Determining why you exist and what you value are the first steps in realizing God's perfect plan for your life. They are also the first steps in realizing God's perfect plan for a church. Without a carefully focused purpose and a set of clearly articulated values there is no foundation upon which to build At Living Water our purpose is clear.

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Our Purpose

 To develop a diverse family of fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ

who reproduce that devotion in others. 

Everything that we do - every ministry that we offer - every activity that we embark upon - every program that we implement - must first be filtered through this purpose. If a proposed ministry, activity, or program supports Living Water's purpose we actively work to develop, staff, fund, and implement it. Conversely, if a proposed ministry, activity, or program does not appear to fit Living Water's purpose we humbly choose not to implement it. However, a purpose without a clearly defined set of core values can lead to chaos. Core Values are the foundational beliefs and ideals that drive the ministry focus of Living Water. They are rooted in our biblical convictions, determine our priorities and influence our decisions.

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Our Core Values  

• We value Biblical Teaching that is both relevant and life-changing.

In today's society, we are told that truth is relative and that there are no such things as absolutes.  And as a result violence, despair, loneliness and brokenness are commonplace.  However, we believe truth exists and that it can be found in God's Word, the Bible. The Bible is our ultimate authority and standard for all that we believe and do.

• We value the building of a ministry that crosses Racial and Economic Boundaries.

It has been said that the Church is the most segregated institution in America. But it does not have to be that way. We are committed to building a family made up of people from all races and walks of life.

• We value dynamic and Celebrative Worship that utilizes a variety of art forms.

God never intended for his Church to be stuffy and boring, and neither do we. At Living Water, we use a wide variety of mediums (dynamic preaching, music, drama, poetry, artwork, multimedia, etc.) to create a vibrant environment in which people can see, hear, and experience the truth of God's Word.

• We value the development and Empowerment of each believer to utilize their spiritual gifts.

"No one warms the bench in God's  Kingdom everyone gets to play." At Living Water we believe that God calls each individual to a specific ministry, not just the pastor(s). As such, we assist every individual in the identification of their spiritual gifts, train them in their use, and then place them in a position of ministry in which they can effectively use them.

• We value Prayer.

Prayer is more than "Now I lay me down to sleep".  Prayer is where spiritual battles are fought and won. At Living Water we believe that a vibrant personal prayer life is the key to a deeper relationship with God. As a result, prayer is the foundation upon which all of our ministries are built.

• We value the intentional Building of Relationships through unconditional love in order to communicate the truth of the Gospel.

"You want to go where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came..."  At least that's how the song goes, but what people are really looking for is love. Love is a basic human need, yet so many never experience the life-affirming acceptance that only comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. At Living Water we are committed to introducing people to Jesus through the building of authentic relationships based on unconditional love.

• We value the Intentional Multiplication of Ministries.

Healthy organisms grow and reproduce and that is exactly what we intend to do. At Living Water, we believe that healthy growing churches can't help but reproduce themselves.  As such, we are committed to intentionally planting other churches that will introduce even more people to Jesus Christ than we can do on our own. 

• We value Excellence in all we do.

Anything worth doing is worth doing well. God calls us not to a mindset of perfectionism, which seeks to glorify self; but to do our very best under God's strength and authority so as to bring glory to Him. At Living Water, we strive to honor and glorify God by adhering to a standard of excellence in all that we do.