What do we mean that we welcome everyone?
It means…
We extend a special welcome to everyone who is single, married, divorced, gay, straight, filthy rich, or dirt poor.
We welcome those who are crying newborns, older than Moses, skinny as a rail, or could afford to lose a few pounds.
We welcome you if you can sing like an angel or if your singing makes angels cry.
You’re welcome here if you are just browsing, just woke up, or just got out of jail.
We don’t care if you are overdressed, underdressed, cross-dressed, more Catholic than the Pope, or haven’t been to church since your great uncle’s funeral.
We especially welcome those who are over 60 but refuse to grow up and teenagers who are growing up too fast.
We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, and junk-food eaters.
We welcome those who are in recovery or are still addicted.
We welcome you if you are having problems, are down in the dumps, or don’t like organized religion - we’ve been there too. (We’re very unorganized, btw!)
If you blew all your offering money at the casino, you’re welcome here.
We welcome all who think the earth is flat, who work too hard, don’t work, can’t splel, or came because mom is in town and drug you to church.
We welcome those who are inked, pierced, or both.
We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, who’ve had religion shoved down their throat as a kid, or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake.
We welcome the flexible, inflexible, tolerant, intolerant, those who laughed and those who gasped at this welcome.
We welcome tourists, seekers, settlers, squatters, bleeding hearts, and you!
Radically welcoming
If you study the life of Jesus one thing is immediately evident – he welcomed everyone. From those on the fringe of society to the religious of his day, from sinners to (alleged) saints, all were welcome in his presence. That doesn’t mean he agreed with everyone, but all were accepted and loved where they were. We desire to follow in Jesus’ footsteps by extending a radical welcome to everyone who comes our way, whether seeker or sinner, skeptic or saint.
Unapologetically charismatic
In the Bible, whenever God shows up, there is his power. In the New Testament we see the Holy Spirit’s power revealed in the miracles of Jesus, then through the apostles and other disciples. Jesus promised that all his followers would do the same. In fact, there is no period in church history that doesn’t testify to the ongoing miraculous work of the Spirit. We don’t seek spiritual power. We see God’s presence. But where his presence is, there is his ongoing power to save, heal, and deliver.
Kingdom multiplying
The primary message of Jesus was that “the kingdom of God was at hand”. Jesus wasn’t talking about a physical landmass, but about the rule and reign of God coming to transform people and society. Perhaps the best way to understand the kingdom is from Jesus’ prayer: on earth as it is in heaven. We want to be an outpost of God’s kingdom where his rule and reign is lived out in practical ways: loving our neighbors, caring for the poor, pursuing justice, and being reconciled to God and others.
Uncommonly generous
The relentless pursuit of “more” is making our hearts sick. It keeps us exhausted, anxious, and on the verge of burnout. We believe the remedy for unchecked greed is generosity. This isn’t merely about giving money, and it certainly isn’t about an amount. It’s about the attitude and posture in which we approach life that frees us from the rat-race of accumulation. We believe God is generous. This liberates us to live generously as well, knowing that he will meet not only our needs but many of our wants.