Who we are, and who we want to be, can be summed up with our core purpose. It explains why we are here, and where we are going as a church family. It provides clarity and direction as we navigate the ever changing needs of our community.
Our core purpose is simply this: Real People loving and honoring the Real God in Real Relationships.
We try to be a church that is real. Real to it’s attenders, real to the community, and real to all those we come in contact with. We are not perfect, we don’t pretend to be. We are simply a group of people who try and be real with where we are in our journey as Christians, real with God, and real in our relationships with others.
Our core values identify the guiding principles that shape our church’s character. They describe what we stand for and what we strive for. They are the institutional ethics which we seek to operate by, and encourage in others.
Our core values are captured in these simple phrases:- God dependent & Spirit empowered
- Growing disciples
- Value the individual
- Everyone in ministry
- Servant evangelism
Core Beliefs:
We believe in one God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father Almighty, Creator of all things visible and invisible, in Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son, our one and only Savior both fully human and fully divine, and in the Holy Spirit, active and operative part of the triune God, who indwells every Christian.
We believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word as the final authority for all matters of faith and practice, inspired the autographs that teaches that man, created by God, willfully sinned against God and we believe forgiveness of sins is only by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ. One receives God’s grace by putting faith in Christ, repenting of sin, confessing Christ and being immersed into Christ, but that none of these is sufficient in and of itself for the assurance of salvation. We believe the Church of Jesus Christ was founded on the Day of Pentecost and consists of all Christians everywhere.
Dangerous:
The book of Acts reveals a Church on the move, a church in action. The book of Acts shows us a Church empowered by the Holy Spirit to affect change in the world, a church making a difference. The church in Acts was Dangerous. They allowed God to use them and followed where he led. Our hope is to follow their example and become Dangerous.
Dave & Joanna Harrison: Associate Preaching Pastor
Dave is a graduate of Lincoln Christian University. He is currently finishing up his Master of Arts degree in General Theology from Lincoln Christian University.
Dave grew up in Hurst, IL attending the First Christian Church of Hurst. Dave’s first experience with New England occured during his college internship at Manchester Christian Church. While on his internship, Dave developed a love for the Red Sox, Fall colors, and New England clam chowder. After his internship, Dave moved to Mason City, IL where he served for 4 and a half years as the Associate/Youth Pastor at Mason City Christian Church.
In December 2007, Dave met his wife Joanna in his kitchen. She had accompanied one of her friends for a dinner party at Dave’s house. They were married on New Year’s Eve 2008. Joanna grew up in Rockford, IL. Like Dave, she grew up in the church. Joanna is a graduate of Lincoln Christian University and the University of Illinois. Joanna loves to cook, watch the Office, coffee, and Mexican food. Dave is an avid sports fan passionately cheering for the Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, San Antonio Spurs, and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. Together, Dave and Joanna enjoy walks, new restaurants, and Boston.
Read Dave’s Blog Reflections on Real 
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
