Our Values
TRUTH. BEAUTY. RESTORATION. What we want to be known for and who we want to be. In a word, we want to be like JESUS—let us explain.
Truth. Jesus, a consummate communicator, said that he defined truth, and we believe him. This truth is…
Heroic. Jesus was good, but he wasn’t safe. He asked his followers to serve and love and sacrifice in ways that stretched them and made life a startling adventure.
Timeless. We’re not out to say anything that hasn’t been said before, by Jesus, who took the initiative to speak into our world.
Honest. Jesus was quick to point out that faith and love are not so much revealed by what you say as how you live. When the two agree, that’s honesty.
Risky. Complacency ruins our ability to envision a better future. Jesus was a divine daredevil, bridging Heaven and Earth to bring us good news. Nothing good ever happens without the white-knuckle joy of risk embraced.
Beauty. God created the world—enough said? We want to celebrate his artist’s eye, including his passion for people, the arts, and the created order. This means we embrace…
Wonder. Worship is hard-wired into our souls. As we get to know Jesus, we discover he is the ultimate source of joy, awe, and hope that changes every corner of our lives. As we love Jesus, we grow more like him.
Roots. Following Jesus is essentially about doing what is in front of your face. Jesus was a street-savvy Jew and Galilean who embraced his culture. We are living in Kansas City, love Kansas City, and want to put down roots here.
Family. Jesus built a new family community when he came, and called it the “church.” People grow in the joy and mess of doing life together, not merely by reading books and sitting in meetings. Faith means belonging.
Humility. The rarest of virtues, because inwardly, our default setting is I’m All That. However, the one man who actually was God devoted himself to treating others as more important. Jesus proved it is better to serve than be served.
Restoration. Jesus came to give life to people, life that healed wounds, reconciled relationships, and renewed cultures. This restoration is…
Total. Faith in Jesus is comprehensive, transforming every dimension of our lives and personalities. Sex, money, power—vocation, education, family. If Christ had wanted people who merely talked a good game, he would have started a school of rhetoric.
Sacrificial. Unlike a lot of Christians, Jesus wasn’t fat and happy. He was lean and happy—light on his feet because he gave away everything he had to save this broken world. We want to go and do likewise, generously rejecting the greed of consumerism.
Active. The church should be a rolling stone, filled with initiative-takers, momentum-builders, and people empowered by Jesus. The best way to learn is by doing. Transformed lives, cultures, and cities is the horizon we are always chasing.
Tough. Everyone gets knocked down. Jesus got knocked out of life, but got back on his feet. Therefore, by his power, we should always be getting up and running back toward the fight.
