The heart of our church is based around four simple core values that we live by, in it simplest form these are:

(H) Heart for God's Mission,
(O) Were open to God's Word involved in
(P) Practical Service and
(E) Excellent Relationships

A more detailed explanation of our vision, values and beliefs can be found below:

Our Vision

We see a Jesus centred church having passion for the gospel and compassion for the world expressed through dynamic worship, love in action, the empowering of servant leaders and the growing of disciples.
"Passion for the gospel. Compassion for the world"

Our Mission

The Mission of Hope Valley Uniting Church is to make disciples who, in willing obedience to Jesus Christ, in turn make disciples of others
"To make disciples who make disciples" (Matthew 28: 18-20)

Our Church Encourages

• Joyful and peaceful living

• Loyalty and obedience to Jesus

• The outworking of the Holy Spirit in every part of life

• Daily Bible reading and prayer

• Vibrant celebration in our worship

• Bringing our friends to worship

• Telling the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ

• Small group participation

• Serving God and others in our daily lives

• Sacrificial giving

• Identifying and releasing the gift of leadership

• Supporting mission within and beyond our community

Core Values and Beliefs (Full Version)

Our Vision

We see a Jesus centred church having passion for the gospel and compassion for the world expressed through dynamic worship, love in action, the empowering of servant leaders and the growing of disciples.

"Passion for the gospel. Compassion for the world."

Biblical References

Matthew 22: 37-38 Romans 1:16 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11	The great commandment Confidence in the gospel Proclaiming the gospel
John 3: 16 Luke 15: 24 Luke 19: 10	God so loved the world The lost is found Seeking and saving the lost
Matthew 2: 11, 28: 17 Psalm 95: 6 John 4: 24	The response of worship Invitation to worship Worship in spirit and in truth
Matthew 25: 31-46 1 Corinthians 13 John 21: 15-19	Service to the Lord What love does Feed the sheep
Exodus 18: 13 - 27 John 20: 19-22 2 Timothy 2:15, 4:1-5	Delegating authority Sending and empowering Fulfilling your ministry
Matthew 28: 18-20 Mark 6: 7-13 Acts 2: 41-47	Making disciples Learning by doing Growing as disciples

 

Our Core Beliefs

• There is one God, revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
      (Matthew 28: 19, Mark 12: 29, John 1: 1-14, 14: 6-17)

• Jesus Christ, Son of God, who took on our humanity, is the crucified, risen Lord. He lives and reigns for ever and calls all people into a personal relationship and to follow him in faithful obedience. Faith is awakened, enlightened and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
      (Matthew 16: 15-16, Romans 8: 9-17, Philippians 2: 5-11)

• Although created in the image of God, humankind has become estranged from God and from God's ways. Salvation from sin is by God's freely given love and favour alone through faith in God's reconciling act in the death of Christ on a cross
      (Romans 3: 23-24, 5: 6-8, 6: 23, Galatians 2: 19-20, Ephesians 2: 1-9)

• The Bible is the unique testimony of humankind's encounter with God, in which we hear God speak, and by which our faith and obedience are nourished and regulated.
      (Luke 1: 1-4, John 20: 30-31, 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11)

• The church is a body of which Christ is the head. It is a worldwide fellowship of believers, a pilgrim people on the way towards the promised goal of the Kingdom of God.
      (Romans 12: 4-5, 1 Corinthians 12: 27, Ephesians 1: 15-23, Hebrews 12: 1-2)

• The church by its very nature is called into mission in which every Christian is called to participate. The mission includes the call to personal faith, ministry of healing, deeds of kindness, and addressing injustice. Such mission is expressed both locally and globally.
      (Micah 6: 8, Luke 9: 1-2, Acts 1: 8, 16: 31, 2 Corinthians 5: 14-20)

• Baptism is the sign of new life in Jesus Christ. We are baptised into union with Christ and called to his ministry in the world. We baptise those who confess the Christian faith, and/or their children who are presented for baptism and for whose instruction and nourishment in the faith the Church takes responsibility.
      (Acts 2: 37-38, 16: 31-34, Romans 6: 3-8, Galatians 3: 26-28)

• In Holy Communion we celebrate Christ's death and his continuing presence. We have communion with our saviour, grow together in Christ, are strengthened for our participation in the mission of Christ in the world and, giving praise and thanks, rejoice in the foretaste of the coming Kingdom of God.
      (Matthew 26: 26-29, 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26)

• The Spirit of God equips the church by supplying diverse gifts, and empowers believers to continue the ministry of Christ.
      (1 Corinthians 12: 1-11, Ephesians 4: 11-16, 1 Peter 4: 10-11)

• In God's timing, Jesus Christ will come again to bring about the fulfillment of all things within God's purposes.
      (Matthew 25: 1-13, Mark 13: 24-37, Revelation 21: 1-7)
   

Our Core Values

• We seek to honour God through relevant and celebratory worship.
      (Psalm 95: 1-7, 150, Matthew 2: 10-11, John 4: 23-24)

• Telling the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ is of primary importance.
      (Matthew 18: 12-14, Luke 15, 19:10, 2 Timothy 4: 1-5)

• Prayer is fundamental to personal growth, corporate renewal, fruitful discipleship and revival in the nation.
      (Matthew 9: 37-38, 14: 23, 26: 41, Luke 11: 1-13, 18: 1, 1 Thessalonians 5: 17)

• Christians are called to be faithful stewards of all the resources of God entrusted to them, including the environment, their talents, time, possessions and spiritual gifts.
      (Genesis 1: 26-31, Matthew 25: 14-30, 1 Peter 4: 10)

• The church exists for mission and to equip people to serve Christ in team-supported ministries. Bible-based teaching is central to this task.
      (Mark 6: 7-13, Romans 12: 7, 2 Timothy 3: 16-17)

• Small groups are foundational for discipleship growth and nurture.
      (Luke 6: 12-13, Acts 2: 44-47, 5:42, Colossians 4: 15)

• Leadership is anointed by God and has a prime function of identifying and releasing leadership gifts in others.
      (Exodus 18: 13-27, Acts 6: 1-8, Romans 12: 6-8)

• Trusting the living God encourages Christians to risk living the way of Jesus in openness to the future under the wisdom, prompting and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
      (Matthew 6: 25-33, Acts 1: 8, 1 Timothy 4: 10)

• Aspiring to excellence in all things glorifies God and inspires people to their best in the service of Christ.
      (Malachi 1: 6-14, Colossians 3: 17, 2 Timothy 2: 15)

• Diversity, as an expression of the creativity of God, brings enrichment and creates true community.
      (Genesis 1: 1, 27, 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27, Ephesians 4: 11-16)

 

Our Mission

The Mission of Hope Valley Uniting Church is to make disciples who, in willing obedience to Jesus Christ, in turn make disciples of others.
    (Matthew 28: 18-20)

"To make disciples who make disciples"
"Disciple" (Greek: mathetes) literally means a learner or pupil. The word implies the acceptance in mind and life of the views and practices of the teacher. In the New Testament the term "disciple" is most commonly used to denote the adherents of Jesus. They sought to become like Jesus, to take on his values, faith and actions. Followers of Jesus were not called "Christians" until the founding of the church at Antioch (Acts 11: 26). In our mission statement we use the term disciple to signify the desire to be Christ-like, to learn of Jesus and to embrace his way.

We aim to achieve the Mission by:

• building bridges into the community as a church and as individual members.
      (Matthew 5: 14-16, Acts 11: 19-21)

• giving practical expressions of genuine Christian care, locally and globally.
      (Matthew 25: 31-46, Luke 10: 25-37)

• confidently witnessing to Christ in being, word, deed and sign.
      (Acts 4: 20, 33, 1 Timothy 4: 11, 1 Peter 3: 15)

• enabling as many people as possible to know, love and serve God with their heart, soul, mind and strength.
      (Matthew 4: 17, 22: 37, Luke 19: 10, 24: 45-48)

• providing the means by which Christians can grow as disciples and disciple makers
      (Acts 6: 1-8, 2 Timothy 2: 1-2)

• growing as a loving, welcoming and worshipping community in Christ.
      (Ephesians 1: 11-16, Acts 2: 42-47, 1 Peter 4: 10)