Core Values & Structure

Living Hope Church has 9 Core Values.

1. Transformational Bible Preaching & Teaching
We value the Bible as the authority for our lives. God speaks clearly to us through it. We value the content of the message enough to allow its message to speak to our day to day lives so that our lives and worldview are brought into alignment with its teachings. We value Bible preaching and teaching as a ministry to the body of Christ as far as it is aimed at changing our lives.

2. Authentic Loving Relationships in Community
We value the relationships we have with each other. God wants us to demonstrate His love to each other. We value our relationships enough to continually aim to be:

Authentic with each other - not putting up any pretense or trying to appear something we are not.
Accountable to each other - hold up a Christ-like standard for each other.
Fellowshipping with each other - building and encouraging each other toward common goals.
Caring for each other - seeking to "mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice" walking together through the journeys of this life.

3. Prayer
We value conversation with God. God desires to be in relationship with us communicating freely and naturally. We value prayer so much that we aim to be in constant conversation with God:

Praising Him for Who He is.
Thanking Him for what He has done for us.
Confessing to Him our sinfulness and shortcomings - asking for His forgiveness and restoration.
Interceding for the needs of others and ourselves - asking for His best in every situation.

4. God-Centered Worship
We want worship to be more than an event, but a lifestyle. We value a lifestyle marked by adoration and praise for God. God is glorified by His people who honor Him. We value worship so much that we seek to intentionally center our attention and focus off of ourselves and onto Him. We want to draw His people into worship. We value worship as much more than a performance to be watched, but an active engagement with an awesome God.

5. Evangelism
We value people and their eternal souls. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2Peter 3:9 We value communicating the good news of the grace of God to all people so much that we seek to communicate this good news as effectively as possible as strategically as possible to as many as possible. We value evangelism as process and aim to be evangelists with our words, actions, prayers, and lifestyles. We believe that we are called and equipped and commissioned by God to do this.

6. Transformational Discipleship
We value sanctification - God's continual transformation of our lives to Christ-like character. God offers to each believer a life of abundant joy and seeks for disciples - those who will allow Him to shape their lifestyle and attitudes - a transformation that comes from the inside out. We value discipleship so much that we aim to always be growing in His grace, always deepening our relationship with Him, always satisfying ourselves with what God is for us in Jesus Christ.

7. Every-Member Ministry
We value ministry as an opportunity to glorify God with what He has already given to us. God desires us to glorify Him by using the gifts, abilities, personality that He has given to us - His design for us. We value ministry so much that we encourage every believer to be involved in service to God. We seek to enable every member to find an area of ministry that God has enabled them to do and to be developed to serve with humility, grace, and wisdom to the glory of God.

8. Leadership Development
We value the development of leaders. God has given us opportunities to honor Him by influencing others and guiding them. We value leadership development so much that we seek to encourage every leader to develop another emerging leader and to be developed by existing leader. 2 Timothy 2:2 & 1 Corinthians 11:1

9. Cultural Relevance
We value communicating in a style and manner in which people can understand. God seeks to relate His timeless message to all people in different ways that are relevant to their current culture. We value cultural relevance so much that we aim to use forms of communication that are diverse and current with the culture in which we live.