Church Profile Introduction As a church, we feel very passionate about helping people be all they can be in Christ hence our mission statement: to help people become active, committed followers of Jesus Christ we want to see people meet Jesus, become his disciples, make a decision to be part of this fellowship of believers, and then get actively involved in serving in the church and our wider community. History Church@ParaVista has its roots in the Christian Brethren movement which began in England in the early 1800s. The first Brethren assembly in Adelaide was planted in 1875 and there have been assemblies in SA ever since. Church@ParaVista began as a church plant in August 1980. It started out in Modbury Primary school, then moved to the Tea Tree Players theatre premises, and then bought the Delfin real estate building on Grenfell Rd in Golden Grove. The church remained there for many years, until we purchased the current property at Para Vista in 2009, so we had more room for the church and ministries to grow. 1 A number of the original members who started the church still come to the church and there are many people and families who have been coming for ten, twenty, or more years. For the first few years the church had no paid pastor and was run by the Elders who started the church. Roy Montgomery came on board as pastor and served in the church for 20 years; he only moved on because he felt he had taken the church as far as he could and it was time to hand the reigns over to someone else. Danny Lanthois, who had been our Youth Pastor during part of Roy s tenure, took over as Senior Pastor and has continued to serve in that role for the last 5.5 years, until his current health crisis which has resulted in us seeking a new Senior Pastor. Our Local Community Engaging our local community is a key part of our church. We have a heart to engage with the local school, shopping centre and businesses surrounding us. At various times this has 1 The suburb of Para Vista is 15 km north-east from the Adelaide CBD. The church is located basically on the corner of Milne and Nelson Roads and its address is 308 Nelson Road, Para Vista SA 5096. Page 1 of 6
involved providing morning tea, serving at community events, running programs and permitting the use of our facilities by the school community. We value the secular work that our members do and see engagement with our culture as an important part of witnessing and serving God. Church Leadership The church is governed by a team of five Elders (the church believes in male-only eldership) who are responsible for the spiritual welfare of the church. The Senior Pastor (see below) is one of the Elders. The church also has a team of seven deacons (both male and female) plus the church administrator and Elder Liaison, who oversee the administrative, financial, and practical aspects of the church. We have a long serving and much-loved Senior Pastor who has worked in a 0.8 role for the last few years but has been forced to step down from this role as a result of recent cancer surgery. We also have a full-time Youth Pastor who has served in that role for nearly 8 years. In addition, we have a volunteer Church Administrator/ Secretary who serves in the church 2 days per week, and a volunteer Technical Administrator who also serves in the church 2 days per week and looks after all rosters and technical matters. Various volunteer Ministry Leaders look after the various church ministries (see below). Church Membership We have a membership of around 185 members at present, with around 150 regular attenders on a Sunday morning and around 50 regular attenders of our Sunday evening more young adult-focused service. There are only marginally more women than men, and about 10% of the fellowship are from ethnic groups such as Aboriginal, African, Chinese, Dutch, Greek, Indian, Filipino, South African, and Ukrainian. A high percentage reflect the typical Australian landscape - blue and white collar workers, students, parents, and young people from a middle class background. Ministries The church ministers to the congregation and community in a variety of ways. A sample of the ministries currently run by the church include the following: Café Before and after Sunday services. Over 50 s including coffee mornings, outings, crafts and social events. Page 2 of 6
Op Shop open 4 hours during the week, over 2 days. Run from the church building. Community help practical support including gardening, cleaning and food hampers. Parenting and Marriage courses featuring the curriculum from Good to Great, Toolbox and Married People. Mission engagement on a global level We have serving missionaries in the Philippines and Nepal. Home Groups It s our desires to care and grow all people in our church through a network of regular home group attendance and contact. Men and Women ShedMen and Ladies Coffee Nights held each month specifically for the benefit of the men and women in our church Youth and Children Weekly programs and teaching. Including Friday night youth groups for grades 7 and above, mid-week playgroup, and Sunday school. Church Services Audio, Visuals, recording, website, music, cleaning, ushering and serving the whole church community on a Sunday and during the week. Young Adults though our evening service and other ministries. Key Challenges Helping our church members to connect with the local community, so that effective evangelism can bring new people to faith. Growing our members in the understanding of the gospel so they can live, teach and serve from their identity in Christ, for God s glory. Engaging with the wide age range and stages of life in our church to care and grow for them spiritually. This includes children, youth, young adults, families, singles, marrieds and elderly. Providing pastoral care of all in our church. Page 3 of 6
Core Beliefs and Values Our Mission is to help people become active, committed followers of Jesus Christ. People matter to God. And that s why We re all about people too. Our beliefs come from the conviction that the Word of God is absolute, authoritative and applicable to us. It s the story of God revealing Himself to His creation and how though Jesus we are reconciled to God for our rebellion. Our heart is to see people transformed by the grace of God, to the glory and praise of God. And we realise that this happens through preaching and teaching and living the word of God in our lives. We Believe The whole Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is the ultimate authority for everything that we believe and practice. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21 The sovereign God is one, in three co-equal eternal persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who act together in creation, providence and redemption. Matthew 28:19, Colossians 1: 12-16 Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man. We believe in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His sacrificial death in our place, His bodily resurrection, His bodily return to heaven and His continuous role representing us before the Father. John 1: 1-14, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8:34, 1 Timothy 3:16 The Holy Spirit is a Person who has a necessary role in our conversion, our new birth and in setting us apart for God. John 3: 5-7, John 14: 16-18, John 15: 26 In His death and resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ took our place, making full payment for our sin. For those who exercise faith in Him, He secures forgiveness, a right relationship with God and everlasting life. Romans3:23-26, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 2:24 Humankind, originally created for a relationship with God, has become sinful by nature and practice, unable by any personal merit or effort to restore that relationship. Genesis 1:26-31, Romans 3:23, Titus 3:3-7 Those who reject the gift of eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ will be eternally separated from God. John 3:36, Revelation 20:11-15 Page 4 of 6
Biblically defined marriage as God created it is only between one man and one woman. Matthew 19:4-6, Ephesians 5:31-32, Genesis 2:22-24, Hebrews 13:4 Salvation is initiated solely by the grace of God, accomplished through the work of God the Son and applied by the Holy Spirit. It is a free gift accepted by faith and includes a new life, the removal of guilt, being set apart for God and eventual conformity to the character of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 8:28-30 Every believer, regardless of social class, ethnicity or gender has direct access to pray to God and to worship Him through the sole mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 10: 34-35, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 2: 16-18, 1 Timothy 2:5 Satan is a person, opposed to God and His people, sworn to enslave and destroy the human race; that his ultimate purpose has been brought to nothing by the Lord Jesus Christ. Genesis 3:1-15, Matthew 4:1-11, Revelation 20:10, Colossians 2:15 At the end of history all people will be raised from the dead, those who have been made right with God to everlasting life and the others to everlasting punishment. Matthew 25:31-46, John 5:28-29, Revelation 20:10-15 The Lord Jesus Christ will personally return for His people and will reign in righteousness. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Revelation 22:12, 17-20 Believers baptism and the sharing of the Lord s Supper are a regular and normal expression of Christian faith and fellowship. Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 The Church is the company of all who have received new life through faith in Christ, formed by His Spirit into one body, of which He is the Head, and that the Church is commissioned to make disciples of all nations. Ephesians 3: 4-10, Matthew 28: 19-20 It Is Our Vision To share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all its aspects with the thousands of residents in the northeast of Adelaide. Acts 1:8 To continually welcome all peoples into the fellowship of our church family worshipping, loving, labouring together in joyous harmony and in prayerful dependence upon God. Acts 2:41-47, Colossians 4:2 To be a fellowship where all people, including the hurting, the depressed, the frustrated and the confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness, guidance and encouragement. Isaiah 61:1-3, Matthew 5:3-4;11:28 Page 5 of 6
To develop people to spiritual maturity; that is, obedience to God s word and submission of every aspect of their lives to God. Ephesians 4:11-13 To equip and encourage every believer to actively engage in works of service through the use of their gifts and talents. 1 Corinthians 12:7; 12:18, Ephesians 4:12 To send out many career missionaries and church workers all around the world and empower every person for a personal life mission in the world. Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8 To plant other churches nearby and further afield. Acts 14:21-23 To promote justice and mercy in our community and to speak out against the evils of society in a Godly manner. Isaiah 1:17, Amos 5:14-15, Mark 6:18 We believe this vision is consistent with what God wants for His church everywhere. It can be achieved here, only as we stand together as church@paravista. As we are faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ to make this happen, we value the following Christian distinctives as a way to grow in a closer relationship to God. In themselves, these are good, but they do not save. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. And it s through His birth, death, resurrection and ascension that this is made possible for us. We are called to believe upon Him for this Salvation. For there is no other name by which men can be saved. A lifestyle that displays love for God and for one s neighbours as normal for every Christian. Prayer, Bible reading and sound teaching as essential for the spiritual growth of individuals and of the church. Excellence and integrity in all things as honouring to God. The recognition of spiritual gifts and their use for the building up of the church. The ongoing development and appropriate use of leadership gift as vital for maintaining a healthy church. Relationships characterised by unity, flexibility, grace and love as essential to the life of the church. Small group participation as the best means for the growth and care of believers. Cultural relevance in harmony with doctrinal purity. The community that we serve because all the people in it matter to God. The exercise of mercy and the promotion of justice at all levels of the community. These core values are constant, passionate, biblical core beliefs that drive the ministry. Page 6 of 6