The Core It’s what’s burning on the inside

Our Core Values The Grace of God Commitment to God and His Word The Church All Nations Reached with Gospel Oneness: Love and Unity Raising Godly Families Church Leadership Every Member a Minister

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1. The purpose and importance of pastors. 2. Challenge those men in the church who have a desire to shepherd God’s people. 3. Grow up in Christ.

1. Recognizing Christ as the Head of the church, we further recognize that He has appointed certain men of character to be spiritual elders, or pastors in the local church. These men have the final human authority in their church’s affairs and decisions (Titus 1:5). CHRUCH LEADERSHIP VALUES

2.We believe that the term “elder,” “overseer,” and “pastor” each refer to the same position (Acts 20:17, 28)

CHRUCH LEADERSHIP VALUES 3. The New Testament model is that of a Christ-centered submissive plurality of pastors rather than a single pastor leadership structure (Acts 14:23; Philippians 1:1).

CHRUCH LEADERSHIP VALUES 4. Elder/pastors are to be appointed based upon the character qualities described in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.

CHRUCH LEADERSHIP VALUES 5. Leadership in the church must be radically different from leadership in the world. The greatest in the church must be the servant of all. Church leaders are to be humble servants, aggressively teachable, responsive to criticism and models of always learning, growing and improving.

CHRUCH LEADERSHIP VALUES 6. We believe that the character qualities and doctrinal understanding needed to become an elder/pastor/overseer are best developed within the local church. We view additional training (such as that offered by Bible schools or seminaries) not as a qualification for a pastor but rather as a possible supplement to the equipping of a pastor within the local church (Titus 1:5)

CHRUCH LEADERSHIP VALUES 7. We value and esteem women in the church and encourage their ministry in various roles, but in accordance with the New Testament, we reserve the office of elder/pastor/overseer for men alone (I Timothy 3:1; 2:12).

CHRUCH LEADERSHIP VALUES 8. A pastor/elder is to be a servant, modeling Christ-like humility, teachability and love, as well as a leader, demonstrating faith, courage and strength in managing the church (Luke 22:26; Hebrews 13:7).

The scriptures teach us that He intends to bless the church through HIS pastors.

Acts 20:27-30 (NASV) 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastor teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT)

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:35-36 (NLT)

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Isaiah 53:6

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17

For those who aspire to Shepherd/Oversee God’s people.

…He said to His disciples, “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Matthew 9:37

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. I Timothy 3:1

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. John 10:11

And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. …. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. I Peter 5:1-3

12 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. I Thessalonians 5:12-13

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Ephesians 4:12-14

12 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. I Thessalonians 5

14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. I Thessalonians 5

15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. I Thessalonians 5

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