Mission and Purpose (in progress)

Immerge

Definition - "to disappear by entering into any medium."

Growing together in Christ and helping people

2 Corinthians 5:14-17

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Ephesians  4:22-24

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Colossians  3:9-10

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Perfect Church does not exist.  We want to have great aspirations, aim for the closest we can to God’s heart, then be prepared with grace for the failures that will come.

Mission

A community of people moving toward the likeness of Jesus and participating in the way of Jesus in the world around them.

Purpose

As Immerge, we purpose to accomplish our mission through a commitment to becoming a community, learning together, being shaped by God’s love, and growing in wholeness.

1. Committed to becoming a Community.

We believe that people were designed to be in relationship and that relationships were intended to bring about positive growth in life.  We also believe that the most effective context for growth is found in intentional community. In this context we choose to authentically invest in those around us, with a priority placed on love and grace.

Ephesians 4:15-16

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.  NIV

Ephesians 4:25-26

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  NIV

Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  NIV

Romans 15:5-7

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. NIV

Ephesians 4:2-4

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  NIV

Colossians 3:12-14

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  NIV

John 17:20-23

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  NIV

Galatians 5:13-15

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.  NIV

2. Committed to learning together.

We believe that learning is universal and constant.  We choose to prioritize the search for truth.  In our search for truth we actively deny the illusion of knowing and with an open mind seek to increase our understanding of truth.

Acts 17:10-12

As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.  NIV

Mark 12:30-31

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."  NIV

Repentance:  (NT:3340  metanoeoo, metanoo) to change one's mind, i. e., to repent

“The biggest barrier to progress in human history has not been ignorance, but the illusion of knowing” – Daniel Boorstin

3. Committed to being shaped by God’s love.

We believe in the pursuit of God, and that if we engage God and seek His purpose we will encounter a different kind of love, a love that compels us towards reconciliation, selflessness, and a new perspective of the world around us.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.  NIV

Galatians 5:6

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.  NIV

We believe being shaped by God’s love will impact us in many ways, some of which will be:

A. Reconciliation – God’s heart leads us to close the gaps that arise in relationships, with Him and with others.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. NIV

B. Justice – God’s heart is for us to be His hands and feet to bring justice to those who are not experiencing it.

Isaiah 1:17

learn to do right!  Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. NIV

Jeremiah 22:15-16

Did not your father have food and drink?  He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.  Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD. NIV

C. Ambassadors – As we gain more of God’s heart we will represent God in the world around us by establishing His true Kingdom wherever we find ourselves.

2 Corinthians 5:19-21

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. NIV

4. People committed to pursuing wholeness.

We believe that humanity exists in a state of brokenness and various levels of pain.  God’s heart, as we interpret from the life of Christ, is to lead us on a journey towards wholeness.

Jeremiah 29:10-14

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD

We believe most, if not all, of Jesus’ encounters with people resulted in Jesus leading them a step towards wholeness.

Luke 19:1-11 (Zacchaeus), John 8:1-11 (Woman caught in Adultery), Mark 1:40-42 (Man with Leprosy), John 4:4-42 (Samaritan Woman at the Well), Mark 5:24-34 (Woman with bleeding disorder) and many more.