six core values

Humility

Recognizing we don't have it all figured out, but we trust the One who does.

If gratitude is the natural response to God's gifts, humility is the posture required to receive them in the first place. Humility isn't about thinking poorly of yourself or putting yourself down; it is about having a completely accurate view of who you are in relation to God and others.

As the famous author C.S. Lewis put it: "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less." Here is why humility is so absolutely vital to a Christian:

1. It is the Doorway to God's Grace

The Bible explicitly states that "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble" (James 4:6). Pride tells us, "I am a good person, I can handle life on my own, and I don't need help." This mindset blocks a person from God because they don't think they need a Savior.

Humility allows a person to admit, "I am imperfect, I have made mistakes, and I need God." You cannot take the first step of faith without a humble heart.

2. It is the Defining Trait of Jesus

For a Christian, the ultimate goal is to become more like Jesus. The New Testament highlights that Jesus—whom Christians believe is God in human form—demonstrated ultimate humility.

He didn't come as a conquering, wealthy king; He was born in a stable, lived simply, and spent His time serving the poor, the sick, and the forgotten. He even washed His own disciples' dirty feet. To be a follower of Christ means adopting His servant-hearted attitude toward the world.

3. It Heals and Protects Relationships

Pride is the root cause of most human conflict—it insists on being right, demands its own way, and refuses to apologize. Humility changes how Christians treat other people.

It allows you to say, "I am sorry, I was wrong." It prompts you to listen to others instead of just waiting for your turn to speak.

The Apostle Paul instructed Christians to "in humility value others above yourselves." When an entire community practices this, it creates incredible unity, safety, and love.

4. It Changes the Definition of Success

In a culture that constantly screams for attention, fame, and self-promotion, humility keeps a Christian grounded. It reminds them that their talents and achievements are actually gifts from God, leaving no room for arrogance. It allows a believer to do good things in secret, without needing applause or recognition, knowing that God sees their heart.

A Quick Summary: Without humility, Christianity falls apart. It is the quality that keeps a believer teachable, forgivable, and genuinely loving. It turns a person's focus outward toward serving God and loving their neighbor, rather than inward toward serving themselves.

Gratitude

Shifting from "what I lack" to thanking God for who He is and what He’s done.

For a Christian, gratitude isn’t just a positive emotion or good manners—it is a core pillar of the entire faith. It completely changes how a believer views God, themselves, and the world around them.

Here is why gratitude is so essential in the Christian life:

1. It is the Natural Response to Grace

The foundational message of Christianity is that God gave a priceless gift—forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus—that no one could earn on their own. When you receive a massive, life-changing gift you didn't deserve, the only natural response is deep thankfulness.

Gratitude is how a Christian says "thank you" to God for His love and mercy every single day. The Christian life is waking up everyday and asking, “Because Jesus gave His life for me, something I could never repay, how can I take this day and write a thank you note to Him with the way I live my life.”

2. It Shifts Focus from "What's Missing" to "What's Given"

Human beings naturally gravitate toward worry, jealousy, and focusing on what they lack. Gratitude acts as a spiritual lens correction. It reminds Christians that everything they have—their breath, their family, their food, their talents—is a gift from God.

Instead of comparing themselves to others, thankfulness helps believers find contentment and joy right where they are.

3. It is Built-In Protection Against Pride

It is easy to become arrogant when things go well, It’s easy to think, "Look at what I achieved by my own strength." * Gratitude keeps a Christian humble. It acknowledges that true success, strength, and blessings ultimately come from God, not from personal perfection or effort. It keeps the ego in check.

4. It Changes How Christians Face Hard Times

One of the most famous (and challenging) verses in the New Testament says to "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18) This doesn't mean being happy for bad things (like sickness or loss), but rather choosing to praise God in the midst of them.

Gratitude reminds a believer of God's past faithfulness, giving them the hope and strength to trust that He will carry them through current struggles.

A Way of Life: In short, gratitude turns what a Christian has into enough. It shifts a person from a mindset of scarcity and anxiety to a mindset of abundance and peace, keeping them deeply connected to the heart of God.

Contentment

Finding peace in Jesus, regardless of our changing circumstances.

In a world that constantly tells us we need more—more money, a bigger house, a better job, or a more perfect life—contentment is a superpower. For a Christian, contentment is not a lack of ambition or a feeling of lazy complacency; it is a deep, unshakeable peace that is entirely independent of life’s external circumstances.

Here is why contentment is so vital to a Christian's spiritual journey:

1. It Proves That God is Enough

At its core, contentment is the ultimate declaration of trust. It says, "No matter what I have or don't have right now, God is sufficient for me." * The Apostle Paul wrote about this from a literal prison cell, famously saying, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances... I can do all this through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:11-13).

True Christian contentment means anchoring your joy in God's unchanging love and promises, rather than the volatile highs and lows of daily life.

2. It Provides Built-In Immunity to Jealousy and Greed

The Bible warns that the love of money and the endless pursuit of material things is a trap that leads to ruin and grief. Contentment acts as a protective shield. When you are content, the constant itch of envy—looking at your neighbor’s success, car, or lifestyle and feeling bitter—vanishes.

Instead of living in a state of constant anxiety about what you lack, contentment allows you to live with a grateful heart for what you have.

3. It Unlocks True Generosity

It is nearly impossible to be genuinely generous when you are discontent. If you constantly feel like you don’t have enough, you will grip your time, money, and resources with tight, fearful fists.

Contentment creates a sense of abundance. When a Christian realizes that their deepest needs are already met by God, their hands naturally open up. They are suddenly free to give away their resources to help others, because they aren't relying on those resources to buy their happiness.

4. It Guards Mental and Spiritual Peace

Discontentment is exhausting. It keeps the mind in a state of constant striving, stress, and worry about the future. The New Testament notes that "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6).

When a believer practices contentment, they can rest. They can sleep peacefully at night, trusting that God is their provider and that their worth is not tied to their bank account, their social status, or their achievements.

The Big Picture: For a Christian, contentment doesn't mean life is always perfect or that they can't desire change. It simply means that their joy is safely tucked away in their relationship with God—a place where inflation, job loss, heartbreak, and bad days cannot touch it.

Forgiveness

Freely giving the grace to others that God has so lavishly poured out on us.

For a Christian, forgiveness is not just a nice moral suggestion—it is the very heartbeat of the entire faith. In fact, Christianity teaches that it is impossible to truly follow Jesus without practicing radical forgiveness.

Here is why it holds such a massive, non-negotiable importance in the Christian life:

1. It is the Direct Reflection of the Gospel

The entire framework of Christianity rests on the belief that God forgave humanity's sins through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. A Christian is, by definition, someone who has been profoundly forgiven for things they could never make right on their own.

Because a believer has received such an immense gift of grace from God, they are expected to pass that same grace along to others. Forgiving someone else is the ultimate way a Christian says, "God forgave me, so I choose to forgive you."

2. It is a Direct Command from Jesus

Jesus didn't leave forgiveness up for debate. He spoke about it constantly, most famously in the Lord’s Prayer, where He taught His followers to pray: “Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” * He made it clear that a heart that refuses to forgive others is a heart that doesn't truly understand or accept God's forgiveness.

When Peter asked Jesus if forgiving someone seven times was enough, Jesus famously responded that we should forgive "seventy times seven"—meaning our forgiveness should be limitless and ongoing.

3. It Frees the Believer from Bitterness

Many people mistake forgiveness for condoning bad behavior or pretending an injury didn't happen. In Christianity, forgiveness means relinquishing the right to seek revenge and handing the situation over to God. It’s kind of like saying, “You don’t owe me anymore.”

Without forgiveness, resentment turns into a toxic weight.

Forgiveness acts as a spiritual release valve. It prevents a Christian from becoming bitter, angry, and trapped by the actions of people who hurt them. It is an act of trust that God is the ultimate, perfect judge.

4. It Heals Broken Relationships

The world's natural response to being hurt is to strike back, cut people off, or hold a lifelong grudge. Christianity calls for a radically different culture. Forgiveness breaks the endless cycle of retaliation. It opens the doorway to reconciliation and healing in families, friendships, and communities.

Even when a relationship cannot be safely restored (because the other person remains dangerous or unrepentant), forgiveness allows the Christian to walk away in peace, free from hatred.

The Big Picture: Forgiveness is certainly not easy—it is often the hardest thing a Christian will ever be asked to do. But it is important because it shifts the focus away from human brokenness and shines a spotlight on God’s capacity to heal, restore, and make things new.

Generosity

Realizing everything we have is a gift to be shared, not hoarded.

For a Christian, generosity isn't just a nice philanthropic habit or a duty to check off a list—it is a direct reflection of God's character. Because Christians believe they are the recipients of the ultimate act of generosity (God giving His Son for them), living with an open hand is the natural overflow of that faith.

Here is why generosity is so essential in the Christian life:

1. It Reflects the Character of God

The most famous verse in the Christian Bible begins with God's generosity: "For God so loved the world that he gave..." (John 3:16). At His core, the God of the Bible is a giver, not a taker. He provides life, breath, nature, and grace.

When a Christian chooses to be generous with their money, time, or resources, they are acting as a mirror, reflecting God’s loving and giving nature to the world around them.

2. It Breaks the Power of Materialism and Greed

Money and possessions have a powerful grip on the human heart. It is incredibly easy to become anxious about resources, tightly gripping what we have out of fear of not having enough.

Generosity is the ultimate antidote to greed. Every time a Christian gives, they are actively telling their own heart, "My money does not own me, and my security doesn't come from my bank account." It forces a shift from a mindset of scarcity (there isn't enough) to a mindset of abundance (God will provide).

3. It Multiplies Joy and Freedom

The New Testament records a famous saying of Jesus: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). The word "blessed" here can also be translated as "happy." Christians find that true fulfillment doesn't come from hoarding wealth, but from using it to make a tangible difference in the lives of others.

The Apostle Paul wrote that "God loves a cheerful giver." True Christian generosity isn't done out of guilt, legalism, or a desire to look good; it is done out of the pure joy of helping someone else.

4. It Meets Real Needs in the Community

From the very beginning, the early Christian church was famous for its radical generosity. In the book of Acts, early believers sold their possessions to ensure that nobody in their community was going hungry or lacking shelter.

Generosity is faith with its boots on. It is how Christians love their neighbors practically—by funding ministries, feeding the hungry, supporting local communities, and helping people who are walking through a crisis.

The Big Picture: For a Christian, everything they own ultimately belongs to God anyway; they are just "managers" or stewards of His resources. Generosity is simply managing God's blessings in a way that shows love to others and trusts Him for tomorrow.

Evangelism

passing along the hope you found to someone else.

Evangelism is simply doing what someone has done for you. Someone cared enough about you to leave a PURPLE CROSS for you to find. For a Christian, evangelism is the act of sharing the "Good News" (the gospel) of Jesus Christ with others. The word itself comes from the Greek word evangelion, which literally means "bringer of good news."

Evangelism is not viewed as an optional hobby for hyper-religious people; it is considered a fundamental responsibility and privilege for every single believer. Here is why it is so important:

1. It is a Direct Command from Jesus

Before Jesus left Earth, He gave His followers a final, clear set of instructions known as The Great Commission. He told them: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15).

For a Christian, evangelism is a matter of direct obedience to the Leader they love. It is the core mission that Jesus left for His church to fulfill.

2. It Flows Out of Love for Others

In Christianity, the greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor. If a Christian truly believes that Jesus rescues people from brokenness, offers a restored relationship with God, and grants eternal life, the most unloving thing they could do is keep that a secret.

Imagine finding a definitive cure for a terrible disease, but refusing to tell anyone else about it. True evangelism isn't about winning arguments or forcing religion on people; it is about sharing a life-saving rescue story because you genuinely care about the well-being of others.

3. It Invites People into Hope and Transformation

Christians believe that the message of Jesus completely changes lives for the better right now, not just in the afterlife. It brings peace, forgiveness, purpose, and deep community to people who are hurting, lonely, or carrying heavy burdens.

Evangelism is the act of pointing people toward that ultimate source of hope.

As one famous theologian put it, evangelism is simply "one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread."

4. It Grows and Sustains the Church

The Christian faith has survived and thrived for over 2,000 years entirely because one generation of believers told the next generation about Jesus. Without evangelism, the message of God's love stops traveling. By sharing their faith, Christians ensure that the global community of believers continues to grow, welcoming new people into the family of God.

How Christians Do It: While some people evangelize by preaching on a stage, most Christian evangelism happens through everyday relationships. It is done by living an honest, kind, and generous life, and being ready to gently explain why you have hope whenever someone asks.