Our mission
To make disciples of Jesus
Our Vision
A Community of Disciples Who Declare & Demonstrate a Different Way of Life to a Watching World.
Our Values
Biblical Authority
The Bible is the authoritative, inspired, true Word of God.
The Bible is God’s Word to humanity. It was written by human authors under the supernatural inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth and the primary basis of our beliefs. It is the authoritative rule and guide for our lives.
Followers of Jesus are not merely to listen to the Word, but to do what it says (James 1.22). Over and over again Jesus said the true test of our love for Him is whether or not we keep His commandments (John 14.15). We commit to faithfully teaching, applying, and living out God’s Word. We don’t make the Bible relevant (it already is!), but we can help people to see its relevance for their daily lives. Ultimately, the goal is not only for us to get into God’s Word, but for God’s Word to get into us.
Followers of Jesus are not merely to listen to the Word, but to do what it says (James 1.22). Over and over again Jesus said the true test of our love for Him is whether or not we keep His commandments (John 14.15). We commit to faithfully teaching, applying, and living out God’s Word. We don’t make the Bible relevant (it already is!), but we can help people to see its relevance for their daily lives. Ultimately, the goal is not only for us to get into God’s Word, but for God’s Word to get into us.
Bold Prayer & Dependence on the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit gave birth to the Church at Pentecost, and The Way is completely reliant upon that same Spirit. We don’t want to do anything without the direction, guidance, leadership, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit. We believe the dreams God has for us are so big that they are doomed to fail unless we depend on Him. Throughout history, great movements of God have started with the prayers of God’s people, inviting the Spirit of God to be unleashed. We pray boldly, persistently, and with a sense of anticipation and expectancy, knowing that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3.20).”
Intentional Discipleship
BE with Jesus. BECOME like Jesus. DO as Jesus does.
A disciple of Jesus is someone who organizes their entire life around three goals: BE with Jesus, BECOME like Jesus, and DO as Jesus does. We reject the current tendencies in our culture of going through the motions of religion, playing Church, and believing it is enough simply to say, “I am a Christian.” Jesus is not a compartment of your life; He is your life (Colossians 3.4). Jesus is not interested in making your life just a little bit better; His goal is total transformation. He came not to make bad people good, but to bring dead people to life. Discipleship is a process where we move from unbelief to belief about what is true of God and of the Gospel in absolutely every area of our life. Because Jesus went All-In for us, we go All-In with Him.
Invitational Evangelism
Disciples make disciples who make disciples…
Jesus said that He came to seek out and to save the lost (Luke 19.10). Every person on the planet is in need of something that can only be found in a personal relationship with Jesus. And once Jesus “finds” us, then we should “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have (1st Peter 3.15).” It is the job of every apprentice of Jesus to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28.18-20) in their spheres of influence. Since the Gospel is “good news,” we share it not out of duty, but with delight, always remembering just how lost we once were until Jesus rescued us. (“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see!”)
Authentic Community
You can’t follow Jesus alone.
Jesus didn’t have a disciple; He had disciples. There are fifty-nine “one-anothers” in the New Testament: love one another, forgive one another, encourage one another, etc. It’s impossible to “one-another” yourself; we are called to “one-another” one-another. While attending weekly worship is an essential element of following Jesus, sixty minutes on Sunday morning will only take you so far in your journey with Jesus. Real and lasting life change happens best in circles, not rows. Such transformation tends to take place in smaller groups where disciples of Jesus can be vulnerable and authentic with one-another. These kinds of communities do life together, providing care, support, and loving accountability for one-another.
Missional Living
Mission is more than an event, program, or trip; it’s a way of life.
When Jesus was asked to identify the Greatest Commandment, He called His followers to love both God and neighbor (Matthew 22.37-40). Jesus “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10.45).” As His disciples we emulate His model of servant leadership. Whenever we do something for someone, it’s as if we are doing it for Jesus (Matthew 25.31-46). Every believer is equipped with at least one spiritual gift, and called & empowered to serve in God's mission to the world (1st Peter 4.10). Our service isn’t simply service for service's sake; it is service intended to glorify God, invite people into a relationship with Jesus, and build up the body of Christ. When we serve in such ways, “our deeds match our creeds,” and we prove that Jesus was and is right when He said that, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13.35).”
Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of The Way Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
God
There is one, true, holy God, who exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God in being, character, power, and eternal qualities. In the beginning, God created the universe out of nothing. By God’s sovereign power, creation is continually sustained, and God’s redemptive purposes are being fulfilled.
Jesus
Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary by miraculous conception, lived a sinless human life, and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on the cross. He physically rose from the dead after three days, demonstrating God’s power over sin and death. He ascended into heaven, where He rules as our Lord and mediates between God and people. He will return again to earth in the future to establish God’s perfect peace and justice for all time.
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and Son, and is present in the world to make people aware of their sin and their need for Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation, providing the Christian with power for living, knowledge of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing God’s will. The Holy Spirit is involved in progressively transforming each follower into the image of Christ, and is actively working within the Christian community to bring about God’s plan of redemption for all people and all creation.
Humanity
Human beings are the supreme object of God’s creation, made in the image of God to be like God in character. Although we have tremendous potential for good, everyone is marred by an attitude of rebellion toward God called sin, which separates people from God. Human beings are incapable of beginning or maintaining a relationship with God through our own knowledge or effort.
Eternity
Salvation
People are created to exist forever. Every person will either exist eternally in union with God through the salvation offered through Jesus Christ (heaven), or exist eternally separated from God by sin (hell).
Salvation is a gift from God to all people. Human beings can never make up for their sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can a person be saved from sin’s penalty and enjoy the blessing of a personal relationship with God.
We become Christians and experience God’s salvation when we take two simple, but powerful, steps:
We become Christians and experience God’s salvation when we take two simple, but powerful, steps:
- Confess that you are imperfect and in need of God’s forgiveness
- Believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead as payment for your sins
The Church
The Bible
The Church is the Body of Christ present in the world today, comprised of all those who have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, who is the head of the Church. The Church exists to glorify God, edify believers, declare and demonstrate God’s justice and mercy for all, and share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with the world. Every believer is equipped with at least one spiritual gift, and called and empowered to serve in God’s mission to the world.
The Bible, comprised of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is God’s Word to all. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. The scriptures are inspired by God, and they are infallible in the original manuscripts. They contain the blueprint for the Christian life, and they are the unique and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. There are no other writings similarly inspired by God.
We offer complimentary Bibles in the New International Version (NIV) to anyone who needs one on both sides of the stage.
We offer complimentary Bibles in the New International Version (NIV) to anyone who needs one on both sides of the stage.
Baptism
Holy Communion
We believe in two sacraments: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper), which were both practiced by Jesus. The sacraments are to be celebrated within the gathered Church. Holy Baptism and Holy Communion are both signs and means of God’s grace, meaning that they help us remember and experience the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ. Holy Baptism is the sacrament a believer receives once during his or her life.
Baptism connects us with God’s mighty acts of salvation and His Church. We are not “saved” at the moment of Baptism; rather, salvation happens when we invite Jesus into our life as our personal Savior and Lord. Once we make that commitment, scripture calls us to publicly profess of our faith through Baptism. Though we still sin after Baptism, we do not need to be re-baptized. Rather, we renew our faith by confessing our sins to God, turning away from that sin, and reaffirming our faith in Christ alone. The Way joins the apostolic church in practicing baptism by sprinkling and immersion.
Baptism connects us with God’s mighty acts of salvation and His Church. We are not “saved” at the moment of Baptism; rather, salvation happens when we invite Jesus into our life as our personal Savior and Lord. Once we make that commitment, scripture calls us to publicly profess of our faith through Baptism. Though we still sin after Baptism, we do not need to be re-baptized. Rather, we renew our faith by confessing our sins to God, turning away from that sin, and reaffirming our faith in Christ alone. The Way joins the apostolic church in practicing baptism by sprinkling and immersion.
Holy Communion is the sacrament we typically celebrate on the first weekend of each month. During Communion, you will be invited to come forward with others in your row. You will then be given a piece of bread to dip into a cup of grape juice at the front of the church. We use grape juice out of respect for those in recovery.
Communion reminds us of the Last Supper Jesus shared with His disciples in the Upper Room as He prepared them for His death on the cross. The bread and grape juice are symbols of Jesus’ body and blood, which were broken and shed for our sin. Communion is not only a time to remember Christ’s death, but it’s also an anticipation of the time when we will sit at His table and enjoy fellowship with Christ and His Church in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Furthermore, in Holy Communion, the Holy Spirit meets us where we are and administers grace—forgiveness, mercy, and the power to be God’s people in the world. Holy Communion is open to anyone, regardless of church membership, with these two guidelines:
Communion reminds us of the Last Supper Jesus shared with His disciples in the Upper Room as He prepared them for His death on the cross. The bread and grape juice are symbols of Jesus’ body and blood, which were broken and shed for our sin. Communion is not only a time to remember Christ’s death, but it’s also an anticipation of the time when we will sit at His table and enjoy fellowship with Christ and His Church in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Furthermore, in Holy Communion, the Holy Spirit meets us where we are and administers grace—forgiveness, mercy, and the power to be God’s people in the world. Holy Communion is open to anyone, regardless of church membership, with these two guidelines:
- a personal confession of sin in the name of Jesus (in private, silent prayer) and
- He/She desires to take one step closer to Jesus Christ, wherever you are on your spiritual journey