We are a gathering of Christians, learning to live in the love and power of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, and to introduce people to Him so that they maybe made whole. We recognise some understandings and values as being important to us, along with a growing sense of our particular calling and ministry within the wider Body of Christ.
We are based in Gateshead where God has placed us, but with a heart to reach out to all whom God sends, and ready to respond to God's calling to go out "into all the world". Jesus said "I will build my church". Our desire is to respond to what God is doing, and act on the basis of God given vision.
The local church is made up of individual believers, each on their own spiritual journey. Each is responsible to God and is to be encouraged to seek and to hear God for him/herself. God calls all believers to follow Him as disciples.
We value an 'open church' approach to ministry: the priesthood of all believers, where all can function, every member with a ministry, men and women equally blessed and equipped to serve. Prayer and worship are at the centre of our lifestyle as individuals and as a gathering of believers. We seek to undergird everything with prayer, and see this as vital to evangelism and growth.
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and should be the foundation on which we build our faith, lifestyle, teaching and practices.
‘Church’ should express a sense of family, friendship and hospitality. We aim to love one another in a non-possessive way, helping one another and building each other up in relationship with the Lord. We have an emphasis on ‘the Church in the home’, where relationships are formed and there is a freedom for all to play a part. We expect to grow, and create new home groups as God adds to our number.
We recognise the importance of God-given gifts and responsibilities, but leadership should be 'low profile', not concerned with position but with a heart to develop people: serving, equipping, motivating, releasing them in their gifting.
We want to ‘walk in the light’, with problems dealt with, not ignored. Whilst Biblical doctrine is non-negotiable, methods are open to evaluation, and people must be free to question. Since all sin and make mistakes, an attitude and atmosphere of grace must abound.
We welcome the supernatural inspiration of the Holy Spirit: with a desire to see Christ glorified, to see him at work amongst us, making his presence and purposes known and personal. We are prepared to take risks, asking our creative God to inspire us in fresh ways, and with a desire to touch our town with a new expression of life in the Spirit.
We seek to explore the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith and to understand God's purposes for Israel and His Jewish people.
We seek to reach out to the lost and hurting, to bring 'good news', to heal the sick, to set free those in bondage and to nurture new believers. We want to be a ‘church without walls’, providing space for real friendships both within and outside the church. We also have a concern for the poor and a heart for social justice
We recognise and value the whole Church of Christ, and desire to bless it, pray for it, love it, and to find meaningful relationships within it.
