Our Core Values
From its earliest days, the people of Light in the Valley Community Church
have been intentional about shaping a church that will serve the Upper Wenatchee
Valley based upon clearly-definable values. These include:
Centered in the essentials
Mindful that contemporary Christianity is fractured by many theological and structural divisions, we want to be a place where believers from many backgrounds can unite around what- and whom- we hold in common. We embrace the ancient motto: "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love."
A place to celebrate God's presence
Jesus said that the first and greatest command is to "love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew
22:27-28). This is our calling as believers and as a community of faith. It
is first, for it gives form and force to all that may follow in our lives and
our life together as a light in the valley. It is God's presence in our lives
and among us that makes a gathering of his people - the Church and the actions
of his people - the Body of Christ in motion.
Outward, not inward-focused
Left to itself, a church will gradually shift its focus to the perpetuation
of its own internal processes. In other words, emphasis will be placed on
creating a sphere of comfort for its existing membership. The church then
takes on the dynamics of a club instead of a church. An outward-focused church
will always view itself in the larger context of the community it serves and
act accordingly. Those who have been injured by their earlier exposure to
the church, but who are still open to the person of Christ, are a special
priority for us. Ministering to this group will require being intentional
about shaping their experience to minimize fear and maximize the potential
for ministry.
Servant evangelism
Our corporate witness to Christ is one of our primary values. As a result,
we plan to train members in a natural approach to sharing our faith. We are committed to a high-impact, low-fear means to share the Gospel with our community
on a regular basis.
Intentional about spiritual formation
One of the weaknesses of the evangelical church has been its failure to emphasize
growth toward spiritual maturity. This value includes, but is not limited
to, traditional discipleship goals of Bible study and prayer. Each person is encouraged to be intentional about the process by which our character is progressively shaped into the likeness of Jesus himself.
Committed to excellence
Just as the Temple was crafted by persons acknowledged
to be skilled in the areas of their contribution (e.g., Bezalel), every attempt
should be made to do everything with excellence, according to the gifts the
church has been given. This would include music, signage, publications, etc.
It also means an openness to the use of the creative gifts (e.g. art, drama,
video, graphic design) in a way that supports our other values.
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