What we are about at First Christian

Our Mission Statement
Shepherding every person to encounter the abundant peace of Christ.
Our Vision
From the One Table To 5,000 Tables
As a church, we have called ourselves to a vision of moving from the One Table to 5,000 tables by 2025.
As we gather around the Lord’s Table each week, we are reminded of the need and equipped to have impact at tables across our community. Therefore, it is our passionate desire and courageous challenge to impact our community for Christ by:
- feeding 3,500 empty tables (through local schools, MSU, overseas work)
- reaching 1,000 neighborhood tables (meals with those who live close)
- resourcing 300 family tables (tools to help parents grow their children in Christ)
- developing 200 leadership tables (deploy gifts and talents)
Our Values
Just as an individual’s DNA contains biological and genetic information that define his or her identity, our values reveal our congregational DNA – identifying who we are and what causes us to act in a particular way. These values serves as our core motives and convictions, linking our present to our past and serving as our bridge to God’s future for us.
These six core values are not the only things we value as a congregation, but they articulate our ministry philosophy and describe our culture and ethos. In other words, they characterize everything we do.
Firm in our Foundation
We will anchor ourselves to Jesus Christ in everything we do
Open in our Communion
We will welcome all as Christ has welcomed us
Generational in our Leadership
We will treasure the presence of every age in leadership
To withstand the challenges of this world, our life and work together as a congregation has to be tethered to something. That’s why we anchor ourselves to Jesus Christ in everything we do. This is most clearly visible in the only question we ask of someone who wants to join our church: “Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, your Lord and Savior?”
This value of being Firm in our Foundation doesn’t mean immovable or inflexible – locked into one and only one way of being. How we carry out the missions Christ has given us may change, but our why does not. Jesus – our foundation – remains the center of our life and witness. (Matthew 7:24-26, 1 Corinthians 3:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:15)
Our value of being Open in our Communion is about more than just our practice of the Lord’s Supper. This openness shapes our approach to every aspect of church life. Throughout the week, and most especially around the Table of our Lord, we find people who look like us and people who don’t look like us. But instead of drawing lines, we believe our diversity finds unity in Christ. In a world where boundaries are quickly established, we strive to be open – to welcome all as christ has welcomed us – all because we are centered in Christ and have been changed by his compelling love. (John 17:20-21, Luke 14:7-14, 1 Corinthians 11:17-32)
We want every generation to grow up knowing who God is and what God has done for them. Being Generational in our Leadership means we treasure the presence of every age in our leadership. We need the wisdom of our seasoned members. We need the capacity of our middle-aged members. We need the innovation and creativity of our young adults. We need the energy and capability of our youngest members. Our demonstration of this value is not measured by how capably we handle our responsibilities today. Successfully demonstrating this value is measured by leaving our responsibilities in capable hands. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Acts 2:17, 1 Timothy 4:12, Ephesians 3:20-21)
Outward in our Influence
We will concentrate on others instead of ourselves, letting them know that Jesus Christ is for them
Intentional in our Growth
We will move beyond a childlike faith, becoming more of what Christ calls us to be and to do
Caring in our Service
We will attend to the hurts and hopes of people
Ambassadors are for relating to the outside world. Just as countries have ambassadors to represent them with other nations, we believe we are called to be ambassadors of God’s reconciling love to others, speaking for and representing God through our actions and daily discourse. Therefore, we strive to “think out” instead of “in”, concentrating on others instead of on ourselves. Even though we may encounter people whose values and culture are different from our own, this outward focus means we want the world out there to know that we are for them, because Christ was for us… and he’s for them, too. (Matthew. 5:13-16, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Acts 1:8)
Our commitment to being Intentional in our Growth reveals that we want to help others grow beyond a childlike faith, including those who are disconnected from Christ. We believe that spiritual growth is not about knowing more. It’s about being and doing more – more of what Christ calls us to be and to do. As a result, this value purposefully shapes the we design opportunities for growth – offering spiritual guidance, accountability, belonging, a sense of ownership, and easy and significant ways to serve. (2 Peter 3:18, Colossians 2:6-7, Ephesians 3:16-17)
Life is a pilgrimage, and we share a common pilgrimage with others. Caring for and serving others is a key component of this journey. Believing that we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, we attend to the hurts and hopes of people, focusing on the relational dynamics of life over the functional dynamics. This value of being Caring in our Service means we are helping more than we are helped, loving more than we are loved and giving more than we are given to. (Matthew 20:28, 2 Corinthians 1:4, Philippians 2:4, Galatians 6:2,10)
What Disciples Believe
The Mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): to be and to share the good news of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth.”
Our History
We have 125 years of rich history filled with the love, growth, and service to Christ. Learn more about what our church home is built upon.
Meet Our Staff
Meet Dr. Mark Bender and the rest of our wonderful staff – Administrators, Ministers, Directors, Musicians, Receptionists, and more
Want to become a member of FCC?
WE WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS
MEMBERSHIP
If you would like to belong to our church family, we welcome you with open arms. During a worship service, please complete one of the “Decision Cards” in the back of the pew and present it to the minister when you come to the front of the church during the singing of our hymn of discipleship. If you prefer, you may speak privately to one of our ministers at any time.