Vision Statement
If I Be Lifted Up…
As
the body of Christ, we seek Christ’s will for the church and for the
community at large. Though the darkness engulfs us, the Lord’s will and
promise is that His light will prevail! He is light; in Him is no darkness
at all. Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world. A city that
is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it
under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in
the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” John 12:32 reads,
“And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.” We believe that
as we lift up Christ, and make Him the center of our lives, of our
families, of our churches, and of our communities, all will be
irresistibly drawn to Him.
The essential doctrine of our faith, and the simplicity of the gospel is this: “…that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15:3,4) This is our Common Ground, the place where the cross stands, and the place every person must come to in order to have peace with God. Upon this ground we can stand united, endeavoring to keep unity in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:3)
We can all agree on this common ground, the unifying thread that ties all who believe as one Body, one Church, together in Christ. Yet, there are diverse denominations existing, even here in this small town. On a citywide level, how can we, the various denominations and organizations, function as one body in Christ? Is it possible to celebrate the diversity of these denominations within the city, and, through genuine, love-filled relationships, lift Christ so that all men will be drawn to Him? This is the essence of community. John 13:34-35 reads, “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another.” Rediscovering the essence of community is our first purpose, and through Common Ground’s various ministries, this is what we hope to achieve. Our chief purpose is to bridge the gap between the diverse denominations, facilitating the integration of their separate strengths, enabling them to reach this community more effectively, in unity and love.
A second purpose of our organization is to facilitate reconciliation. (Read II Corinthians 5:18-19) As reconcilers, we hope to help bring about healing relationships in the community. Many people find themselves alienated because of culture, race, and past lifestyle, among many other reasons. We hope to restore these broken relationships and help the injured parties to find healing and access to the place God has for them in order to achieve harmony here on the West End.
Combining these two purposes-- that of unity within the church and of unity between our cultures-- is the goal of Common Ground Ministries. To raise a banner in our community, a standard of acceptance and compassion; to set an example of Christ’s love; to bring the light of unhindered fellowship to a dying world: to establish and celebrate our Common Ground.
“How awesome is this place! This is none other than the House of God, and
this is the Gate of Heaven!”
Gen. 28:17