I sometimes find it to be very difficult to define our church. My first instinct is to point to children's programs, music, community groups, or the teaching. While all are important in the life of All Souls, none are the driving force behind our ministry.
What I would say is our driving force is our passion to see the implications of God's grace expressed in our community. As worshippers of Jesus Christ, our calling is to embrace the gospel more fully down into the depths of our soul and then to live in our neighborhood, workplace, and family as ambassadors of that grace.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ gives us the boldness to be who we are as artists and accountants, teachers and therapists. Knowing we are created in His image, we are then able to freely live and work as an expression of His beauty. Also, the Gospel gives us the humility to serve. In the midst of the successes and failures of life, we know that we are loved more than we ever dreamed. We are humbled by the penetrating immensity of God's mercy and grace. It is with an understanding of this mercy that we then desire to live as conduits of mercy and grace to our city.
So, who are we? We are a community of faith, bound together by our love for and commitment to Jesus Christ. For those of you who do not yet share these same convictions, we welcome you. We invite you to experience our community of faith and assure you that you will be accepted in our midst. If you are persuaded by what you see, you may want to join us on this journey to be a source of grace to our city. But even if you don't, you will always be a friend.
Much Love,
Shayne Wheeler, Pastor
