Our Core Values – a New Testament model

National Church

We are committed to supporting, challenging and equipping churches around the world to reach their neighbors for Christ. We refuse to distinguish between so-called “mission field churches” and “mission sending churches.” We train each new church community to begin the process of sending missionaries.

Organism over Organization

When scripture speaks of the church, it likens it to a body. Today our churches and missions organizations too often operate like businesses or institutions. We strive to become more like the community that we see in Acts. Ministry in the context of community has many advantages, but most importantly, it is the example Christ gave us to follow. “For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.” (I Corinthians 12:12) “Let the peace of Christ also rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you with all richness and wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and singing to God with thankfulness in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:15-17)

Radical Faith

Our God is mighty; he will accomplish his purposes. In his grace he allows us to be part of his work. Our responsibility is to take him at his word and to wholeheartedly serve him in radical ways. To God be all glory! “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.” (1 John 5:4)

Local, National, and Global

The scripture tells us “You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Starting where we are, each Christian should be active not only in local ministry but also in global ministry. This includes not just those of us with US passports or wealthy churches. We encourage every branch of Horizons to think globally about ministry and to continually take steps to increase global action. By the same token, each person who desires to be sent as a missionary must begin by being a missionary to his or her own community.

Boldness

In this age of overwhelming fear, we need the kind of fearless witness that we see in the New Testament. Today the world missions community is gripped by insidious, crippling fears. We desire to declare the gospel openly and boldly, as we should. “Pray also for me, so that, when I open my mouth, the right words will be given to me. Then I will boldly make known the secret of the gospel, for whose sake I am an ambassador in chains, desiring to declare it as boldly as I should.” (Ephesians 6:19-20)

Our Statement of Faith

1. Bible

We affirm the divine inspiration, truthfulness and authority of both Old and New Testament Scriptures in their entirety as the only written word of God, without error, in the original manuscripts, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. 1 Timothy 3:16

2. God

We affirm our belief in the one-eternal, creator God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

3. Christ

We affirm that Jesus Christ, being himself the only God-man, who gave himself as a ransom for sinners, is the only mediator between God and people. He died for our sins and was raised from the dead in triumph. He will return in glory to consummate our salvation and judge the world.

4. Holy Spirit

We believe in the person and the power of the Holy Spirit. The Father sent his Spirit to bear witness to his Son. Conviction of sin, faith in Christ, new birth and Christian growth are all his work.

5. Salvation

We believe that we, sinners are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, our only savior. Sinners must humbly confess their sins and repent, to receive forgiveness through the blood of Christ. By believing in Christ and receiving him, we are born again into a new life that never ends. Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:11-13; Acts 4:12; Luke 19:10.

6. Church

We affirm that all believers in Christ are members of his body, the church. We exist to glorify God by worshipping him and to serve God by reaching out to the lost locally and globally.

7. Baptism

As baptism is a symbol for Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, we affirm our conviction that only those who have personally trusted Christ as their savior should undergo water baptism by immersion.

8. Kingdom of God

God will establish and perfect his kingdom, and we look forward with eager anticipation to that day, and to the new heaven and earth in which righteousness will dwell and God will reign forever. Revelation 11:15.

9. Missions

The Church is at the very center of God’s cosmic purpose and is his appointed means of spreading the gospel to the world. Our missionary calling requires the whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world. The church must with all available means and at the earliest possible time ensure that every person from every nation, tribe and language will have the opportunity to hear, understand, and receive the good news.

10. Evangelism

To evangelize is to spread the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead. He is now alive with God, the Father, to offer forgiveness of sins to all who repent and believe. Evangelism is the proclamation of the historical, biblical Christ as Savior and Lord, with a view to persuading people to come to him personally and so be reconciled to God.

11. World Concern

We affirm that governments are appointed by God to maintain justice and peace to all. We pray for the leaders of nations and call upon them to guarantee freedom of faith and conscience. We express our deep concern for all who have been unjustly imprisoned, and especially for those who are suffering persecution and martyrdom for their testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ.

12. Social Responsibility

We affirm that loving our neighbor means concern for the social conditions of the world. Because men and women are made in the image of God, every person, regardless of race, religion, color, culture, class, sex or age, has an intrinsic dignity because of which he or she should be respected and served, not exploited.

13. Spiritual Warfare

We believe that we are engaged in constant spiritual warfare with the principalities and powers of evil, who are seeking to overthrow the Church and frustrate God’s purposes. We know our need to equip ourselves with God’s armor and to fight this battle with the spiritual weapons of truth and prayer.