Purpose

eChurch's purpose is "Journeying With Jesus, Engaging Our World, Living In Community" Our structure, programs and decisions are based upon this simple, yet far-reaching, mission statement. “Where are we heading?”  This is the most constantly asked question in church life.  New people need to know before committing to any new group...Existing members need to be reminded consistently of the goal posts...Leaders need benchmarks to assess whether the congregation is on track.  As Leaders, here is our sense of where God is pointing us.

Our Purpose for the future is: “JOURNEYING WITH JESUS,  ENGAGING OUR WORLD, LIVING IN COMMUNITY”

We are on a journey to rediscover the life that springs from following Jesus in a network of loving relationships so that we can embody His love and message to our world.  Our major focii are identifying with Jesus in discipleship, transformation and prayer.  Living in a community of worship, service and fellowship.  Engaging our world with evangelism and mission.  Local and global mission is a major priority. We are missionaries everywhere we go. Theologically, we are committed to no more and no less than NT faith and practice.  We will continue to endorse a spiritual direction that is evangelical, interdenominational and biblical.

“IN MATTERS OF FAITH, UNITY; IN MATTERS OF OPINION, FREEDOM; IN ALL THINGS, LOVE.”

Communally, we encourage our Church to maintain contact with other movements and ideas that God is using to achieve his purposes.

NEITHER CATHOLIC NOR PROTESTANT, SIMPLY CHRISTIAN. 

We are not just another denomination. We are non-denominational. Post-denominational.  If that seems refreshing to you, then you will enjoy worshipping with Christians from a variety of backgrounds.

“WE ARE CHRISTIANS ONLY, NOT THE ONLY CHRISTIANS.”

Pragmatically, our churches are genuinely guided by the preaching and example of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. The Lord’s Supper is open to all who profess faith. We meet on the first day of the week for breaking bread or communion.  We believe a Christian is one who has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to the best of their understanding obeys Him according to the Scriptures.  We immerse repentant believers in water for baptism. Churches of Christ have:

“NO CREED BUT CHRIST, NO BOOK BUT THE BIBLE, NO NAME BUT CHRISTIAN”

Personally, the Bible is the only real rule of faith and practice. Less than the Bible is not enough, more is too much. Where the Scriptures speak we speak, where the Scriptures are silent we are silent. All personal interpretations from Scripture however valuable, should never be binding on another Christian.  Spiritually, as leaders, our continuing position is to “not rule out what God has ruled in”.  We maintain a biblical position that the miraculous has not ceased (Gal.3:5, Jn.14:12).  Gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to every believer as the Holy Spirit distributes (1Pet.4:10-11).  We do not believe that any one gift is the sign of the fullness of the Spirit.  There is one baptism with many fillings (Eph.4:4-6, 5:18).  

We believe in a NOW BUT NOT YET Kingdom of God (Mat.6:10).  God will decide whether to act now (answered on earth) or not yet (answered in Heaven).  We pray and God answers according to His will.  The miraculous still happens under the sovereignty of God.  Prayerfully, we join Jesus Christ, as he intercedes for His church to be co-operative, mature, loving and global.   He prays for a united, transforming community with a compassionate heart for the world.  Unity is a gift to be received and a responsibility to be maintained.

Our desire is to enjoy the uncluttered, commonsense Christianity. “My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father— that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.   (John 17:21-23 NLT) 

S.P.R.I.N.G.W.O.O.D.

S. Sowing and reaping the harvest across the street and the sea is our world changing mission.
Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest.…the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! (John 4:36 NLT) Jesus said to his followers, "Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone. (Mark 16:15 NCV)

P. People are lost and matter to God.  They need prayer, time, trust and answers to be reconnected to Christ.
The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them. (Luke 19:10 NCV)  Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. (1 Pet 3:15 NLT)

R. Reaching each new generation with Jesus Christ requires relevant methods.
I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.  (1 Cor 9:22 NIV)  New wine must be put into new wineskins. (Luke 5:38 NLT) 

I. Inspired, life-related truth is a catalyst for personal growth.
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32 NIV) Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do… (Rom 12:2 NLT)

N. Next generation can only be reached by the leadership equipping ‘every member ministry’ now.
He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, (Eph 4:12 NLT) You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others. (2 Tim 2:2 NLT)

G. Groups are the best place for life change, encountering truth and loving care
They spent their time learning the apostles' teaching, sharing, breaking bread, and praying together. All the believers were together and shared everything…(Acts 2:42-46 NCV)  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.  (Acts 5:42 NKJV)

W. Worship is an ‘all of life’ journey of being transformed by the Spirit of the Lord
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with  ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:18 NIV) The time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and that time is here already. You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him. (John 4:23 NCV)   

O. Organically, we are to grow more like Christ and more connected to one another in service.
Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. (Eph 4:15 NLT) Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God's various gifts of grace. (1 Pet 4:10)

O. Opening doors is God’s work, joining him is our privilege and responsibility.
Jesus replied, "I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. (John 5:19 NLT) For there is a wide-open door for a great work here, and many people are responding. (1 Cor 16:9 NLT

D. DNA of Dynamic Truth, Nourishing Relationships and Anointed Holy Spirit Mission will multiply the church exponentially.

A fully developing follower of Christ . . . Worships God: Worships both corporately in a large gathering and privately alone with God. Lives by God’s Word: Understands the Bible as the authority for all areas of life. Contributes to God’s Work: Discovers and develops their gifts and abilities to serve the Body through the contribution of time, financial support, and relational influence. Impacts God’s World: Reaching out first to lost and unchurched friends by praying, giving a verbal witness and inviting them to eChurch events and becoming personally involved in world missions.