Goodwill

Our Mission & Values

 OUR MISSION

As disciples of Jesus, we believe it is our clearly stated Biblical mission to be Jesus' representatives wherever God leads us. The church is a group of people who, having been saved by Jesus and made new through the power of the Holy Spirit, are called to be Jesus' representatives in every part of our lives. That's why we believe we are called, empowered & equipped to represent Jesus well on every city street and in every social circle in Ripon and the surrounding communities.




Our Values
We Aspire to Serve and Lead like Jesus
Scriptural Basis: Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16), Zacchaeus changed simply by Jesus' presence (Luke 19:1-10), Washing feet (John 13:1-17), Being a witness/representative (Acts 1:8), Being a representative (Colossians 3:17)

We Worship through Surrendered Living
Scriptural Basis: Living surrendered (Romans 12:1), Take up your cross (Luke 9:23-24), Worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24), Generous giving (2 Corinthians 9:7), More blessed to give then receive (Acts 20:35)

We are on this Mission Together
Scriptural Basis: Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), A picture of Christian community (Acts 2:42-47), A picture of what worshiping together looks like (Colossians 3:1-17), The importance of meeting together (Hebrews 10:25), We're all part of one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

We Pursue and Welcome the One (the lost, searching, and discouraged)
Scriptural Basis: Prodigal son, lost sheep, and lost coin parables (Luke 15:1-32), Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)

We are being Transformed by Jesus
Scriptural Basis: Christ fully formed (Galatians 4:19), Transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2)

We Invest in the next generation
Scriptural Basis: Pass these truth on to the next generation (Psalm 78:4-7), Let the children come to me. The kingdom belongs to those who are like these children (Matthew 19:14-15), Childlike Faith (Matthew 18:2-4)



Our Beliefs
Who is God?
God created and rules the universe and all it contains. God has always existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are on God, referred to as "The Trinity." Scriptural Basis: Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the Son of God sent to earth to make payment for the sins of all mankind. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life, and the died on the Cross, as the perfect sacrifice for people's sin. Jesus rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. Jesus ascended to heaven, where He is still our great High Priest, or the ultimate leader of the church on earth. He will return again some day to earth to reign. Only through a personal relationship with Jesus can we have eternal life in Heaven. Scriptural Basis: Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 1:22-23, John 1:15, John 14:10-30, Hebrews 4:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 1:3-4, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Timothy 6:14-15, 1 Peter 1:2, Titus 2:13

Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with he Father and the Son of God. The Holy Spirit is the manifest power of God that makes people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in and empowers every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guides us to do the right things. He also lets us know when we do wrong things - or are thinking about doing wrong things. The Holy Spirit gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. Scriptural Basis: John 14:16-17, John 16:7-13, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:12, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 1:13

The Bible
the Bible is God's word to us. It was written through human authors, who were inspired by the Holy Spirit and it was without error in the original manuscripts. It is the ultimate truth and gives us understanding about who God is and how He wants us to live. the Bible is a key way that God communicates with man. Scriptural Basis: Psalm 12:6, Psalm 199:105, Proverbs 30:5, Psalm 199:160, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 1:13

Human Beings
People are made in the spiritual image of God. This means that we are made to resemble Him in character. People are the most important things that God created. Becuase of Adam and Eve sinned, all mankind inherits a sinful nature. Although every person can do good things, every person has been, and will be disobedient toward God as a function of this inborn nature. This is called "sin." This separates people from God and causes the problems we experience in our lives. Scriptural Basis: Genesis 1:27, Psalm 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6, Isaiah 59:1-2, Romans 3:23

Salvation
Salvation is God's free gift to us, but we must agree with God that we are sinners, separated from God, and accept His free gift of eternal life by accepting Jesus. We can never make up for our sins by self-improvement, or doing good things, or being religious. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from the penalty of sin. We must choose to believe what Christ did for us and receive Him (by asking/inviting) Christ into our life. God never forces Himself on people. Eternal life (Salvation) begins the moment a person receives Jesus Christ in his/her life by faith. Scriptural Basis: John 14:6, John 1:12, Romans 5:1, Romans 6:23, Galatians 3:26, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5

Eternity  
People were originally created to exist forever in God's presence. Adam and Eve's sin in Genesis chapter three changed that arrangement forever. We will exist eternally separated from God because of our un-forgiven sin, or eternally with God by accepting Jesus Christ and trusting in His forgiveness and salvation throug his Death and resurrection. To be eternally separated from God is what the Bible refers to as Hell. To be eternally together with God is eternal life which the Bible teaches is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places that people will go to after they die a physical death here on earth. Scriptural Basis: John 2:25, John 3:16, Luke 23:43, Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:15

Christian Conduct
We believe that a Christian should love Christ, making Him the leader of their lives, and that they Christian should care about other people. Loving Christ implies living a life where, more and more every day we want what God wants more then what we want. It means following the teachings of the Bible. Scriptural Basis: John 13:34-35, Romans 12:10, Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 5:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Communion)
Christian Baptism is the immersion of a believer ins after in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism is one way a believer in Christ shows Christ and the Church that a commitment has been made to follow God's plan from his/her heart. We also believe that "The Lord's Supper" (Communion) is a way that we remover that Christ died and rose again for the forgiveness of our sin. It is a reminder for all who believe act He is coming again. Scriptural Basis: Matthew 3:16, Matthew 20:19-20, Matthew 26:26-27, 1 Corinthians 10:15-16, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

Freedom
Every human being can talk to God directly and have a relationship with Him. This is possible because Jesus restored this privilege when He paid the penalty for the sins of mankind on the cross. Christ is the head of the church. His death, resurrection, and ascension assures us that every person once again has the freedom to talk directly to God (through prayer). No one needs to seek an audience with God through any sort of intermediation. Jesus Christ had already restored direct access to God through prayer for all mankind. Also, the Church should be free from the dictation of the government as it relates to its ministy. Scriptural Basis: John 15:14-16, John 16:33, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Colossians 1:18-20