What We Believe

Scripture describes God’s goodness with the Hebrew word tov, meaning good, beautiful, and life giving. The Circle of Tov describes the kind of culture we want to cultivate as a church community. It helps us pursue leadership and relationships that reflect the character of Christ. At the center of this circle is Jesus. There are seven practices that help keep our church healthy and focused on people rather than power.

Jesus is the center of our church. Our teaching, leadership, and mission are guided by His life, His words, and His example.

We seek to listen well and understand the experiences of others. Empathy allows us to care for people with compassion and patience.

Because we have received grace from God, we extend grace to others. We pursue forgiveness, restoration, and humility in our relationships.

The church exists to serve people. No platform, program, or personality is more important than the well being of those God has entrusted to our care.

We believe truth matters. We strive to speak honestly, pursue wisdom in Scripture, and address challenges with integrity.

We desire fairness, protection for the vulnerable, and accountability in leadership. Justice ensures that power is used to serve rather than control.

Leadership in the church is rooted in serving others. Following the example of Jesus, we believe true leadership is expressed through humility and sacrifice.

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself.

Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin and appointed as caretakers of the rest of God's creations.

When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time.

Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers as a free gift eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.

The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.