Everything we do and who we are becoming is inspired by our mission, our values, and our Kingdom priorities!
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of GBMBC serves as an enduring statement that declares our purpose as a church and the criteria that guides our actions and decisions. We believe that God has established our church to fulfill our God-given mission summarized by our mission motto “Loving Our God, Living Our Name” and outlined by the acronym (GBMBC):
Glorifying God
Becoming Disciples of Jesus Christ
Making an Impact in the Community
Building the Kingdom of God
Changing the World
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27 ESV)
VALUES STATEMENT
We Value S.E.R.V.I.C.E.
Our values serve as the guiding principles for all we seek to be and do at The Pool of Bethesda. Anchored in Scripture, our values motivate us to pursue our mission of “Loving Our God, Living Our Name!” From the moment you enter Bethesda Church, you experience our values expressed in a variety of life-giving ways:
S – SPIRITUALITY / SPIRITUAL GROWTH
We embrace a holistic spirituality that equips the whole person (mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually) to live the Spirit-empowered “abundant life” that results from an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
E – EQUALITY
We embrace all people as valuable human beings created in the image of God by treating all people with love, dignity, compassion, and respect.
R – RECONCILIATION/RELATIONSHIPS
We embrace a healing ministry where loving, healthy relationships with God, with others, and with oneself can be developed, restored, and maintained by the life-transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
V – VOCATION
We empower God’s people to pursue their unique, God-ordained call to service and exercise their spiritual gifts in the ministry of the church and in the mission to the community.
I – INTERGENERATIONALITY
We intentionally provide a loving, nurturing, and supportive environment in which our youth can grow holistically by becoming fully integrated in the ministry of the church.
C – COMPASSION
We demonstrate God’s love for all people and encourage by holistically ministering to the spiritual, mental, emotional, social, physical, and economic needs of others though ministry, mission, and by advocating justice for all of God’s people.
E – EXCELLENCE
We set and strive towards the highest spiritual, educational, physical, economic, social, moral, and ethical standards for ourselves, each other, and our community because an excellent God deserves excellent service from God’s people.
…but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant,… for the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…” (Mark 10:43-45 NRSV)
KINGDOM PRIORITIES
Our Kingdom Priorities serve as the framework for organizing our ministries to faithfully fulfill our mission and visibly demonstrate our values as a church for the glory of God. These same Kingdom Priorities were visibly demonstrated in the life of the early church (cf. Acts 2:42-47). Therefore, we are “Loving Our God, Living Our Name” through the following Kingdom Priorities:
Worship: We exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and celebrate God in dynamic, Spirit-filled worship services.
Discipleship: We equip God’s people to intentionally cultivate, establish, and demonstrate Christ-like love, spirituality, and character in all human affairs, and grow into mature followers of Christ that are equipped for ministry. Additionally, as Disciples of Christ, we openly and unashamedly recognize that all things belong to God. In response to God’s overwhelming, unfailing abundance, we develop God’s people (disciples) to be faithful stewards over God’s creation spiritually, physically, emotionally/socially, and financially.
Apostleship: We embody the ministry of Jesus and demonstrate God’s love by touching people and transforming lives through relevant, practical ministries. We willingly serve our community and our world as the hands and feet of Christ.
Fellowship: We encourage one another to greater faith and good works through prayer, joyous and loving relationships, mutual respect, and support by connecting and uniting as God’s people in Christian community.
Membership: We evangelize by sharing the Gospel in our community, by leading people to an acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and by accepting people into God’s kingdom and the Bethesda family through baptism.
Leadership: We exemplify the leadership model of Christ by prayerfully selecting Spirit-filled, gifted individuals, called by God to serve, support, and oversee the spiritual, administrative, organizational, and social well-being of the church with integrity, humility, transparency, and accountability.
Partnership: We embrace and intentionally cultivate strategic relationships with other churches, ministries, non-profit organizations, businesses, and community, civic, and political leaders to transform the community and advance the Kingdom of God.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33 NIV)
