In the very early stages of planting Lifehouse Church, the leadership team gave prayerful thought and consideration to this list of Core Values. These values are a foundation for who we are and what we hold dear. Even today, they undergird the vision and decision-making for Lifehouse Church.
- Without God showing up, we are nothing: We believe that people are desperately hungry for God. Therefore, we strive to experience God in every situation where people from Lifehouse Church meet together.
- Relationships are more important than programs: The foundation for all effective ministry and growth is born out of relationships with one another. As we partner together in like-mindedness, we complement, strengthen and hold one another accountable in our personal lives and ministry. We believe that true Christian partnership and growth occurs in relationships – not necessarily in producing an event or program.
- People are invaluable and irreplaceable: The biblical model declares that every person is uniquely created with purpose and meaning. The role of apostolic leadership is to recognize each individual’s giftedness and provide the training and opportunities necessary for them to begin to function in those purposes (Eph. 4:11). There are many pastors, teachers, helps and administrators in the church congregation. We must equip and release them to do the work of the ministry.
- Irrelevance is irreverence: We must communicate the message of the Gospel in a way today’s culture will clearly understand. Our lifestyle must demonstrate the life of Christ in a practical, real way. We must be accountable to Christ in His commission to reach the harvest.
- Pray like everything depends on God: The foundation for personal devotion to God, family, and ministry is found in intimate communication with God. We cannot do anything effectively without both personal and corporate prayer and intercession.
- Every person was created for a purpose: The overriding purpose for Christ-followers and the church is to effectively reach others with the love of Jesus; to identify needs and meet them. Our first priority is to serve those within our sphere of influence, then to reach out and reproduce.
- We must reproduce to change the world: The sign of true growth and maturity in any living creature is the ability to reproduce; Christianity is no exception to this rule. We believe that every thing within the body of Christ should multiply. Christians will reproduce new Christians; leaders will develop new leaders; Life Groups will birth new groups; and churches will plant new churches.
