Over the years, I have been asked numerous questions about the church and I have listed several of those and offered a brief response.
You may select a question and click it or just read through the list.
In our new members class we will discuss these, but in the meantime, this might help you get to know us.
Michael Peters, Pastor
How did this church start?
What kind of church is this?
Must you agree with your beliefs to join?
What is your mission?
What is the role of the pastor?
How can I get involved in ministry?
Why do you have cell groups?
What do you believe about women’s ministries?
Do you sing choruses or hymns?
How are the finances handled?
What are your moral values?
What is expected of members?
Why join a church at all?
How did this church start?
This church started in Bob and Connie Struebing’s living in January 1985. In May of that year we launched our first Sunday service with ten families. For six months, we rented a meeting room in the Holiday Inn Clayton and then moved to a church building near Forest Park. This was the first of seven moves which would gradual lead us southward to our present location.
What kind of church is this?
We are a nondenominational church or as some say an interdenominational church. We are not legally affiliated with any denomination and there are people here from all kinds of backgrounds. We are nondenominational because we believe in the sovereignty of the local church. By sovereignty we mean that churches are like individuals who make their own decisions but are not isolated from others.
We believe that local churches set their own direction but are not isolated from others. We are part of the entire Body of Christ and through relationships we are connected to churches and ministries that provide input into us, opportunity for us to serve elsewhere and accountability to others (Matthew 18:17).
Must you agree with your beliefs to join?
There are ten beliefs that form the unalterable foundation of this church. These are the foundation because they form the essentials of our faith. In the sixteenth century a theologian named Melanthon wrote, “In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, and in all things charity.” Because these ten are essentials every member is expected to agree with them. Agreement of belief beyond these ten is not essential. And if we differ, we will do so in love (1 Corinthians 1:10).
What is your mission?
Our mission is to make disciples who make disciples. Jesus gave the Great Commission to His church, and as the Head of the Church, He alone has the authority to define its mission. We embrace His mission for the church and personally accept responsibility to make disciples who make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
What is the role of the pastor?
The pastor serves as the messenger of God’s word and as an equipper of disciple makers. The pastor is not the only one who preaches but he is the primary messenger. And as an equipper, he trains others in leadership, provides opportunities for service and oversees the church’s ministries (Ephesians 4:11-12).
How can I get involved in ministry?
Those considering joining a church ask themselves two questions: Do I fit here and what can I do? Those two questions connect function to relationship. So, to get involved in ministry is first to build relationships, and then pursue ministry according to the principles that Jesus taught about stewardship (Luke 16:9-11).
1. Faithful with little given much.
2. Faithful with another’s given your own.
3. Faithful with money given true riches.
Why do you have cell groups?
We are a cell based church which means that a large portion of personal ministry, discipleship and outreach are done through small groups. These are called cells because just as in the human body the cell is the basic unit of life, even so in the church body the cell group is the basic unit of life. A cell group is three to twelve people that meet weekly in our communities for the purpose of discipleship and sharing the good news of Christ with others (Acts 5:42).
What do you believe about women’s ministries?
On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh and made no distinction between male and female by promising that both your sons and daughters shall prophesy. We believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are distributed according to the will of the Giver and we receive ministry from any whom the Holy Spirit anoints (Acts 2:17).
Do you sing choruses or hymns?
We sing both but believe that worship is the response of the worshipper to the revelation of God. Our vision for worship is shared glory. In the Revelation of John, Jesus is seen on the throne with the saints gathered around him. As we move closer to Christ on the throne of glory, we are drawn closer together through shared glory (John 17:21).
How are the finances handled?
Each week we receive tithes and offerings from the congregation. A tithe is ten percent and an offering is beyond the tithe. The tithes and offerings are recorded for tax purposes and the monies are used to further the work of the gospel. This work includes building expenses, staff, training, programs and missions. Each quarter of the year, the finance committee reviews income and expenses and ongoing expenditures are directed through the finance committee (2 Corinthians 8:21).
What are your moral values?
We believe in biblical morality. Even though all of us inherited an orientation to sin, we believe the Bible tells us to live morally upright before God. In the Old Testament, moral uprightness was defined by the Ten Commandments, and in the New Testament by the Sermon on the Mount. Apart from the grace of God, we cannot obey the Ten Commandments nor the Sermon on the Mount. Those of us who were liars, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, murderers, and a long list of other things have been forgiven and empowered by the Spirit to live morally upright before God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
What is expected of members?
Our goal is for every member to become a disciple maker. This means that we must first be what we want others to become—disciples of Christ. Therefore, what we expect of members is what Jesus expected of His disciples. He expected them to serve, to give, to evangelize, to pray, to worship and to do it all in obedience to God. This is a large expectation, and we believe that only through the grace of God can we fulfill it. The wonderful thing about grace though is that God gives what He expects so that we are enabled to do what He commands (Luke 14:26-33).
Why join a church at all?
It is true that you don’t have to join a church to be saved, and nowhere in the New Testament is there a formal membership of the church. In truth, the church is made up of all those “enrolled in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23).
Then why enroll on earth? There are four reasons why we have membership and these reasons concern legality, safety, testimony and mission.
1. Legality: Because we are a 501c3 nonprofit corporation members vote on property decisions. The state of Missouri requires a membership roll to determine qualified voters in case of a conflict of interest within the church.
2. Safety: Everyone wants our children and youth to be safe at church. To promote this we only allow members to be teachers in children’s Sunday school and the youth ministry. Nonmembers may assist under a members supervision. To implement this we require all members and nonmembers who are assisting to grant the church permission to perform a background check.
3. Testimony: The church, historically and in modern times, has always juggled our mission to reach those who need the gospel against our responsibility to maintain a biblical testimony. Therefore, we encourage all people to attend but require those that join to demonstrate a biblical lifestyle.
4. Mission: Our mission is to make disciples who make disciples. To do this requires shared commitments, common beliefs, and a unified vision. Membership provides a forum to address these basics.