CORE VALUES
Core values are the constant, passionate, biblical core beliefs that drive the overall ministry of the church. These values are the gauge to help answer the question, "Who has God shaped us to be?" These core values are the essence of the church's identity. For Elgin Bible Church to be effective in fulfilling God's plan, our core values must be identified and faithfully adhered to. While we may change locations, staff, ministries, programs and activities, our values remain the constant that makes Elgin Bible Church unique.
Following are the core values identified by Elgin Bible Church. Foundational Core Values describe the beliefs and assumptions that best describe who we desire to be. Ministry Core Values are those beliefs and assumptions that describe how we choose to carry out God's plan of ministry at Elgin Bible Church.
FOUNDATIONAL CORE VALUES:
Relationship with Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is preeminent. My relationship with Jesus Christ is most important in my life-more than any other relationship.
God's Grace: God's grace offers the freedom to live our lives for God as we believe He is directing us by His Word and Spirit; Living by and in God's grace means we purpose to treat others with this same grace.
Godly Leadership: Ministry leaders are committed to following the leadership of God in their life & ministry. The Body respects the leadership of the ministry leaders.
People: People are unique creations of God and are valued as individuals & important to God and to us.
Transformed Lives: becoming more Christ-like as we grow from spiritual conversion to maturity; seeking a continually deeper relationship with God and each other
Authenticity: being transparent and vulnerable with God & others; exposing our lives to the light of God's Word & Spirit; being open and accountable to the Body
MINISTRY CORE VALUES:
Living a lifestyle of worship: glorifying God & living for God in all we do.
Bible-centered preaching/teaching: providing a biblical foundation from which to build our ministry activities
Outreach: being obedient to God's Word to reach lost people for Him including local, national and international endeavors
Community: building quality Christ-centered relationships within the Body
Stewardship: being a responsible manager of all God's gifts
Embracing Change: understanding that our culture continues to change and recognizing the need to modify the means and manner in which we communicate the unchanging message of Jesus Christ.
MISSION
Elgin Bible Church is focused on supporting people in acquiring a growing understanding of God's love and developing a passionate desire to share it with others.
STRATEGIES
To have God use us in this fashion, we desire our ministry to be characterized by…
1. Relevant Teaching - connecting truth with life
What God has revealed in his Word is always relevant to life! At EBC,
we believe that "relevant teaching" is teaching that applies
the timeless truth of God's Word to the contemporary issues of our lives.
Our goal is to connect God's Word with people's lives in a way that makes
a real and practical difference. This focus is reflected in [Ministry
leaders will complete with how their ministry will accomplish this strategy].
2. Meaningful Worship - connecting people with
God
Meaningful worship engages both the heart and the mind. It helps people
to draw near to God in faith. We tend to live throughout the week in a
hurried stream of activity. We often become so busy with the responsibilities
of daily living that we lose sight of the larger picture. We can easily
lose touch with the spiritual dimension of life that gives meaning to
all we do. Worship is our opportunity to get refocused in faith. It is
our daily opportunity to remember the spiritual truths that give our lives
meaning and hope. Worship is our opportunity to join with others and reconnect
with God in both heart and mind. We believe that meaningful worship is
both joyful and deep! We believe that meaningful worship music should
be dynamic in style and rich in content. This focus is reflected in [Ministry
leaders will complete with how their ministry will accomplish this strategy].
3. Quality Relationships - connecting people with
one another
In today's world it is more and more difficult to experience genuine community.
Yet this is something for which we were all created and desire. Busy schedules,
cluttered lives, fear of involvement with others, as well as social or
ethnic barriers all work to isolate us from quality relationships. We
are convinced that God has called us to move past these barriers through
our faith in Christ. We are working to establish a genuine community of
faith, hope, and love in Christ. Thankfully, quality relationships do
not require perfect people, for no one of us is perfect and every group
is only a collection of imperfect people. Quality relationships do call
for understanding, caring, and commitment. We are working to build quality
relationships in the church, in our marriages and families, and in our
friendships. We want to reach out from this base to impact the hurting
people of our community with the love and truth of God in Christ! This
focus is reflected in [Ministry leaders will complete with how their ministry
will accomplish this strategy].
4. Relational Outreach - connecting with unbelievers
God's plan for His Kingdom is an expansion plan! We believe that in Jesus
Christ, God has offered the solution to life's most pressing predicament-where
one will spend eternity. It is through Jesus that we have hope for the
future. We believe God desires us to share this hope and joy with others.
We believe that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ should be
shared with others in a personal way. This focus is reflected in [Ministry
leaders will complete with how their ministry will accomplish this strategy].
5. Selfless Service - connecting with the needs
of our world
Our world is in dire need. Our world is in need of a Savior Who provides
the hope of eternal life. Additionally, our world is in need of loving
compassion that meets the practical needs of everyday life. Jesus, Himself,
said that He came to serve and to give. Following this example we believe
it is every believer's responsibility to contribute to the Kingdom of
Jesus Christ. Whether within the ministries of Elgin Bible Church, our
community, or the vast reaches of our world-we are committed to use every
resource God has provided us in service of others for God's ultimate glory.
This focus is reflected in [Ministry leaders will complete with how their
ministry will accomplish this strategy].