Our mission is:  “Changing Lives by Loving God and Loving Others.”

Our Core Values are:
1.      Worship
2.      Invest in people locally and globally and share Christ with them
3.      Connect believers in meaningful relationships
4.      Serve others in and out of the church
5.      Provide dynamic life changing ministry to children and teens
6.      Strengthen families to become Christ Centered Units

Most of our core values are already clearly part of our church, but our third core value (Connect believers in meaningful relationships) is what we call an aspiration core value.  It is a core value that we want to define who we are, but we are not there yet.  Our growth groups that will begin in September 2011 are going to help us make this aspiration core value a reality. 

WHAT IS A GROWTH GROUP?

Growth Groups are made up of 12-16 people who meet weekly for a time of planned sharing, study, and prayer. They begin with light refreshments and last for about an hour and a half.  A trained leader and host team leads each group.

WHERE & WHEN DO THEY MEET?
Our groups meet in homes throughout our community on several different nights of the week.  Our current groups are meeting on Monday night and Thursday night, but as more groups develope we will be able to offer other times.

Each will start with a potluck dinner at the first meeting.  Our Growth Groups will meet three semesters a year and each semester will last 10 -12 weeks.  After each semester you will have the opportunity to evaluate your group and decide if you would like to sign up for the following semester with your current group, try another group, or take a break for a semester.  Typically the semesters will be

• September - November
• January – March
• May – June.

WHAT WILL WE STUDY?
The curriculum is based on the previous weekend’s sermon. You’ll find the homework along with the sermon notes in the bulletin each week.  Each weekend you'll hear a message and then, in your Growth Group, you'll have the chance to dig a little deeper - and to discuss how to apply the Bible's teaching you heard on Sunday to your everyday life.

Of course, the study is only one part of a Growth Group. Time is also set aside for sharing and prayer.  Also, each group gets together at least once each semester for a social event to build stronger relationships.  Growth Groups are also where we learn how to take care of one another in practical ways - especially during times of sickness, disaster, and special circumstances. This might involve any number of things, from offering financial support, to providing meals after surgery, to helping someone with a special need they might have.

WHAT DOES IT COST?
Few things in life are free, and Growth Groups are no exception! The cost of being in a Growth Group is the cost of commitment. During the first three weeks, each group will review a group "covenant.” On the third week those that want to continue in the group will commit to the covenant and those that are not ready can step out of the group- no questions asked.  Part of the covenant is making weekly attendance a top priority, along with completing the weekly homework (which requires approximately 15-30 minutes).

Obviously, there are times when you'll have to miss due to vacation, illness, work, or other special events. But, in general, when you join a Growth Group, you're committing to attend and be prepared each week.  It's this commitment to one another that makes Growth Groups work. We realize it's a big commitment, but it only lasts for 10-12 weeks, and we've designed it this way to make it realistic and practical

 
For some of you, joining a Growth Group will also require a financial sacrifice - the cost of childcare. While some families share a sitter, or swap child care with another family, most end up paying for their own baby sitter. We realize this adds up!  (We have kids too!)  However, we also believe it's one of the best investments you can make in your child's future. There's nothing more important to your child's spiritual growth than to see you as a parent growing and making spiritual commitments a top priority.