need of God, our desire will be to pray together, pray for one another, and encourage each other to pray.
We pray together to lean on the Lord and one another. We pray for one another and inform them of this fact to remind them that they are loved, and that God is working. We encourage each other to pray because we are weak and in need of His strength, which He mercifully gives repeatedly.
We pray together to lean on the Lord and one another. We pray for one another and inform them of this fact to remind them that they are loved, and that God is working. We encourage each other to pray because we are weak and in need of His strength, which He mercifully gives repeatedly.