Our Theme
In John 10:10, Jesus made it very clear that the Devil is a thief whose sole purpose is to steal, to kill, and to destroy. Our world is proof that Satan is quite capable of taking something that is very good and turning it into something that is very bad (1 Peter 5:8-9)
While our enemy has proven that he is willing to accomplish his goal in our world through big moves and bold actions, we must also understand that he is just as content to accomplish his goal...
- By taking advantage of our lack of FOCUS (what is happening in front of us),
- By taking advantage of our lack of ATTENTION (what is happening around us),
- By taking advantage of our lack of PREPARATION (what is taking place in us and what can and should happen through us), and
- By taking advantage of our lack of EXPECTATION and ANTICPATION (what we believe that God is going to do now and tomorrow)
For far too long, we (the church) has allowed our very real and very strong enemy to lull us to sleep through the trinkets and the temptations of the world. As a result, we have become a “sleeping giant” that has allowed the enemy to plant far too many seeds in our own hearts, minds, and lives and that has allowed the enemy to develop far too much influence and have far too much impact on our homes and our community.
It is time for us to wake up, to pay attention, and to be ready for whatever it is that life sends our way and whatever is that God desires to accomplish through us. It’s time for us to LOOK ALIVE! (Mark 13:28-37)
Our Purpose
The purpose of the church is summed up in the commission that Christ gave His disciples just before He ascended to Heaven:
Matthew 28:18-20 says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
At Joy, we have emphasized this purpose in our three-fold mission statement: We exist to give hope, to give help, and to give honor.
GIVE HOPE
As Jesus went about in His earthly ministry, He would often meet people where they were and breathe hope into their situation. Our purpose is the same. This life and the impact of sin in our lives has a way of leaving people in despair and without hope.
Our responsibility is to share with others that no matter what they are facing, through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ there is hope.
GIVE HELP
As Jesus went about His earthly ministry, He spent time helping others. Our purpose is the same. People are hurting and people are broken.
Our responsibility is to help others with their physical needs, their emotional needs, and their spiritual needs. We are to be the hands and the heart of Jesus.
GIVE HONOR
As Jesus went about His earthly ministry, He honored His Father in all that He did. Our purpose is the same.
Our responsibility is to honor God with our life, with our labor, and with our lips so that others may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.
As a church, our mission is to reach the world with the Gospel of Christ. We want to utilize every available Biblical means, and we want to disciple and train every member to participate in accomplishing our church’s purpose.
When we work together to give hope, give help, and give honor, then we can truly enjoy the journey of life.
Our Plan
We exist to protect and to proclaim truth and to point people to Jesus.
We want to be a refuge from the world that reaches into the world through instruction and through service so that other’s can experience a personal transformation of heart (system of belief) and lifestyle (behavior) that reflects a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.
Our passion is leading Christians to become better Christians, leading families to become better families, and leading the church to be better prepared to impact our community, culture, and world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. To accomplish this:
We will give HOPE by being INTENTIONAL (Connection and Interaction)
God provides us with opportunities every day to offer hope to those who are hurting and help to those who are in need.
We desire to become a church that is conscious of, compassionate towards, and consistently impacting the lives of others on purpose and with purpose.
We will give HELP by being RELATIONAL (Compassion and Instruction)
God created us to connect with others, to build relationships, and to develop friendships.
We desire to become a church that chooses to interact with others in a way that lets them know that we care about them regardless of their choices, their social status, or their circumstances.
We will give HONOR by being SPIRITUAL (Celebration and Illustration)
God desires for us to desire the same kind of relationship that He longs to have with us. This takes spiritual growth and can only take place when His Word is allowed to accomplish its work in our life. Therefore, our emphasis will be on preaching and teaching the Word of God without compromise and without apology.
