We envision a church that impacts and reaches the towns across Lebanon County, including, but not limited to, Annville, Cleona, Lebanon City, Cornwall, and Jonestown. We strive to be a “regional church,” helping people from all backgrounds and of all ages, to discover the Good News of Christ and come to know their divine design so that they may be equipped to serve Christ effectively in their families, communities, and the world. From now to the end of summer, we will be spending our time gathering a core group of interested people, raising funds, and building a leadership team. Our first goal is to begin small group meetings in the Fall of 2020.
The proclamation of the Good News: Christianity is not merely a way of life or a set of morals to live by. The essence of the Christian faith is a message of what has been done for us and what we must respond to. This good news is that Christ has rescued us from peril of our sins and given us eternal life. It is Christ’s work, when it is believed and rested in, reconciles us to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: at the core of the Gospel of Christ is the message of His grace to sinners. We live in a time when people are trying very hard to be “good enough” to be accepted and seen as worthy. Whether it is following a code of conduct in order to feel accepted or working hard to be seen as a success to God and those around us, we yearn to find a sense of significance and satisfaction in this life. But the Christian faith provides a grace where we are fully accepted in Christ and given a complete salvation that we did not earn or obtain through hard work. Responding to this sheer grace that is not based on our merit or demerit, we learn to gladly and gratefully live for Christ and do good works for His glory.
The beauty of diversity and racial reconciliation: The last book of the Bible gives us a beautiful picture of the church of Jesus Christ. The Scripture says that Christ purchased with his blood (redeemed) people from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 5:9-10). These words paint for us the picture of racial diversity and racial harmony taking place in the church even as the world around us is filled with so much hate and misunderstanding. Christ’s work on the cross was designed to gather people from the whole range of ethnic diversity in the world. God intends to have a people not just from white or black or red or yellow ethnic groups but from all ethnic groups. We value all people gloriously made in God’s image and envision a church in Lebanon County that reflects such diversity and difference.
