Joining the Movement

AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST WE ARE:

Listening to GOD

Learning and Living Scripture

Praying for God’s Kingdom on earth

Engaging in transforming worship

Participating in Authentic Relationships through Life Groups

Being mission minded – internally & externally focused

WHAT WE DO

CONNECT our hearts to God and one another!

Our first priority is pleasing God! By being in relationships with God and one another, we connect and better understand our purpose in the world. Being connected and made in the image of God reflects God’s love for us! We believe in being Cross-shaped followers of Jesus, which means spending intentional time with God and then connecting by serving others. Often you will hear the phrase, “Building bridges of hope through the love and grace of Jesus Christ,” on the McKendree campus.

Conversations are our primary means for making connections with one another. As the Holy Spirit leads us through each day, we are paying close attention to our surroundings and the people God puts in our path. People provide a passionate opportunity for connecting and sharing the love of Christ.

McKendree is a community for ALL people – judgement is not practiced here! Regardless of your current situation, condition, or socio-economic status, we are here to glorify God by loving, receiving and helping people where they are today. We delight in seeing God send people into our lives and experience God’s transforming together in community!

God loves us unconditionally. Because we believe this, we try to, as closely as possible, lead a life that extends unconditional love for all others. By receiving people, we are compelled to give and share our lives. And when we do not live into this, we simply ask for forgiveness!

EQUIP/GROW in the knowledge, wisdom and love of our Lord!

Our main focus as a community is equipping people to follow Jesus without distractions and division. Growing in the knowledge, wisdom and love of Jesus Christ consumes us and we don’t apologize for being known by Jesus. We are also called to possess a knowledge, contagious spirit, and a love for our Savior and Redeemer!

Equipping happens through worship, but also in smaller, more intimate Life Groups, where mDNA exists. In small groups, we offer opportunities to be strengthened through a process of being Missional, Disciplining, Nurturing and Accountable. There are a variety of small group “loving, learning, listening, and leading” opportunities at the church and throughout the city.

SEND us into the world to share the love of Christ!

We are saved to serve! Jesus taught his disciples and then sent them out into the neighborhood, community, and the world. And so it is with us – we take Christ’s love out into the world. Following Jesus not only involves risk-taking mission, but also the eternal reward of the Kingdom of God. We are called and committed to the challenge of going to those places that most people avoid.

Missional efforts are at the core of our community. Each small group is expected to participate in a missional focus along with our worshiping community.

We invite everyone to join the movement of God through McKendree.

At the end of every service we issue an invitation to join, or you can speak with our Pastor.

Joining is easy

It’s staying in that can prove challenging. But once you’re in, here are the expectations…

Following God with our

Prayers: praying individually and corporately for family, community, city and world
Presence: being present and active in church worship, Life Groups, and missions
Gifts: being generous with the finances, time and talents God has given us
Service: serving God and others through our actions
Witness: sharing the love of Jesus with people outside the walls of church; inviting others into community.

Joining a Life Group:

Each Life Group demonstrates the following attributes:

Missional: serving God through acts of kindness and generosity toward others
Discipling: learning more about God through the life of Jesus Christ as he modeled the spiritual practices of prayer, presence, Scripture, fasting, witnessing etc.
Nurturing: caring for each other and helping to bear each other’s burdens
Accountability: holding each other responsible for our actions and tasks God has assigned us

Living 3 Simple Rules: