Vision
The purpose of every church is the same. Our job is to glorify God by making disciples.
Christ Fellowship is an ordinary church with ordinary people following an extraordinary Savior. Our church is rooted in an ancient tradition of faith. The beauty of any church should be found in her faithfulness to the truth and her love for people.
In other words, we want to be who God wants us to be – no more, no less. We want to be more like Christ. That is why we are called Christ Fellowship.
Jesus Himself was the perfect example of what He wants His church to be like. Jesus was steadfast in His devotion to God’s Word. He was equally committed to compassion, mercy, and love.
When He spoke with the woman at the well, Jesus implied that Samaritan worship was “spirit” with no truth and that Jewish worship was “truth” with no spirit. But God isn’t happy with that split. He doesn’t want theologically precise people who fail to love Him or other people well. Nor does God want emotionally engaged people who fail to worship Him for who He really is.
Christ Fellowship wants to be both solid and approachable – like Jesus. The values below speak to the kind of church we want to be and the kind of disciples we want to make for the glory of God.
SOLID
We believe the Bible is the written word of God. It is the revelation of God’s truth and holds final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
We affirm historic Christian doctrine, which distinguishes us from other world religions and cults. We adhere to some of the most ancient creeds of the faith, including the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed. We believe that Jesus Christ delivered us from sin and death by His life, death, and resurrection.
Christ Fellowship is a member church of the Presbyterian Church in America. Our pastor, elders, and deacons agree with the doctrines of the Westminster Confession of Faith.
We are led by shepherds and servants known as elders and deacons. These officers of the church are elected by the congregation and ordained to equip the entire congregation for ministries of word and deed.
We believe that God is King over all things, but not everyone recognizes His authority. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for God’s kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven.” John Calvin said it is the task of the church to make the invisible kingdom visible. We do that by living as kingdom-minded citizens at home, at work, at school – everywhere we go.
APPROACHABLE
We believe that all human beings are valuable – made in the image of God and worthy of respect and dignity. All are welcome to participate in the fellowship of our church. God created us different on purpose. We are better together.
We were created for unifying worship of God. We worship together regularly, trusting God to use His means of grace in our lives. This is the most important way we practice our faith, hope, and love. Our worship consists primarily of singing, reading and preaching of the Word, corporate prayer, the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, giving, and fellowship.
We speak of church membership as adoption. Like every adoption, it is a process. Our church family takes the process seriously, because we want you to know the commitment is real and meaningful. Our church is not an event we attend, but group of people we love. We mean it!
We are called to generous compassion. We care deeply about the physical, emotional, relational, financial, and spiritual needs of our church family. We also care for the needs of our neighbors – not in a paternalistic way, but in humility. To whom much has been given, much is expected.
The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. We want to help each other finish the race well, but we understand that growth takes time. We will be patiently committed to one another as Christ is patiently committed to His bride.
Church Staff
Mike Winebrenner
Pastor
Josh Edwards
Worship
Hermes Tomàs
Hispanic & Latino Ministry
Jami Feinberg
Nursery Coordinator
Allee Kizer
ESL Coordinator
Carolyn Boswell
Accounting
Get Adopted
We speak of church membership as adoption. Like every adoption, it is a process. Our church family takes the process seriously, because we want you to know the commitment is real and meaningful. Our culture has gradually changed “church” into an event we attend instead of a group of people we love. We want to help change it back!
Step One – Attend a one-hour Adoption Class. We hold classes about once a quarter.
Step Two – Meet with the pastor and an elder to briefly communicate your desire to be adopted and to share your Christian testimony (spoken or written). You may use this form to get started.
Step Three – Adoption Sunday! Stand before the church in worship and take your vows:
- Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope except by His sovereign mercy?
- Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?
- Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will strive to live as a faithful follower of Christ?
- Do you promise to support the church family in its worship and work to the best of your ability?
- Do you submit yourselves to the leadership and discipline of the church, and promise to pursue unity and faithfulness?
Step Four – We celebrate!
“When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” – Galatians 4:4-7
