Desiring the Presence of God
We value the presence of God and want our love for the Lord and a desire for His presence to drive everything we do. We want our church to be a home for God: a place where God loves to abide, and where others can come to encounter the life-changing love and presence of God (Exodus 33:14-15; Matthew 8:20; Isaiah 66:1).
Growing in Relationship with God
We value growing in our personal relationship with God through prayer, worship, and Bible study. Our first ministry is to God; all other ministry flows from abiding in Him (John 15:5). Our worship is a response to the goodness, love, and majesty of our God, and as we behold Him and minister to Him, we are transformed to be more like Him (Ezekiel 44:15-16; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
As Charles Haun writes, “The Christian life is not so much about the hows and wherefores of living righteously on earth as it is about first realizing who God is and then proceeding to love Him so much that His desires suddenly become your own. When you become so acquainted with the heart of God by living so close to Him that you actually begin to feel His heartbeat, then it is not difficult to become the expression of His love to others around you.”
Growing in Relationship with Others
We value healthy family relationships and supporting and growing in relationship with others in the body of Christ. We gather to worship together, encourage each other, and to encounter God corporately and individually (Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:43-47, John 13:35). We strive to display honor, respect, and love in our relationships with one another.
A personal relationship with God is essential. Family obligations and responsibilities follow, and then ministry. No amount of work or success in ministry can compensate for a solid relationship with the Lord and healthy family relationships.
Equipping Believers
We value each believer’s unique calling, spiritual gifts, and abilities, from the youngest to the oldest, and we believe it is the church’s role to equip each one to carry the good news of the gospel to the world around us in love and power (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-12). God is not a respecter of persons; therefore, we treat every member of our leadership and congregation as sons and daughters of the King, created in His image—a chosen generation, a royal priesthood (I Peter 2:9).
Serving Our Community
We value our community. We want to display God’s love to those around us and to see the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ transform the lives of those in the Pawcatuck-Westerly community (1 Corinthians 2:4). Our desire is to see “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).”
Exalting Jesus
Everything we do is rooted in the centrality and lordship of Jesus Christ. He is the only sure foundation on which we can build our lives, our families, and the church (1 Corinthians 3:11; John 12:21). He alone can satisfy the deepest needs of the human heart, and we want Jesus to be exalted in our church, our families, and in our community.
