MORE ABOUT OUR CORE VALUES
In the Garden, we experienced peace, wholeness, and rest in perfect union with God. We were given a mission to spread his Garden-Kingdom, and Eden was only the inception of everything God intended (Gen. 1:26-28)! Unfortunately, that plan was thwarted after we rebelled.
Since then, God has been on a mission to bring us “back to the garden.” Jesus went to the cross and rose from the dead in a garden to bring us back into relationship with Himself.
Now, through the gospel, redeemed humanity partners with God to fulfill our original mandate (Col. 1:6). We have been recommissioned to go, be fruitful, multiply disciples among all nations, and extend the Kingdom of God (Gen 1:28, Matt. 28:19-20). The call encompasses our whole life and affects whole communities. We pray and work for the Kingdom to come, heaven on earth (Matt. 6:9-10). One day, Jesus will return and fulfill God’s plan. Then we will forever dwell with Him in His Garden City (Rev 21-22:5).
Our vision is to Experience the Peace, Wholeness, and Transforming Power of Jesus and cultivate that in our city one person at a time until the New Eden, the New Jerusalem comes on earth as in heaven.
CHARITABLE CONVERSATIONS
We believe it is essential, dignifying, and beneficial to bring our authentic selves to real dialogue with openness and willingness to listen and understand.
(Eph. 4:15, John 1:17)
Our collective society is in a state of fear, anxiety, and lack of innovation because we have lost the art of courteous public discourse. Many are walking on eggshells, afraid to share their differing views for fear of being canceled. Others are spewing vitriol. Both are harmful to everyone!
We believe the way forward is by having charitable conversations. The Bible reminds us that the way out of this harmful predicament is by speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
In order to truly experience one diverse community, we must be authentic. We all have beliefs, convictions, ideologies, philosophies, and even theologies. Speaking the truth first starts with being comfortable with sharing "your truth," while acknowledging that our truth isn't always the Truth. This humble admission is the basis for loving conversation. We listen and empathize in a posture of openness to the Truth that may be different than what we think.
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Garden City is a safe place for people from all backgrounds and walks of life to come and ask their honest questions. All are welcomed into open dialogue about the complexities of life, so long as we do so with a willingness to understand, empathize, and be open to altering our perspective. This value cannot be taken in isolation from the following.
We believe the way forward is
by having charitable conversations.
DIVERSE COMMUNITY
We celebrate the beauty and creativity of God through the diversity of his image-bearing people and believe that a safe and authentic community is God's alternative to our social ailments.
(Gen. 1:26, Rev. 7:9, Eph. 2:14-16, Rom. 12:4-5, Acts 2:42-47)
Our desire for diversity stems from the God who has revealed Himself as a diverse community, the Trinity. From His own creative genius, God created humankind in His own image to reflect His nature (Gen 1:26). Therefore, we strive to be as diverse as possible while remaining as unified as possible. We celebrate the unique giftings, personalities, cultures, and ethnicities of all people and believe that the capstone of authentic Christianity is a multicultural, multigenerational, multiethnic community.
History has proven that although unity in diversity is a beautiful ideal, it is not natural. It is the supernatural work of Jesus restoring a community back to his likeness. Through the cross, Jesus is creating one new humanity from every nation, tribe, people, and language (Eph. 2:14-16; Rev. 7:9). Jesus invites us all to come find our new primary identity as beloved children of God, thus forging peace and unity among the disparate peoples (Gal. 3:26-28; Col. 3:9-11).
We believe this community is God’s solution to our social ailments and we live into the promised future of becoming one harmonious humanity by intentionally being ethnically, socioeconomically, philosophically, and generationally diverse. We believe that a diverse community is the manifestation of a movement of God. This leads to our next value.
Jesus invites us all to come find our new primary identity as beloved children of God, thus forging peace and unity among the disparate peoples.
JESUS-CENTERED
Our approach to all of life is centered on imitating the teachings and example of Jesus
(John 8:31-32, 15:12-13, John 14:6).
Garden City is unashamedly committed to following the way of Jesus as our ultimate gauge of how to live the good life. By following His teaching and example, all are invited to a new way of being human beyond the gridlock and polarization of our day.
While we look to experts in sociology, psychology, science, etc. to inform our understanding of the world, the word of Jesus in Scripture is our ultimate standard on life, spirituality, and ethics. While we welcome open and charitable conversations with all, we look to the Scripture as God’s final word and revealed will for humanity.
Jesus is the ultimate exemplar of what it means to be human. Jesus taught us that the greatest commandment is to love God with our all and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). He told us to do unto others as we would want them to do to us (Matt. 7:12). Jesus not only taught, but demonstrated how to love others by sacrificing His life on the cross for both His friends and enemies (John 15:12-13, Rom 5:8). To this day, Jesus is still the most influential and exemplary individual to have ever walked the earth. We are centering our lives on Jesus Christ. He is the truth, the life and the unifying third way through the division of our times (John 14:6). As Jesus invited his followers, you are invited to “come and see”—to follow Jesus who pioneered a new way of being human (John 1:43,46).
We look to the Scripture as God’s final word and revealed will for humanity.
PROGRESSIVE TRANSFORMATION
We are committed to the process of growth, healing, and wholeness provided for us in Jesus
(2 Cor. 3:18, Rom. 12:2, Eph. 4:20-24, Rom. 8:28-30)
The turmoil in our society is symptomatic of a deeper issue. Our disobedience to God’s design for human flourishing causes social, emotional, psychological, and spiritual disorder. The Bible calls this sin. Though we were made in the magnificent likeness of God, due to disobedience, we now also have a sinful nature. This sinful nature is the reason we often feel the struggle against doing what is right. It is the reason we don’t always do the ideal that we know we should (Rom. 7:15). It is the reason we feel a lack of convergence within ourselves. Through Jesus, we have the definitive remedy for our desperate need of transformation.
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The provision and paradigm for healing and wholeness is found in Jesus. The Bible calls this being made holy. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus provided the opportunity for holiness by faith in Him instead of our sinfulness. Trusting in the sacrificial provision of Jesus is the decisive start on a new trajectory to transformation. It is a life-altering change with the power to break the chains of sin, addiction, and depression. The Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation” (1 Cor. 5:17).
The life of Jesus is also the paradigm for continual transformation. As we follow the way of Christ, we are conformed back into His likeness (2 Cor. 3:18, Eph. 4:20-24). Jesus was the only perfect, sinless person (John 8:46, 1 Pet. 2:22). When we follow His teachings of love and service rather than acting out our own selfish interest, our hearts, minds, and soul are continually transformed (Rom. 12:1-2). This is the progressive process of becoming whole, healed, and holy (2 Cor. 3:18). One day, Jesus will complete this process at His return. Then we will live with Him for eternity (Phil. 1:6, 3:20-21).
The provision and paradigm for healing
and wholeness is found in Jesus.
COMPASSIONATE MISSION
We celebrate God’s unique purpose and calling for each person, and together live to fulfill His mission
(1 Cor. 12:4-31, Matt. 9:35-38, Gen. 1:28, Matt.28:19-20)
Each of us were born for a reason. We each have a God given calling and purpose. Ultimately, the greatest significance in life comes from understanding our contribution to God’s greater plan for this planet.
From the beginning, God had a plan for us to partner with Him in cultivating a just and flourishing society under His benevolent rule (Gen 1:28). In biblical language, God wanted humanity to partner with Him in establishing the “Kingdom of heaven” on earth (Matt. 4:17, 6:10). Unfortunately, we chose to build our own kingdoms and empires apart from His heavenly imprint. Since then, injustice, oppression, pain, and suffering have been the norm.
Millenia later, Jesus came on a mission to reestablish His Kingdom on earth (Mark 1:14-15). He came to “seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). His heart was filled with compassion on the masses of lost and confused people. He fed, healed, protected, and gave new life to the hungry, weary, marginalized, and hurting. At the end, He gave His life as a sacrifice to forgive and free any who would receive Him.
Now, Jesus invites us to follow Him on the mission to reestablish His Kingdom on earth. We are commissioned to go and make disciples of Jesus from all nations (Matt. 28:19-20). Each of us goes forth with our unique calling and giftings to our vocations and mission fields with the transformative power of the Gospel. From hospitality to helping the needy, teaching to administrating, business owners to baristas, entrepreneurs to artists, parenting to evangelizing, all go forth to make disciples and cultivate a more just society. One day, it will be fulfilled when Jesus returns once and for all.
Jesus invites us to follow Him on the mission to reestablish His Kingdom on earth.