Philosophy of Ministry (Who we are...What we do)

Our Mission…

“At Headwater Fellowship Church, we seek to glorify God by equipping people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.”

We will accomplish our purpose by declaring the Gospel throughout our communities, by discipling the believers among us to grow in faith and by modeling the use of spiritual gifts to edify, exhort and comfort the body of Christ.

What we believe…

God

1. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.

The Bible

2. We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.

The Human Condition

3. We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.

Jesus Christ

4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus-Israel’s promised Messiah-was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.

The Work of Christ

5. We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.

The Holy Spirit

6. We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.

The Church

7. We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.

Christian Living

8. We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.

Christ’s Return

9. We believe in the personal, bodily and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

Response and Eternal Destiny

10. We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace.

Our Core Values…

Ø CENTERED ON CHRIST JESUS

His righteousness is our righteousness. As such, we strive to live like He lived, love like He loved and share His name to the world around us.

Ø ANCHORED IN THE BIBLE

God's Word is our guide, authority, and conscience in everything. We stand firm where it stands firm and remain flexible where it is flexible.

Ø GROUNDED IN GRACE

It is by grace we have been saved. God gives grace to the undeserving. We can do no less.

Ø BECOMING FISHERMEN

Jesus apprenticed His disciples, even as His disciples today are called to mentor or be mentored by others. Intentional participation in relationships with others at different levels of spiritual maturity is how we disciple each other.

Ø PRAYER CONNECTS US

We believe in the providence of God to accomplish His will. To that end we will demonstrate, promote, and encourage prayer without ceasing for all our needs, sorrows, exaltations, and desires. In doing so we have communion with each other, and with God.

Ø EVANGELISM BUILDS COMMUNITY

People sharing the gospel by building bridges to a lost and skeptical world. Integration through service, engagement and loving deeds fosters spiritual and physical growth.

Ø BELIEVE BIG AND START SMALL

Everyday kindness and acts of love honor God. It is through the small things that God builds big things.

Ø CHANGED HEARTS ARE CHANGED LIVES

Faith is where it begins. Once we believe, our heart is renewed; then who we are is redefined.

How the Church is Led…

Headwater Fellowship Church will be an Elder Led Congregational Church, meaning that the church members are to acknowledge the spiritual leadership of the Elders, and have voting authority on matters pertaining to the work of the church.

Among the matters needing approval by vote of the Congregation are:

v Selection of Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Elders, Deacons and Trustees

v Annual Budgets

v Structural Changes

In service to the Congregation are those approved to be engaged in Church Leadership. Church leaders shall engage in the business of the church on a regular and ongoing basis. Such leadership shall be structured in a way enabling checks and balances, but not diminishing the authority of any one office or the Congregation.

The following shall be considered an Office of Leadership:

· Elder – Spiritual oversight; must be biblically qualified, able to teach, willing to pray, and model a Christ like attitude and behavior

· Senior Pastor – An Elder position, but separated as a daily preaching, teaching and leadership role; responsible for carrying out the day to day operations and vision of the church

· Trustee – Financial oversight; having budget and fiscal authority

How the Church is Organized…

When fully functioning, Headwater Fellowship Church will consist of a combination of Staff and Volunteers

v Staff

Ø Full Time

§ Senior Pastor – Leading Elder, preacher, teacher, visitation, vision casting, structural maintenance, spiritual leadership and day to day operations management

§ Secretary

Ø Part Time

§ Associate Pastor – Outreach coordinator, preacher, teacher, visitation

§ Youth Pastor

§ Treasurer – bookkeeping

§ Music Leader

§ Education Director – maintain doctrinal integrity and continuity of all educational programs

v Volunteers

Ø Elders – spiritual leaders, able to teach, willing to visit, modeling Christ-like attitudes and behavior

§ Elders are chosen and led to serve by God and thus must seek to fill this office

§ Those seeking nomination for eldership shall be tested and approved by the Senior Pastor and existing Elders

§ Those receiving nomination shall be voted upon by the Congregation

Ø Deacons – serving the physical needs of the church, both the people and facilities

§ Deacons shall be chosen by the Congregation, from among the Congregation, as those who exhibit a servant’s heart and the ability to perform the tasks necessary

§ Those receiving nomination shall be voted upon by the Congregation

Ø Trustees – financial overseers

§ Trustees shall be chosen by existing Trustees, from among the Congregation, as those who exhibit the financial aptitude to manage funds entrusted by members to accomplish God’s work

§ Those qualified by the Trustees shall be approved by the Elders in order to receive nomination

§ Those receiving nomination shall be voted upon by the Congregation

Ø Outreach Team – evangelists

Ø Education Team – teachers

Ø Hospitality Team – cooks/bakers

Ø Small Group Team – home based fellowship

§ Those committing to small group ministry need not be bible teachers or spiritual leaders

§ Home Based Fellowship is not group bible study by definition, though such freedom exists

§ The goal of Home Based Fellowship is to allow for believers to come together on a more regular basis for camaraderie, encouragement, fellowship and fun

§ Among activities would be dinners & movies (either in homes or retail), outings, recreational activities, sporting events, etc.

Ø Connections Team – organizers of outreach events and activities

Ø Communications Team – technology oriented and creative

Our Priorities…

v Offer the hope of salvation to our communities through evangelism and acts of kindness

v Effectively communicate God’s Word through sound preaching and teaching

v Love and care for each other through fellowship and acts of service

What we expect from our Members…

v Accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, confessing their sins, repenting and being baptized

v Meeting together regularly for fellowship

v Meeting together regularly to worship God

v Constantly grow in Christ through reading the Bible and Discipleship

v Sharing financially through Tithes and Offerings to promote the work of the church

v Serving one another

v Praying for one another and the church

We are a Missional Church

We believe missions is not just a program through which we are engaged, but a lifestyle by which we are defined. The primary purpose of a local church is evangelism.

When Jesus was leaving our world to join the Father in John 17, he told his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” All Christians have been sent by God into their homes, neighborhoods, schools, work, world and areas of play to join Jesus in His mission to make disciples of all nations.

The church is not a building, business or location; it is the redeemed people of God. Therefore, we do not go to church or locate church, we are the church. Wherever we find ourselves, we are the visible representation of God to our world.

Our church exists not as a fortress from the culture or refuge from the world, but as a community of people boldly engaging and penetrating the culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has sent us to both the neighborhoods and nations to proclaim his kingdom. All our ministries, plans, events and strategies are done in a way to connect with non-believers.

Therefore, we equip all people to be on mission for Jesus in six main areas:

Ø Their home

Ø Their neighborhood

Ø Their work

Ø Their school

Ø Their world

Ø Their play

Scriptures: Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 9:37-38; Matthew 13:38; Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 14:23; John 1:14, John 3:16; John 20:21, Acts 1:8; Acts 8:4, Acts 17:16-34; Ephesians 4:11-13;

The Discipleship Process

There are different groups of people…

v The unchurched with little or no interest in church

v The unchurched considering or discussing church or spiritual things

v First time visitors

v Newcomers who have come at least 3 times but have not committed to stay

v Infrequent attendees (they consider Headwater their church but do not attend regularly)

v Committed to regular worship, but not connected in the church

v Connected, but not practicing spiritual disciplines (prayer, Bible study, serving, giving financially, etc.)

v Fully committed and ready to work

Our Discipleship Plan will consider each of these groups as a different starting point. And, like rungs on a ladder, we will lead each person upward one step at a time.

Our Discipleship Plan has 3 distinct parts that integrate to produce that mature Christian.

The first part is to Celebrate Big in worship.

This includes worship services, but does not end there.

We want to teach them how to worship God at all times.

How to glorify God in all circumstances, good and bad.

How to cling to His promises and be thankful for His blessings.

The utmost importance of prayer

Learning to trust God for every part of their lives

The second part is to Connect Small in our relationships.

Reading and studying the Bible together,

Having conversations and asking questions,

Praying together, learning how to pray with and for others

Recreational activities in groups and one on one.

Learning the necessity of forgiving when we are hurt or wronged

Essentially living out our faith together.

And ultimately we want to see them Engage in the Mission by

Discovering their spiritual gifting,

Sharing their testimony,

Then sharing the gospel,

And finally becoming a discipler themselves.

Our Strategy (Processes of Ministry)

(here we shall discuss the different, many and varied processes Headwater Fellowship Church will employ to fulfill our purpose, vision and priorities)