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Our Vision Context and Principles By Kin Lam, Winter 2003 @ Philadelphia [Read
the complete “Vision Statement” in DOC or
PDF.] To
all who are weary and seek rest to
all who mourn and long for comfort to
all who struggle and desire victory
to
all who sin and need a Savior to
all who are strangers and want fellowship to
all who hunger and thirst after righteousness and
to whoever will come – this
church opens wide her doors and
offers her welcome in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ. I. Context The church will be situated in the metropolitan Philadelphia area where people from all walks of life gather. Many are lost in their worldly pursuits without meaning and purpose, while others are simply overwhelmed, having just arrived at a foreign land with a totally different language and an alien culture. Our main targeted audiences are Christians and
non-Christians of Chinese descent, though people from all races are
welcome. We consider our
cultural and linguistic affinities to be strategic points-of-contact by the
providence of God. They are
therefore a missiological leverage to be wisely utilized. We envision a multilingual, multicultural ministry with
people from a great variety of linguistic, social and economic backgrounds,
yet being made one in Christ, exhibiting an oneness that is both in spirit
and in deeds. II. Principles Our vision for the church is based on the principles
found in Acts 2:42, “They devoted
themselves to the apostles; teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking
of bread and to [the] prayer.” 2.1 The
Word of God First of all, it is a church
that is firmly built upon the Word of God – a church that is known for its
unwavering and uncompromising stand on the orthodox, historical Christian
doctrines. It is also a church
that proclaims the riches of the Reformed tradition as summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith. 2.2 Christian
Fellowship Secondly, it is a church that lives out the truths of
the Scriptures. It is a church
that strives to reflect her heavenly Head, Jesus Christ who embraces the
lowly, comforts the sorrowful, strengthens the weak, and brings joy to the
broken-hearted. She is to be a
living embodiment of the grace of Jesus Christ expressed through an authentic
Christian fellowship. 2.3 The
Sacraments Thirdly, it is a repentant community that is constantly
made aware of her sinfulness and thus acknowledges her desperate need for the
gospel. It is a fellowship that
lifts up the cross of Jesus through the Lord’s Supper – constantly
remembering Christ’s sacrifice for sinners while looking forward to his
return. It is a church that is
compelled by Christ’s love to live no longer for herself, but for him who
died for her and was raised. 2.4 Prayers Finally, it is a church that believes in the
sovereign hand of God, a church that always lays before her the dual-vision
of a majestic, awesome and omnipotent God and a compassionate heavenly High
Priest interceding unceasingly for her.
Here we find a church that turns away from her self-reliance to a
deeper trust in the work of the Holy Spirit through individual and corporate
prayers. |
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