ABOUT THE NAME
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Our church gets its name from Luke 24 when the risen Christ first appears to two disciples who were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Like Christians and churches who are blinded by preoccupation with their own immediate difficulties, the two disciples were unable to recognize Jesus and God's redemptive purpose, despite walking and conversing with him for nearly 7 miles, as they were distracted by their sadness and hopelessness.
When they arrived in Emmaus, "Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them," and their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus. The disciples, filled with a conviction to share the good news, left Emmaus within the hour and returned to Jerusalem (a return trip of 7 miles). As they told stories about their encounters with the risen Lord, Jesus visited them again, giving them a fresh awareness of his living presence. Emmaus is connected with learning how to have your eyes opened, walking with Christ, and having communion with Him, which is the cure for what too often is an unhealthy preoccupation with our own troubles or despondency. |
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WHAT WE BELIEVE
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In the reformed tradition, there is an idea of the 'Sensus Divinitatus' (Sense of the Divine). It simply means that, in EVERY human, there is a sense of the divine, or a seed of religion, inside of them. Even more plainly, it means that humans are hard wired to resonate with God, who plants "triggers" all throughout creation. Sometimes this sense is triggered by the beauty in nature, other times in music, compassion, justice, etc.
Christianity, we believe, isn't merely about saving ourselves from hell, but to be able to restore shalom to the entire world, activating the "triggers" in as many of God's sons and daughters as possible (e.g., by serving others, showing them God's love in a number of ways, etc.), and, as per the Lord's prayer, to accomplish God's vision here on earth, as it in heaven. This is the whole point of being a Christian. It is our God given mission in life. |
MISSION STATEMENT
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Our church exists to be in ministry to God, to believers, and to the world.
In our ministry to God, our primary purpose as a Church is to "glorify God and to enjoy Him forever", which includes the singing of “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in [our] hearts to God” and living “for the praise of His glory”. In our ministry to believers, we aspire "not simply to bring people to initial saving faith but to "present every [person] mature in Christ" as it says in Colossians 1:28. The church has an obligation to nurture and disciple those who are already believers and to build them up to maturity in faith. In our ministry to the world, our church seeks to follow Jesus' command to declare the gospel and make disciples of all nations. "Yet accompanying the work of evangelism is also a ministry of mercy, a ministry that includes caring for the poor and needy in the name of the Lord" and presenting the gospel, as well as grace, to unbelievers. |
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"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”