Why?
God loves this world and he has an amazing plan to bless all peoples through his Son, Jesus Christ.
That plan takes effect through the Holy Spirit working in church communities scattered across the globe. As churches in the network we simply want to play our part in seeing that blessing known and the Lord’s name lifted up. Churches connected for global mission.
Here’s how we understand that, from the Bible:
Churches connected...
God’s people are at the heart of what God is doing. God’s purposes are not focused on many unrelated individuals but upon his people. In Christ those promises find their fulfillment in the church. The church is the new Israel, the holy nation. Christ died for the church, his bride. (Ephesians 5:25; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 21:1-3)
The local church is at the heart of God’s mission. The New Testament speaks of church in two senses: the heavenly congregation continually gathered around the throne of God, and local congregations which are the time and space expression of this heavenly reality. The focus of God’s saving purposes for his people is therefore expressed, in history, in local congregations. (Hebrews 12:22-24; Galatians 4:26; Revelation 21:1-3)
Through the incorporation of the Gentiles and the creation of the one people of God, God’s eternal plan to reconcile all things under Christ is made manifest to the rulers and authorities as it is realised now in the church.
(Ephesians 1:9-10; 2:11-3:13)
...for global mission
The God of the Bible is a God of mission. The Bible is the story of God’s plan to save his people. God’s promise to Abraham was that he would be a blessing to the nations; Israel was called to be a light to the Gentiles and in Christ this is fulfilled as the good news of salvation goes out to the nations.
(Genesis 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 4:6-8; Isaiah 56:3-8; 60:1-3; Matthew 28:18-20; Galatians 3:6-9)
Mission is at the heart of what it means to be church and church is at the heart of what it means to do mission. The life of the Christian community is part of the gospel message of reconciliation. Mission takes place as people see our love for one another. The local church is also the natural context in which people are discipled. Mission and church are, therefore, two sides of the same coin.
(John 13:34-35; 17:23; Acts 4:32-35)
Wherever people responded to the gospel churches were planted. Those churches continued the apostolic mission by being missionary churches. From these churches new churches were planted.
(Acts 11:19-26; 18:1-8)
These are our values as a network:
Gospel priority
Jesus Christ made himself nothing, being born into the world for the glory of His Father and for the salvation of His people.
Therefore we are committed to putting the Good News of Jesus Christ, a passion for God’s glory, and involvement in His mission before our personal interests. We will depend on God, living lives that are servant-hearted, sacrificial, risk-taking and flexible because the gospel has priority over our comfort, preferences, security and traditions.
Church community
The Christian life is not an individual pursuit. Believers are united with Christ and each other, living and serving together in local expressions of his body – the church. These church communities are at the heart of God’s strategy for mission.
Therefore our projects and ministries are always rooted in local church life and growth. In the context of local churches, the fullness of the Good News is demonstrated and proclaimed as believers live out their faith together, and bring light to the dark corners of their localities.
Humble orthodoxy
We are united in Christ and commanded to love one another.
Therefore, confident in the gospel, we will work together with love, respect and humility, recognising that among evangelical churches around the world, there is a diversity of culture and belief on secondary issues. We endeavour not to allow these differences to stand in the way of gospel ministry. We do this in mutual submission to Scripture as our final authority, the reliable and sufficient Word of God.
Intentional partnership
Churches working together, across ethnic and cultural divides, witness to the glorious diversity and unity of the body of Christ.
Therefore we aim to move beyond theoretical unity to relationships of trust and tangible cooperation between churches in and from diverse cultures. We believe churches can do more in the service of Christ together than they can on their own, sharing experience, expertise, cultural understanding and resources.
Multiplicational growth
We are biblically persuaded that the church is God’s mission strategy and see mission, not maintenance, as the only biblical ethos of church life.
Therefore we are committed to the multiplication of local churches. We want to catalyse a missional vision within existing congregations, with a focus on churches collaborating to plant new churches which in turn plant more churches – to the ends of the earth!