St. Michael's Mission and Values

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What do we stand for at St. Michael’s Church?

Our Mission is to Transform Hearts Through Jesus Christ.  This transformation has three stages:

·      From a cultural Christian to a believer

·      A believer to a disciple

·      And a disciple to a mission apologist

 

Our Vision is to Transform Hearts through Jesus Christ in ‘4’ specific areas (modelling Acts 1:8:  “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the Ends of the earth”):

·      The Home, where we live (Jerusalem)

·      The Holy City, Charleston (Judea)

·      The Hurting Coast, Richmond to Maine (Samaria)

·      The Hungering World, unreached global people groups (Ends of the Earth).

 

Our Values:

If transformation is our engine room, then values serve as the oil in that engine.  Values defined are principles that have ultimate importance, and piece by piece help our mission and vision become a reality.

 
These 12 core values enflame our life and ministry:
  1. Jesus Christ is the heartbeat of our life. Making Jesus Lord of our lives plunges us into fellowship with the living God, the relationship we all long for. This gift of redemption is meant for every adult, young person, and child.
    (John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, Philippians 3:7-11) 
  1. The Bible is the true compass for finding our pathway. God, through the Scriptures, interprets the story of our lives, and shines as the true, authoritative light to our path. (2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12)
  1. Worship is designed for us to taste heaven. Our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever; in true worship–in ways ancient and modern–we are cleansed, remade, offered a glimpse of eternity, and empowered to love and serve.
    (John 4:21-24, Romans 12:1-2)
  1. Christians are called beyond membership to the lifelong adventure of discipleship. We are summoned to a journey in which the Lord transforms and frees us as we explore and obey his calling.
    (Matthew 7:24-29, Mark 8:34-36, Galatians 5:22)
  1. Prayer is the lifeblood of a dynamic church. We have the privilege of dwelling in Christ, learning to listen, and to abide in a transforming, healing friendship with God.
    (Ephesians 3:14-21, Luke 11:1-13)
  1. Love is meant to radiate from every relationship in the church. Forgiveness, patience, and kindness can be the hallmarks of our common life; this love is meant to infuse our families, marriages, and the common life of the church.
    (Matthew 22:34-40, 1 Corinthians 13)
  1. Small groups are an oasis where deepened relationships are forged. This is where authenticity, the joy of belonging, and personal growth is developed. (Acts 2:42)
  1. Every Christian is to live out of the Overflow of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to glorify God. We all have different gifts, and we are invited invest them whole-heartedly.
    (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:3-8)
  1. Lost people matter to God and to us. The staggering good news is that in Christ no life is too far gone; our love can by grace copy God’s, which is generous, far-reaching, and forgiving. “As the Father has sent me, so do I send you.” Specifically, St. Michael’s has been called to proclaim the Gospel to our “Hearts and Homes,” the “Holy City,” the “Hurting Coast,” and the “Hungering World.”
    (Acts 1:8, Luke 19:10, Matthew 28:16-20, Ezekiel 34:11-16)
  1. We Value Pioneering. We seek to create a church that risks boldly bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to our Community and world. (Acts 8:  4-7)
  1. We Value Timeliness: Our time is one of the most precious gifts we have to offer, therefore keeping to timeliness in all things is important to the vision! (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8, 14-15) 
  1. We value Fun. We believe that some Christians take themselves too seriously and that intensity can be a mark of hostility toward the Holy Spirit.  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.  We love humor!  We desire to reflect the joy of our salvation in our life and ministry, having “fun” while we are serving the Lord.  (Galatians 5: 22-23; Philippians 4:4)

In sum, our chief Values include:

Up to Jesus
In to community and fellowship
Out to the world