About Us

Our Vision:

“To be a transformational church for individuals and the world.”

_____T2 Corinthians 3:16-18 states, “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” When we come to know Jesus Christ our lives become transformed and as a result we reflect God’s glory to the world. We at St. Andrew believe that Jesus Christ is still transforming lives today and we want to be the type of church where when people walk through our doors, they have their lives impacted by Jesus Christ and his followers. Then, as transformed people we start to step out into the world to impact the world for the glory of God.

Our Mission:

“Reaching, Building, and Serving”

_____TThe mission never changes. It’s always about making disciples. In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus states, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Our mission statement is how we are going to achieve our vision and make disciples. First we reach up to God and out to others through worship. Next, through our study groups we build those we have reached. Then we send people out to serve so that we can continue to reach, build, and serve more lives. As we do these three things, we believe we will be transforming individual lives and the world.

Our Strategy:

“Worship, Study, Serve, Give”

_____TOur strategy gives a few specific and tangible ways for people to live out the mission to make disciples. Below are the four strategies we are committed to.

Strategy # 1: Worship

_____TIn Matthew 22:34-40 Jesus mentions that the greatest commandment is to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Worship is the outward expression of that love. First we reach up to Christ and then we reach out to others, thus allowing our lives to become a living example of worship.

Strategy # 2: Study

_____THebrews 10:23-25 talks about not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but for the believers to continue to gather and grow together. We are committed to studying the Bible together both in Sunday School and in Group Life so that we will further each others growth as disciples.

Strategy # 3: Serve

_____TIn James 2:14-18 it states that “faith without works is dead.” What good is our faith if we do not put it into practice? We believe that each person has God given gifts that are to be used to help others and bring glory to Christ. As a church we are committed to putting our gifts to use through acts of service.

Strategy # 4: Giving

_____TGiving is one of the hardest things for people to do, which is why it’s such an act of faith. When we give it builds our faith as we trust that God will provide. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 we learn that God loves people who cheerfully give to His cause and that He will provide for those who are committed to giving. So we are committed to giving to the ministries of the church and trust that God will provide. He has not disappointed.

Our Core Beliefs:

____ Our core beliefs are the foundation upon which our church is built. Below are the core beliefs of the United Methodist Church and we share the following basic affirmations in common with most Christian communities:

Trinity

_____We describe God in three persons. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are commonly used to refer to the threefold nature of God. Sometimes we use other terms, such as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. (Genesis 1:26, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30, John 14:1-11, John 15:26, 1 Peter 2)

Excerpt from What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Theology (Discipleship Resources, 2002), p. 13.

God

  • We believe in one God, who created the world and all that is in it. (Genesis 1:1, Malachi 2:10, Romans 1:20)
  • We believe that God is sovereign; that is, God is the ruler of the universe. (Psalm 103:19, Daniel 5:21, Matthew 5:44-45, Acts 2:24)
  • We believe that God is loving. We can experience God’s love and grace. (John 3:16, 1 John 4:8-21)

Excerpt from What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Theology (Discipleship Resources, 2002), p. 13.

Jesus

  • We believe that Jesus was human. He lived as a man and died when he was crucified. (Philippians 2:5-8, 1 John 4:1-3)
  • We believe that Jesus is divine. He is the Son of God. (John 1:1 and 14, Matthew 17:5, Philippians 2:5-8)
  • We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that the risen Christ lives today. (Christ and messiah mean the same thing-God’s anointed.) (John 20:1-29, Acts 9:1-22, 1 Cor. 15:1-10)
  • We believe that Jesus is our Savior. He died for the forgiveness of our sins, and through faith in him alone do we receive salvation. (John 3:16-18, Romans 10:9, 1 Cor. 15:1-10)
  • We believe that Jesus is our Lord and that we are called to pattern our lives after his. (John 13:13, 1 Cor. 11:1, Philippians 2:9-11)

Excerpt from What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Theology (Discipleship Resources, 2002), p. 13-14.

The Holy Spirit

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit is God with us. (John 14:16-17, Romans 8:9-11)
  • We believe that the Holy Spirit comforts us when we are in need and convicts us when we stray from God. (John 16:7-13, Romans 8:26)
  • We believe that the Holy Spirit awakens us to God’s will and empowers us to live obediently. (John 16:7-13, Galatians 5:24-25)

Excerpt from What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Theology (Discipleship Resources, 2002), p. 14.

Human Beings

  • We believe that God created human beings in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26-27)
  • We believe that humans can choose to accept or reject a relationship with God. Genesis 3:1-6, Ezekiel 18:23-32, John 3:16-18)
  • We believe that all humans need to be in relationship with God in order to be fully human. (Romans 5:12-21, 1 John 4:12-17)

Excerpt from What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Theology (Discipleship Resources, 2002), p. 14.

The Church

  • We believe that the church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. Therefore, we are called to serve and advance Christ’s ministry into the world. (Mathew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:11-13)
  • We believe that the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. (Mathew 28:19, Ephesians 4:11-13, Hebrews 10:23-25)
  • We believe that the church is “the communion of saints,” a community made up of all past, present, and future disciples of Christ. (Hebrews 11)
  • We believe that the church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith. (1 Corinthians 14:15-19 and 26, Hebrews 10:23-25)

Excerpt from What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Theology (Discipleship Resources, 2002), p. 14.

The Bible

  • We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. (2 Timothy 3:16)
  • We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice. (Romans 15:4, 2 Timothy 3:14-17)
  • We believe that Christians need to know and study the Old Testament and the New Testament (the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Scriptures). Acts 2:42, 1 Timothy 4:13-16)

Excerpt from What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Theology (Discipleship Resources, 2002), p. 15.

The Reign of God

  • We believe that the kingdom or reign of God is both a present reality and future hope. (Matthew 4:17, Matthew 13:31-33, Mark 4:26-29, Luke 17:20-21)
  • We believe that wherever God’s will is done, the kingdom or reign of God is present. It was present in Jesus’ ministry, and it is also present in our world whenever persons and communities experience reconciliation, restoration, and healing. (Luke 10:1-11, Luke 17:20-21)
  • We believe that although the fulfillment of God’s kingdom–the complete restoration of creation–is still to come. (Romans 8:19-23, Revelation 21:1-4)
  • We believe that the church is called to be both witness to the vision of what God’s kingdom will be like and a participant in helping to bring it to completion. (Matthew 24:3-14, Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 10:1-11, John 15:26-27, Acts 1:6-11)
  • We believe that the reign of God is both personal and social. Personally, we display the kingdom of God as our hearts and minds are transformed and we become more Christ-like. Socially, God’s vision for the kingdom includes the restoration and transformation of all of creation. (John 16:7-11, Romans 8:1-28, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, James 2:14-26)

Adapted from Who Are We? Leader’s Guide, p. 28.

Sacraments

_____With many other Protestants, we recognize the two sacraments in which Christ himself participated: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Baptism

  • Through baptism we are joined with the church and with Christians everywhere. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
  • Baptism is a symbol of new life and a sign of God’s love and forgiveness of our sins. (Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:18-22)
  • Persons of any age can be baptized. (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38-39, Acts 16:25-34)
  • We baptize by sprinkling, immersion or pouring. (Ezekiel 36:23-27, Matthew 3:13-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Ephesians 2:8-9)
  • A person receives the sacrament of baptism only once in his or her life. (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Read By Water and Spirit, the church’s official statement on Baptism

The Lord’s Supper (Communion, Eucharist)

  • The Lord’s Supper is a holy meal of bread and wine that symbolizes the body and blood of Christ. (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24)
  • The Lord’s Supper recalls the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and celebrates the unity of all the members of God’s family. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26, )
  • By sharing this meal, we give thanks for Christ’s sacrifice and are nourished and empowered to go into the world in mission and ministry. (Acts 2:46-47, 1 Corinthians 11:25-26)
  • We practice “open Communion,” welcoming all who love Christ, repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another. (Acts 2:46-47, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, Galatians 3:26-29)

Read This Holy Mystery, the church’s official statement on Communion