"Co-building a life changing and inviting community,
passionately centred on Jesus Christ"
We believe that God has an exciting vision for Arnold Community Church
and realize that there are several significant parts to our vision.
Co-building We recognize that the Church belongs to God and that He is the primary builder. Psalm 127:1 reminds us that, “unless the Lord builds the house, the labourers labour in vain.” However, God chooses to use ordinary people to build the church and therefore we are invited to participate with him in his work.
A Life-changing and Inviting Community While God uses individuals in His plan, His primary agent of mission in the world is the community of faith. In the Old Testament, God created a nation. In the New Testament, He created the Church and the Bible says that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). It is God’s high priority to create a faith community which, by the power of the Holy Spirit, models holiness, righteousness, justice, and peace. Further, Arnold Community Church is focused on life change. The teaching, preaching, and worship at ACC are not solely for spiritual comfort or reassurance. It is for encouraging us to grow ever more into the image of Jesus Christ. Our community also desires to be an inviting community welcoming outsiders to become insiders who experience the grace of God in their lives. We are part of God’s Great Commission, desiring to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).
Passionately Centred The Church is built on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ who reconciled the world to God (2 Corinthians 5:18ff). We do not want to lose that focus and are passionate about that centre. We desire to love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength (Mark 12:30). When people come to ACC, they should not see apathy and indifference but a passion for a Christ-centred life.
On Jesus Christ Our centre is not specifically on the Holy Spirit, or evangelism, or on spiritual gifts, even though these are all very important to us but rather, our centre is on Jesus Christ. “Christ” is the Greek word for Messiah, the one sent by God to fulfill His mission for the world. This Jesus – the Prince of Peace – is on that mission. When we are centred on Him, we are co-builders with Him in His global mission.
As our church family has committed to pursuing this vision, God continually amazes us
at how He is at work throughout our world and throughout our community
and we are grateful we can be partners with Him!
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