Who we are, and who we want to be, can be summed up with our core purpose. It explains why we are here, and where we are going as a church family. It provides clarity and direction as we navigate the ever changing needs of our community.
Our core purpose is simply this: Real People loving and honoring the Real God in Real Relationships.
We try to be a church that is real. Real to it’s attenders, real to the community, and real to all those we come in contact with. We are not perfect, we don’t pretend to be. We are simply a group of people who try and be real with where we are in our journey as Christians, real with God, and real in our relationships with others.
Our core values identify the guiding principles that shape our church’s character. They describe what we stand for and what we strive for. They are the institutional ethics which we seek to operate by, and encourage in others.
Our core values are captured in these simple phrases:- God dependent & Spirit empowered
- Growing disciples
- Value the individual
- Everyone in ministry
- Servant evangelism
Core Beliefs:
We believe in one God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father Almighty, Creator of all things visible and invisible, in Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son, our one and only Savior both fully human and fully divine, and in the Holy Spirit, active and operative part of the triune God, who indwells every Christian.
We believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word as the final authority for all matters of faith and practice, inspired the autographs that teaches that man, created by God, willfully sinned against God and we believe forgiveness of sins is only by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ. One receives God’s grace by putting faith in Christ, repenting of sin, confessing Christ and being immersed into Christ, but that none of these is sufficient in and of itself for the assurance of salvation. We believe the Church of Jesus Christ was founded on the Day of Pentecost and consists of all Christians everywhere.
Real Love:
The Bible does not speak of love as a feeling to be shared, but as an action to be carried out. John tells us in 1st John that God revealed His love to us by sending His Son to us. He sent Jesus to die for us so that in Him we can live. He acted on our behalf before we knew we needed Him to act.
Our response is not to send a card to God or to buy Jesus chocolates, though He may like that. Instead, we are to love one another. John says that Jesus laid down his life for us so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. This is one of the hardest teachings to practice.
We tend to think of ourselves first, but Jesus tells us to think of others first. In order to do this, we begin by finding ways to love others, not in word, but in deed. Real Love is not a feeling. It is acting in the interest and for the benefit of others. John concludes saying that we know God is alive in us if we love one another.
Real People:
Dave Harrison – “Real Faith” – 01/10/10 Dave Harrison – “Real Weakness” – 01/17/10 Dave Harrison – “Real Integrity” – 01/24/10 Dave Harrison – “Real Courage” – 1/31/10Real Love:
Dave Harrison – “Real Commitment” – 2/07/10
Dave & Joanna Harrison: Associate Preaching Pastor
Dave is a graduate of Lincoln Christian University. He is currently finishing up his Master of Arts degree in General Theology from Lincoln Christian University.
Dave grew up in Hurst, IL attending the First Christian Church of Hurst. Dave’s first experience with New England occured during his college internship at Manchester Christian Church. While on his internship, Dave developed a love for the Red Sox, Fall colors, and New England clam chowder. After his internship, Dave moved to Mason City, IL where he served for 4 and a half years as the Associate/Youth Pastor at Mason City Christian Church.
In December 2007, Dave met his wife Joanna in his kitchen. She had accompanied one of her friends for a dinner party at Dave’s house. They were married on New Year’s Eve 2008. Joanna grew up in Rockford, IL. Like Dave, she grew up in the church. Joanna is a graduate of Lincoln Christian University and the University of Illinois. Joanna loves to cook, watch the Office, coffee, and Mexican food. Dave is an avid sports fan passionately cheering for the Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, San Antonio Spurs, and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. Together, Dave and Joanna enjoy walks, new restaurants, and Boston.
Ruth 2:8-10
So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me a foreigner?”
