We have an acronym to help us remember our Core Values - the acronym is R.O.P.E.S. To coin an old phrase, we'd like to show you the R.O.P.E.S. to serve you in your inquiries as a newcomer to Abbotsford Christian Assembly.
These Core Values are the precepts we believe strengthen us as a church.
R - Relationship
We believe in a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ
- John 3:16, Rom. 10:9,10
We believe in a personal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit
- Gal. 4:6
We believe we have a family relationship with God and Christians in the local church
- Eph. 3:15
O - Outreach
Jesus has commissioned us to go and make disciples of all nations and peoples - Matt. 28:18
To accomplish this we believe we need to be all things to all people in the hopes of winning them to Christ. We believe we can lead others to Christ by first becoming friends through loving and serving them in practical ways. This can provide the privileged opportunity to share the Bible and Jesus and our testimony - I Cor. 9:22, Acts 1:8
We endeavor to provide events and outreaches locally and abroad where Christians can participate in Missions or bring a friend to hear the Gospel in a non-threatening friendly environment
Ultimately our goal and desire is to lead people to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus
P - Pastoral Care
God has called pastors/elders to care for the spiritual needs of people as shepherds who care, feed and tend sheep; spiritual leaders do this through teaching and preaching of the Word - Heb. 13:17
Pastoral care comes in various forms:
In Small Group environments where you can grow close to people and a given leader who knows you well. This is where member to member ministry happens - Eph. 4:16.
Through Pastoral Counselling for support and input on more serious or complex issues.
Through loving care, correction and teaching, just as loving parents teach and adjust their children's thinking, they confront them in their error and rescue them from danger.
E - Equipping
We believe every member of the family of God (Body of Christ) has a ministry - Eph. 4:16
"Having then different gifts let us use them" We believe it is our responsibility to train and equip God's people for these works of ministry. This is accomplished by helping people first identify their gift.
We do this by providing a myriad of meaningful areas of service where gifts and abilities can function.
As leaders we observe the development of gifts so as to nurture their development. We also enhance the process with specialized training and seminars - Eph. 4:11-12
S - Supernaturalism
We believe in the literal manifestation of the Spirit of God in every believer. And that God, in His sovereignty, will perform signs and wonders - Acts 14:3
Supernaturally a person, baptized with the Holy Spirit, will speak in new tongues
Believers will, under the supernatural enabling of the Holy Spirit, operate the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, both in the church and community - I Cor. 12:7