core values
Everything we do at GCF Church is driven by our core values. These constant, passionate and, above all - Biblical, beliefs are at the very heart of our ministry. Our earnest desire and prayer is to develop Christ-honoring and loving, practical expressions of these values in everyday life.
Worship
At GCFC we believe that worship is an active and a free response by which we declare God’s matchless worth. This adoration of God is vital to a growing and vibrant relationship with Him.
If we make God’s greatness the standard and inspiration for our day-to-day living, then our very lives become an act of worship. This is the simplest way to worship God. Whether you are a teacher, a singer, a writer, a software engineer, a salesperson, or a truck driver, you can do everything for the glory of God. When you do, you are engaging in Christian worship.
Therefore our corporate worship on Sunday mornings is not just the singing of songs, but an outward expression of the inner conviction that our God is simply awesome.
Prayer
To many people, prayer seems complicated; but it is simply the act of communicating with God. We believe that God desires His people to pray and that He hears and answers prayer.
Prayer brings us closer to God, enabling us to experience His guidance and personal presence in our lives. This is why He challenges us to include prayer in our day-to-day life - even in the little struggles of marriage, parenting, jobs and social life.
Therefore, all GCFC activities are characterized by a reliance on prayer in their conception, planning and execution.
Family
The Bible tells us that God is our father and we are His children.
We believe that the human family, when functioning as God intended it to, is a powerful expression of the security, permanence and unconditional love of this relationship. A family built on strong foundations is a lifelong source of strength and comfort to each one of its members.
Therefore we are dedicated to providing an atmosphere that encourages family growth that models the beauty of God’s design for family
Evangelism
We believe that the primary task of the Church is to continue the mission the Lord has entrusted to us in the Great Commission. While numerical growth is not necessarily a sign of God's blessing, and is not a sufficient goal in itself, God desires for us to reach as many people as possible with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we will pursue methods that will facilitate sharing the Gospel of Christ with others, without compromising in any way our integrity or our commitment to biblical truth.
Teaching
We believe that the Bible is God's inspired message, given to us as a guide to living the best possible life. It throws light on all aspects of human life, from personal relationships to work ethics. It is to be used for teaching and training in living a righteous life.
Studying the Bible helps us to understand the world and people around us. It is of immeasurable value in enabling us to face the challenges of daily life and also equips us for every kind of good work.
Therefore, we are committed to equipping people, through the teaching of God's Word, to follow Christ in every area of life.
Community
Since Jesus did not come to drive people from their culture but rather to drive them from their sin, we believe that God has called us to relate to our surrounding community by being a preservative and positive presence.
Therefore our goal is to build our church into a body that, with the help of other churches, will embrace that which is good in the greater community and challenge it in redemptive ways. We will seek to be culturally relevant even as we remain true to the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Stewardship
Stewardship is utilizing and managing all the gifts God has provided His glory and the betterment of His creation.
This includes not only material resources, but also the intangibles like our mind, our relationships and our time. A good steward is someone who is doing the best he can with the things that God has given him. We believe that the greatest use of our time, talent and treasure is to invest in making fully devoted followers of Christ.
Therefore, we will model unselfish living by orienting our schedules, service and finances with Christ's emphasis on serving others.
Discipleship
Christian discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and are equipped by the Holy Spirit, who resides in our hearts, to overcome the pressures and trials of life and become more and more like Jesus himself.
We believe that a fully trained disciple is a believer who is spiritually disciplined and capable of reaching out to and caring for his peers - reflecting both the character and priorities of Christ.
Therefore, we will create an environment conducive to making disciples by providing encouragement, teaching and resources so that every believer can become a contagious Christian.
Leadership
We believe that as our church grows it will be necessary to multiply men and women of proven character and competence to shepherd various segments of our church.
Therefore, we are committed to identifying and training all people who are both gifted and willing to multiply themselves in ministry.
Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual gifts are abilities God bestows on every believer for the common good of the body of Christ. We believe that these gifts are a manifestation of the Holy Spirit and are different from the natural talents that each one of us is born with.
Discovering and utilizing your spiritual gifts is one of the most exciting adventures a person can have with God. They're a large part of the answer to the question, "What should I do with the life God gave me?"
Therefore we encourage our members to work towards discovering and putting to use the gift that has been given to them.
Worship
At GCFC we believe that worship is an active and a free response by which we declare God’s matchless worth. This adoration of God is vital to a growing and vibrant relationship with Him.
If we make God’s greatness the standard and inspiration for our day-to-day living, then our very lives become an act of worship. This is the simplest way to worship God. Whether you are a teacher, a singer, a writer, a software engineer, a salesperson, or a truck driver, you can do everything for the glory of God. When you do, you are engaging in Christian worship.
Therefore our corporate worship on Sunday mornings is not just the singing of songs, but an outward expression of the inner conviction that our God is simply awesome.
Prayer
To many people, prayer seems complicated; but it is simply the act of communicating with God. We believe that God desires His people to pray and that He hears and answers prayer.
Prayer brings us closer to God, enabling us to experience His guidance and personal presence in our lives. This is why He challenges us to include prayer in our day-to-day life - even in the little struggles of marriage, parenting, jobs and social life.
Therefore, all GCFC activities are characterized by a reliance on prayer in their conception, planning and execution.
Family
The Bible tells us that God is our father and we are His children.
We believe that the human family, when functioning as God intended it to, is a powerful expression of the security, permanence and unconditional love of this relationship. A family built on strong foundations is a lifelong source of strength and comfort to each one of its members.
Therefore we are dedicated to providing an atmosphere that encourages family growth that models the beauty of God’s design for family
Evangelism
We believe that the primary task of the Church is to continue the mission the Lord has entrusted to us in the Great Commission. While numerical growth is not necessarily a sign of God's blessing, and is not a sufficient goal in itself, God desires for us to reach as many people as possible with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we will pursue methods that will facilitate sharing the Gospel of Christ with others, without compromising in any way our integrity or our commitment to biblical truth.
Teaching
We believe that the Bible is God's inspired message, given to us as a guide to living the best possible life. It throws light on all aspects of human life, from personal relationships to work ethics. It is to be used for teaching and training in living a righteous life.
Studying the Bible helps us to understand the world and people around us. It is of immeasurable value in enabling us to face the challenges of daily life and also equips us for every kind of good work.
Therefore, we are committed to equipping people, through the teaching of God's Word, to follow Christ in every area of life.
Community
Since Jesus did not come to drive people from their culture but rather to drive them from their sin, we believe that God has called us to relate to our surrounding community by being a preservative and positive presence.
Therefore our goal is to build our church into a body that, with the help of other churches, will embrace that which is good in the greater community and challenge it in redemptive ways. We will seek to be culturally relevant even as we remain true to the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Stewardship
Stewardship is utilizing and managing all the gifts God has provided His glory and the betterment of His creation.
This includes not only material resources, but also the intangibles like our mind, our relationships and our time. A good steward is someone who is doing the best he can with the things that God has given him. We believe that the greatest use of our time, talent and treasure is to invest in making fully devoted followers of Christ.
Therefore, we will model unselfish living by orienting our schedules, service and finances with Christ's emphasis on serving others.
Discipleship
Christian discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and are equipped by the Holy Spirit, who resides in our hearts, to overcome the pressures and trials of life and become more and more like Jesus himself.
We believe that a fully trained disciple is a believer who is spiritually disciplined and capable of reaching out to and caring for his peers - reflecting both the character and priorities of Christ.
Therefore, we will create an environment conducive to making disciples by providing encouragement, teaching and resources so that every believer can become a contagious Christian.
Leadership
We believe that as our church grows it will be necessary to multiply men and women of proven character and competence to shepherd various segments of our church.
Therefore, we are committed to identifying and training all people who are both gifted and willing to multiply themselves in ministry.
Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual gifts are abilities God bestows on every believer for the common good of the body of Christ. We believe that these gifts are a manifestation of the Holy Spirit and are different from the natural talents that each one of us is born with.
Discovering and utilizing your spiritual gifts is one of the most exciting adventures a person can have with God. They're a large part of the answer to the question, "What should I do with the life God gave me?"
Therefore we encourage our members to work towards discovering and putting to use the gift that has been given to them.