Vision and Values
We are called Grace Church Kidderminster because God's grace is central to who we are, what we do, and how we do it.
Our VISION STATEMENT as a church is:
As God’s people SAVED BY GRACE we are committed to
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Being SHAPED BY GRACE as we live wholeheartedly for Christ,
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SHOWING GRACE in how we relate to each other,
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and SHARING GOD’S GRACE with people in the Wyre Forest and beyond.
Who we are: God’s people SAVED BY GRACE
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
We are a family of ordinary people who are united by being fellow recipients of God’s grace through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Church Value #1 - SHAPED BY GRACE as we live wholeheartedly for Christ
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
We will seek to live wholeheartedly for Christ in every area of our lives, in response to the grace and mercy he has lavished on us. We are committed to spurring each other on to grow in our love for Jesus, and to grow in Christ-likeness as we are transformed by the renewing of our mind.
When we meet together as a church family we will remember and delight in God’s kindness to us in Christ - through praise, prayer and the reading and faithful preaching of God’s word. We are committed to embedding God’s life-giving word throughout church life, expressing our dependence on our gracious God in prayer, and valuing the work of the Holy Spirit in helping us to stand firm in God’s grace.
Church Value #2 - SHOWING GRACE in how we relate to each other
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)
We seek to reflect God’s grace and love to us in our relationships with each other. In all our meetings, ministries, activities and interactions, our desire is to have a grace-shaped culture which showcases the good news that is preached from the pulpit. We aim to be an intentionally relational, generously hospitable, family-friendly church, offering a warm welcome to people of all ages and backgrounds. We value opportunities to deepen our bonds of friendship and fellowship in Christ. We seek to handle secondary issues with charity and respect for the convictions of each other.
Every member of the church has an important role to play in church life because God has graciously given every Christian gifts to use in the service of others and the upbuilding of God’s church. We expect our leaders to model grace-filled and godly lives, members to respect and encourage their leaders, and for leaders and members to relate to each other in mutual support and love.
Church Value #3 – SHARING GOD’S GRACE with people in the Wyre Forest and beyond
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. (Acts 20:24)
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20)
We believe we have the privilege and responsibility of seeking to declare the good news of God’s grace throughout the Wyre Forest. To do this effectively, we understand we will need to be a contemporary church and positively embrace change. The preaching and teaching of God’s word will be applied in culturally relevant and accessible ways so that the good news of God’s grace can be easily understood by people of all ages and people from unchurched backgrounds.
We aim to create opportunities to share the good news of Jesus by members forging meaningful relationships with people in the local community, and also through running various activities, ministries and programmes which engage, connect with, and serve the people around us. We want to be intentional about training up Christian workers for future ministry, and to be supporters of mission partners in the work of global mission.