Our Theme
Psalm 57:7 says, “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” Those words capture the heart of our theme for this year.
Last year’s theme, LOOK ALIVE, was a call to wake up and to be active; FIXED AND FAITHFUL is the call to know what we believe, to settle our hearts, to stand firm, and to stay faithful. We are living in days that are marked by instability, uncertainty, and constant pressure to slack and to compromise. While the METHODS of our adversary may change, his OBJECTIVE has not - to steal, to kill, and to destroy. In such a time as this, God’s people cannot afford to have a faith that is shallow, shifting, stationary, or side-lined. We need hearts that are FIXED AND FAITHFUL.
A fixed heart is a SETTLED heart - anchored in truth, confident in God, and unmoved by fear or circumstances. From a fixed heart flows a FAITHFUL LIFE - one that continues to trust, to praise, and to obey, even when the surroundings are difficult and/or uncertain. Faithfulness isn’t proven in seasons that are easy, but in times of pressure, when we choose obedience over convenience, truth over compromise, and consistency over comfort.
As we move through this year, our desire is not simply to be busy, but to be ANCHORED. David’s confidence didn’t come from a change in his circumstances, but from a heart that was already settled on God. A heart that is fixed will SING, and a life that is faithful will STAY and will SERVE regardless of the struggles. In a world that is constantly shifting, may God find us staying fixed and faithful and focused on His glory.
Our Purpose
The purpose of the church is summed up in the commission that Christ gave His disciples just before He ascended to Heaven:
Matthew 28:18-20 says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
At Joy, we have emphasized this purpose in our three-fold mission statement: We exist to give hope, to give help, and to give honor.
GIVE HOPE
As Jesus went about in His earthly ministry, He would often meet people where they were and breathe hope into their situation. Our purpose is the same. This life and the impact of sin in our lives has a way of leaving people in despair and without hope.
Our responsibility is to share with others that no matter what they are facing, through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ there is hope.
GIVE HELP
As Jesus went about His earthly ministry, He spent time helping others. Our purpose is the same. People are hurting and people are broken.
Our responsibility is to help others with their physical needs, their emotional needs, and their spiritual needs. We are to be the hands and the heart of Jesus.
GIVE HONOR
As Jesus went about His earthly ministry, He honored His Father in all that He did. Our purpose is the same.
Our responsibility is to honor God with our life, with our labor, and with our lips so that others may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.
As a church, our mission is to reach the world with the Gospel of Christ. We want to utilize every available Biblical means, and we want to disciple and train every member to participate in accomplishing our church’s purpose.
When we work together to give hope, give help, and give honor, then we can truly enjoy the journey of life.
Our Plan
We exist to protect and to proclaim truth and to point people to Jesus.
We want to be a refuge from the world that reaches into the world through instruction and through service so that other’s can experience a personal transformation of heart (system of belief) and lifestyle (behavior) that reflects a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.
Our passion is leading Christians to become better Christians, leading families to become better families, and leading the church to be better prepared to impact our community, culture, and world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. To accomplish this:
We will give HOPE by being INTENTIONAL (Connection and Interaction)
God provides us with opportunities every day to offer hope to those who are hurting and help to those who are in need.
We desire to become a church that is conscious of, compassionate towards, and consistently impacting the lives of others on purpose and with purpose.
We will give HELP by being RELATIONAL (Compassion and Instruction)
God created us to connect with others, to build relationships, and to develop friendships.
We desire to become a church that chooses to interact with others in a way that lets them know that we care about them regardless of their choices, their social status, or their circumstances.
We will give HONOR by being SPIRITUAL (Celebration and Illustration)
God desires for us to desire the same kind of relationship that He longs to have with us. This takes spiritual growth and can only take place when His Word is allowed to accomplish its work in our life. Therefore, our emphasis will be on preaching and teaching the Word of God without compromise and without apology.
