Our Mission

Last week I came to to my wife and excitedly told her, “we exist”!

She looked at me strangely, her eyes seemingly asking me if I was ok. I quickly responded back, “The church exist legally. We have a tax ID number now”. I had spent the better part of my morning making sure we were properly and legally set up in the state of Georgia because I wanted to be sure that I did not have to spend years of my life doing prison ministry from the inside with a bunk mate named Bubba. This was another step forward in what had already been a long process.

For several years prior to this moment I had been praying and asking the Lord when and where we were to plant a church. For several months prior to this I had been writing down our would be theology, identities, values and convictions regarding governance as I continued to pray. In this particular week, many prayers that we had sought answers to were given to us in a short time frame and now things were moving, things were progressing.

We exist. Why? What is the purpose of the Church? What is the direction and trajectory of City on a Hill. If you look at our values and identities you are likely able to answer these questions without having to see a mission or vision statement. For that reason, our mission statement is very broad and our identities and values provide greater clarity regarding where we do, and do not spend out energies.

MISSION OF CITY ON A HILL

We exist to live for the glory of God as a city within the city.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannont be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16

WE EXIST…

We believe that it is the Lord who calls our very being into existence. In his sovereignty he has purposed us to live at this point in history, in this particular location of the globe to accomplish his purposes. In the same way, we believe that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who formed this church and called it into existence for his purposes (Acts 17:26; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 12:2).

TO LIVE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD…

We are not living to pursue our own purposes and pleasures; rather we delight ourselves in the Lord and living our lives to bring him honor and glory. This is for us the most basic definition of worship. The church collectively lives for these things in an organized way. (Psalm 37:4; Romans 11:36-12:2; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17)

AS A CITY…

The Church exists as a city in the greater context of where the Lord has called and placed it geographically. The citizens of that city live their lives in such a way that honors and brings glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. This includes how they steward such things as relationships, finances, authority, food and drink and any resources that they have been blessed with (Matthew 5:14; Ephesians 2:19).

WITHIN THE CITY…

As the church is living their lives as citizens of Gods Kingdom, they are doing so around others who also live in the city where the church has been placed. In this way, the church acts as a witness of the kingdom of God. How they lives their lives becomes a testimony to unbelievers that the Lord is good and it encourages the unbelievers as well to put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In this way, the church lives as missionaries for the glory of Jesus seeking the good of the city they have been placed in. (Psalm 34:8; Matthew 5:15-16; Acts 1:8).

I am excited to see the city of people that the Lord is building in this city to live as witnesses to others. It all formally begins for us this Sunday at the 180 Fitness Center in Statesboro GA (4A College Plaza) at 10:00 AM. If you are interested or would like to be a part we would enjoy meeting with you to give you more info, or you can simply come to the first service. We are currently going through a time of vision casting and preparation to publicly launch the church later this year.

We exist to live for the glory of God as a city within the city.

For more information regarding how this will all get threshed out at City on a Hill, be sure to check out our identities and values under the “About” tab on our home page, http://www.withinthecity.com