Here is something I wrote as we were preparing to launch Relevant Life Church..

This church is an Acts 1:8 church. Our responsibility is first to Fargo/Moorhead, then to Minnesota/North Dakota, then to America and then unto the rest of our World.

This Church is strategic about growth. We are strategic through prayer, fasting, research and planning. We are fully instructed, fully equipped, and fully empowered to reach our community. We know our community, know our target demographics, know ways to connect, add value and reach the people that God has entrusted us with. This church goes to where people are at. We have everything we need to accomplish growing His kingdom. Because this church is serious about the Great Commission, we will not stop growing. This church will leave a legacy that will last an eternity.

This church is a church of disciples and disciple makers. This church is all in. We will do whatever, whenever and however we are instructed to do so by the Lord. This church is not all about comfort. We are willing to pay the price to see lives changed. We will forsake whatever we need to in order to radically follow Him. This church has left nothing back, left no stone unturned. We are determined to let God remove all obstacles that will hinder us from loving Him and loving people.

This church is a church that loves people. Regardless of present, past or current issues we love people. Income, race, or religion we not keep us from loving and valuing people equally. We love them the way that God loves them and choose to see them the way He does. There are not prerequisites of this love. This church loves without recompense. This church loves at great costs. This church exists to love God and make His love known.

This church is a church of unity. Slander, strife, gossip, and backbiting are our enemies and not allowed in our church body. This church is thrilled to be one of many life-giving churches in this community. Because out of the heart the mouth speaks, we will speak life to each other and speak life about each other. This church realizes the power of words and the power of unity, therefore we will walk in the unity that Christ calls us to.

This church is a church is commited to empowering people. Sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, singles, married, widowers and anyone else that God brings to us. We will empower families to serve Christ passionately together. We will empower single people to find God’s will and purpose in their life. We will empower people to empower others. We will strive to see the gifts that God has placed in each individual rise up and come forth.

This church is serious about seeing kids experience God. This church will provide an atmosphere where kids can learn about God and experience the love He has for them. This church will love every child that it encounters and strive to see God’s will come forth from their lives.

This church is all about the Bible. We believe in the inspiration of scripture and trust it as the foundation of the Christian life. This church understands that the Bible is relevant and has instructions that pertain to every facet of life.

This church is full of the Spirit. This church embraces the presence of God and is dependent upon his power to see changed lives. This church recognizes that apart from Him we can do nothing. Unless He shows up and shows off we have nothing to offer others on our own accord.

This church is not afraid of messes. We realize that it is easy to get messy in this life. Christ died because we do not have the ability to clean up our own messes. Therefore, this church will be serious about about introducing people to the One who has the power to clean up every mess. This church will walk beside people through this process.

This church is all about Jesus. We recognize the Deity of Christ. This church understands that through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is hope for mankind. This church will be a proponent of that hope in word, deed and action. This church will filter everything message though the cross of Christ.

This church is progressive and innovative. This church embraces the promoting the gospel by any creative means necessary. We recognize that there are ways and methods to reach unchurched people that have not yet been thought of. We will respond with wisdom to every scenario that we encounter keeping God’s plan at the forefront.

This church is excellent in stewardship. We believe in stewarding all that we own to the glory of God! This includes our time, resources and talents. We also realize the importance of doing everything with excellence. This church believes in generosity! Everything we have belongs to him so we live life with an open hand!! In both receiving and giving we approach God and people with an open hand, not a closed fist.