Our Values

The basis of how we act...

Integrity/Trust

Proverbs 13:6

Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

We will not fall back on our origin as a Christian organization to encourage our partners to trust us blindly. We recognize that trust is earned through the integrity we display in our day-to-day activities. We will conduct ourselves with the highest standards of behavior. We will not betray a confidence entrusted to us. We will be honest, moral, fair, forthright with compassion, and open minded to criticism.

Partnering/Teamwork

Philippians 1:4-6

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

We believe that the best results are achieved by individuals and groups who openly share their strengths and capabilities, working together and committed to meeting a common goal. Some groups excel in facilitating the identification of those needs, others in outreach, witnessing, administration, giving potential, project execution, etc. The successful blending of people and organizations will result in the cross-pollination of ideas and produce decisions that are based upon a full understanding of the challenges and opportunities.

Diversity

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Just as teamwork and partnering increases the exchange of ideas and promotes sound decisions, diversity within those teams adds even more value to the mission growth process. We recognize that our traditions and culture are likely different than each of our partners. We look at these differences as opportunities to grow in our own understanding of the world in which we live. We will not let our traditions and culture override those of our partners, especially the traditions and cultures of the native churches we seek to serve. No one knows better what the physical or spiritual needs are, or the cultural issues associated with meeting those needs, than the group being helped. Our only test for acceptability shall be the Core Beliefs we hold; more specifically, their application in a corporate worship or biblical study setting. Outside of these settings we recognize that we must first meet those we seek to serve where they are at, having faith that our actions, and the example we set, will allow the Holy Spirit to lead them to accept these Core Beliefs.

Serving with Humility

Philippians 2:3-5

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, buy also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

We will always remember that our ability to help comes as a gift from God, and not from anything we have gained on our own. Therefore, our attitude will be one of humble service versus benevolent benefactors. Out of our humility we will seek to know what their physical or spiritual needs are; avoiding the temptation to tell them what they need out of a misled pride that "we know best". We realize that our spiritual growth is continuously under construction, and we can learn as much from those we seek to serve as they can learn from us.

Empowerment

Thessalonians 1:4-7

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

Knowing with certainty that the receipt of the Holy Spirit empowers us to effectively fulfill our mission, we seek to empower those we serve. If we fail to allow our partners to empower themselves allowing the Holy Spirit to work through them to be a Witness for Christ within their communities, then we will be acting of ourselves and not of the Spirit.