Who we are and what we believe
Encompass Church exists to create compelling Christian community that builds, strengthens, and reconnects people to God to inspire more healing, justice, and compassion in our world.
Mission
The mission of Encompass Church is to inspire people to become deeply committed followers of Jesus and share his all-encompassing love in the world.
Vision
Our vision is to create an experience of the church that is inclusive, collaborative, relevant to daily life, energetic and passionate about worship, impactful in the community and that embraces relationship with Christ and each other. In this community people are built up in faith by cultivating a love for learning, equipped to lead and serve others, and sent beyond the walls of the church encompass the meaning of church in creative ways.
Our Beliefs
“One of the teachers of religious law asked Jesus, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ Jesus replied, ‘The most important is this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Mark 12:28-29
- God created everything.
- God thinks all of creation is essentially good.
- God desires intimate relationships with us.
- God insists on giving us the freedom to choose good or evil.
- Human rebellion against the will of God, called sin, isolates us from God and each other.
- In spite of sin, God refuses to give up on creation.
- Jesus is God’s clearest, boldest attempt to restore the isolation created by sin.
- Jesus’ teachings reveal the heart of God – love.
- By his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus makes it known that grace has defeated sin.
- By receiving God’s grace through Jesus Christ we can be redeemed and set free from sin and death.
- The Holy Spirit makes it possible to grow deeper in our communion with God and each other.
- Baptism and Holy Communion stand out as the most important symbolic acts for the church.
- The church exists to proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom come.
- To that end, the church has sometimes fallen short, and we are sorry.
- We remain steadfast in our hope that Christ will come again to usher in the fullness of God’s glorious vision for creation.
The Values We Encompass
Community Worship
The story of faith is about the unconditional embrace of God through Jesus. It is about his love for us and our giving thanks in return. When we gather for worship we draw closer to God, we learn through the scriptures, connect with one another, and find our lives are changed.
Cultivate Learning
Learning is an essential part of faith. When we study together our lives are open to new possibilities and growth is possible. Each person has something to contribute and we learn through various mediums, such as prayer, small groups, acts of service, and meeting new people in our city in homes, bars, community centers, and anywhere really.
Honest Conversation
Our desire is to share life together in authentic ways. There is room to doubt, to question and to wrestle with uncertainty. We know we are not perfect people. We should be honest about that. We start with grace and work it out from there. Our community is inclusive because we believe God’s love is for everyone: young and old, married and single, gay and straight, democrat and republican, military and civilian; everyone.
Rooted in Tradition
As a community, we are rooted in the tradition of the United Methodist Church. We believe the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion are a sign of grace. We are connected to God’s grace and to each other through the sacraments.They renew us, refresh us, and inspire us to go beyond the walls of the church. We respect our traditions and we look for ways to make them relatable and relevant.
Sacrificial Living
Wherever Jesus went he fed the hungry, healed the sick, and welcomed the marginalized. He gave of himself sacrificially. It is our mission to do the same when we give to others by serving locally and globally, giving of money and resources, and volunteering our time to impact the community with compassion and justice.
If you have questions?
Please email Pastor Joshua Clough
or call him at 619-297-4366 x120
