First Church of Christ Statement of Mission

"First Church of Christ exists to glorify God by leading people to know, worship and serve Jesus Christ." 

 

Our Affiliation

We are a non-denominational church!  We are an independent church!  We have no denominational control or hierarchy.  We are self-governed.  We determine our own affairs.   We send no money to a national headquarters.

  1. First Church chooses its own pastors.
  2. First Church owns its own buildings and assets.
  3. First Church determines its own purposes.

We belong to a brotherhood of believers and we are identified with other Christians around the world, who are known for their commitment to the Bible.  Unlike other groups, the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ have no man-made creed.  The bible is our authority.

We participate in world-wide missionary causes, that are supported by local churches like ours.  The missionaries are responsible to those churches that are supporting them.

We participate in the North American Christian Convention.  The NACC is not a delegate convention.  It is a free convention, anybody can go.  The NACC is a time of worship, celebration, and equipping Christians for Ministry.  The NACC meets every July.  The only business the convention conducts is to elect a committee of 120 men and women to organize the convention. 

 

FIRST CHURCH VISION STATEMENTS

    1. Creating a community where people are accepted, loved, taught, trained, and motivated to live by the grace of Jesus Christ.
    2. Creating a congregation devoted to reaching families and people groups with the gospel of Jesus Christ, resulting in continued nurturing and growth locally and globally.
    3. Creating a community of believers that ministers to the needs of people through a spirit of love and compassion.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR MINISTRY

    1. Direction: "Vision of God," for the growth and good of all ministries and ministry leaders. Ephesians 4:11-16
    2. Protection: "Unity of God," so leaders and ministries are not led astray. Acts 20:28-30
    3. Instruction: "Principles of God," for divine truth in ministry and spiritual growth. 2 Timothy 2:15
    4. Correction: "Discipline of God," for ideas & actions contrary with God’s Word. Hebrews 12:1-13

RESPONSIBILITY TO MINISTRY LEADERS

    1. ENVISION – Help ministry teams to set yearly and seasonal goals that accomplish the mission and vision of the First Church of Christ.
    2. ENCOURAGE – Encourage progress in reaching ministry goals. Celebrate the small steps in the right direction.
    3. EXHORT – Redirect efforts that are off base.
    4. EXCHANGE – Share ideas with other ministries and ministry teams.
    5. EMPOWER – The ministry leaders now have the authority and responsibility for ministry.
WHERE DID WE COME FROM?

We are honored that you have chosen to visit us.  Chartered in 1964 with 67 members meeting in the Florence Fire House on Main Street, our family has now grown to over 2,000 with Sunday attendance averaging 2,229.

It is not by accident that First Church of Christ is one of the fastest growing churches in the Tri-State.  This is a "teaching" church, attracting people of every age and denomination who are hungry to hear the Word.