ABOUT US
MISSION & VISION
The primary mission of Communities 4 Christ is to reach the lost with the salvation that is found in Jesus Christ alone. We see this mission as a common thread which will unite the body of Christ. We desire for denominational walls to come down as we rally around this common purpose. This leads us to our primary vision. The primary vision of Communities 4 Christ is the unification of the body of Christ. We believe that evangelism is the tool for unification of the body. As we at Communities 4 Christ seek to mobilize individual members of the body for evangelistic purposes, this common purpose of reaching the lost will bring the body together as one.
Denominational walls will fall in response to the final prayer of our Lord and Savior in John 17. Jesus said in verse 11 "that they all may be one, as we are.” Again in verse 21 "that they all may be one; as you Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME." Could it be that the very condition required for the world to believe in Jesus…a.k.a..REVIVAL….is the unification of the body of Christ? Again in verse 22 "And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one."
It is the glory, the presence of God, the precious Holy Spirit, that makes us all one body in Christ. First Corinthians 12:13 "for by one spirit are we all baptized into one body…and have been all made to drink into one spirit." We are all one body in Christ. Again in verse 23 "that they may be made perfect in one; and THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME..." Isn't it interesting that Jesus stated the condition for revival a second time? Our oneness as a body leads to the world believing...WOW!!!
Communities 4 Christ desires to be a vehicle facilitating the fulfillment of the final prayer of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
GENERAL STATEMENT
The vision of Communities 4 Christ is nothing less than revival. This vision of revival will only be achieved as members within the body of Christ unify for the sole purpose of reaching the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thus, unity becomes the precursor for revival. Without unity within the body of Christ, revival is rendered null and void. Remember the final prayer of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus specifically addressed this issue twice within his prayer in John chapter 17.
John 17:21, "That they all may be one; as you Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent me."
John 17:23, "I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me."
Jesus Christ specifically stated that the required condition for the world to believe on Him is oneness within the body. The precursor for revival is the unity of the body of Christ. This leads us to our general statement regarding the beliefs of Communities 4 Christ. Our general statement of beliefs is the following: Unity in the essentials......Liberty in the non-essentials......Love over all.
WE LEAD PEOPLE TO CHRIST ALL OVER THE WORLD.
UNITY IN THE ESSENTIALS
With regard to the essentials of the Christian Faith, unity is essential. That is, one cannot be a part of the body of Christ without having received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This is the ultimate essential of the Christian faith. Unless one is born from above by the drawing power of God the Father, the saving power of God the Son, and the applied power of God the Holy Spirit, there is no new birth. In addition to the new birth, there are certain tenets and creeds of the Christian faith that all Christians ascribe to. That is, regardless of the specific Christian denomination one belongs to, these tenets of the Christian faith are accepted and believed by all mainstream Christian denominations.
We at Communities 4 Christ believe that for one to be a part of the worldwide body of Jesus Christ, he or she must first be born again. Having been born again, this new believer now acknowledges and assents to certain apostolic tenets of the Christian faith which makes one exclusively Christian. This, of course, nullifies anyone holding to other faiths...ie...Muslim, Hindu...etc. Thus, unity is exclusively Christian and excludes all other faiths. The apostles creed would probably be the traditional foundation for what we as a church believe in.
MINISTRY AT JMU
LIBERTY IN THE NON-ESSENTIALS
Having been born again by the shed blood of God the Son, the drawing power of God the Holy Spirit, and the sovereign plan of God the Father, why must we as a body of Christ divide over issues that are not essential to our faith? Issues such as mode of baptism, eternal security, and speaking in tongues are just a few of the beliefs that separate us as a body of Christ. A non-essential would be a belief that is not agreed upon by all mainstream Christian denominations. Many of these beliefs are what has given rise to all the different denominations that are in existence today.
PEOPLE OF HARRISIONBURG
LOVE OVER ALL
We all have certain beliefs regarding specific non-essentials within the Christian faith. And certainly, there is nothing wrong with having a specific belief with regard to an issue such as mode of baptism and eternal security. Surely, because of our past experiences, our current associates, and our exposure to the word of God, we differ on these non-essentials. This is certainly okay and to be expected. It is not the difference in the belief as a non-essential that is the problem. It is the emphasis placed upon that particular non-essential that gives rise to the problem. Why are we emphasizing points of the faith that are non-essential. The very emphasis of the points is what has given rise to all of the current denominations and has separated the body. Certainly, Jesus cannot be pleased with this.
