Who are we?
Who are we at Embrace Church? What is important to us? What do we value? These are important questions that we have tried to summarize with this statement: We are a diverse family of gritty Christ-followers who place Jesus and His kingdom at the center of all we are about. We risk real life together sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with our words and actions in our community in North Lexington. Two sentences obviously can't fully describe who we are so you can read more below if you're interested!
Jesus at the center
We measure everything we do, believe, think, and value against Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
“Nothing can be known of either God or man until God has become man in Jesus Christ.”
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
-Colossians 1:15-17
Gritty christ-followers
We understand that being a Christian involves everyday learning and serious action over the long-haul.
“Grit is perseverance and passion for long-term goals.”
-Angela Duckworth
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
-Micah 6:8
NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUSED
We seek to be a church that is in, of, for, and with our immediate neighborhood.
“Living the gospel means desiring for your neighbor and your neighbor’s family that which you desire for yourself and your family.”
-John Perkins
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
John 1:14
Keep it Real
We practice vulnerability and authenticity allowing others and God to see our real selves.
“Church shouldn’t be the happiest place in town, but should be the most honest place in town.”
-Walter Brueggemann
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
-2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Church=Diverse Family
We are a loving family deeply committed to tearing down walls and hierarchies of separation, oppression, and inequity.
"Solid ministry grows out of solid relationships and the church provides the opportunity to develop those solid relationships."
-Glen Kehrein
"For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Matthew 12:50
COMFORTABLE WITH BEING UNCOMFORTABLE
We believe taking risks is important in our church community and in our walk with God. We take risks by constantly pushing ourselves outside what is comfortable in order to follow Jesus.
“But God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through.”
-Francis Chan
“When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed." -Luke 14:12-13
For more information about the United Methodist Church please check out: www.umc.org