At COC, we believe that the church is not just a social gathering. It is God's institution in this world. Click the tabs below to read our ministry philosophy, which explains from God's word what we believe COC is called to accomplish.
This mission is based on The Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20:
1. Reach out to the lost - "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations"
2. Raise up obedient believers - "Teaching them to observe all I command you…"
We want to be known as a Great Commission church, a church that reaches out to the lost and raises up active disciples for God’s ultimate glory in obedience to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Enfolding
The first step of discipleship is enfolding. Enfolding involves evangelism and an invitation for others to see what we are all about. In enfolding, we are following the “Come and See” model Jesus used to introduce Himself to those interested in becoming disciples.
Equipping
The second step of discipleship is equipping. We walk beside others, preparing them for service in their areas of gifting and elsewhere. In equipping, we are following the “Learn from Me” model Jesus used to move His disciples into a more committed relationship with Him.
Entrusting
The third step of discipleship is entrusting. Having enfolded people into our lives and equipped them to serve, we then entrust these people with ministry here and abroad. In entrusting, we are following the “Be like Me” model Jesus used to release His disciples into Great Commission ministry in Jerusalem, Judea, and the uttermost parts of the world.
To implement our mission and vision, we model a spiritually vital culture guided by God’s word. We have identified six characteristics that create a culture where disciples grow and serve effectively. We aspire to be a church where these characteristics are lived out by our leaders and members.
Genuine: We are committed to an environment where people honestly express the struggles and successes of their Christian lives, speak lovingly and truthfully into the lives of others, and value the insights God brings through His word and His people. A genuine person is truthful, teachable, non-hypocritical, and humble (Eph. 4:25).
Generous: We are committed to an environment where people are generous with the time, talents, gifts, and resources God has entrusted to their care. God gives generously, He commands us to give generously, and He blesses those who give generously. A generous person is available, kind, charitable, big hearted, and sacrificial (2 Cor. 9:7).
Godly: We are committed to an environment where people live faithful lives before God in obedience to His word and minister in unity with one another. Godliness is empowered by the Spirit of God and is characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. A godly person is not one who is perfect but rather one who is conscious of sin and quickly confesses and repents (Col. 3:16-17).
Gracious: We are committed to an environment where people overflow with lovingkindness, tender mercy, compassion, and care for one another because of the unmerited favor with which God has blessed them. Gracious people are not harsh, overbearing, or easily annoyed. Instead, they persevere patiently with the weaknesses of others, believe the best of others, and forgive as God has forgiven them. A gracious person is a humble person who seeks to see the needs of others as more important than his or her own (Phil. 2:1-8).
Growing: We are committed to a dynamic environment where spiritual growth and transformed lives are the norm. God’s people grow as they participate in the body of Christ and as they submit to God’s commands and the Spirit’s conviction (2 Tim. 2:15).
Gospel-Centered: We are committed to an environment where people are regularly reminded of and appreciate the power of forgiveness that is the gospel. Gospel-centered people are grateful people who make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel in what they say and how they live (Rom. 1:16, Eph. 1:7).
#1 – A Passion For Evangelism
God cares deeply for the lost, and He sent His Son to save the world. We are commanded to care as He cares. Therefore, we are not ashamed to proclaim the message of salvation in word and deed whenever, wherever, to whomever, no matter the cost (John 3:16, Matt. 28:19-20, Rom. 1:16, 1 Pet. 2:9-12, Acts 20:20-24).
#2 – The Centrality of God’s Word
God reveals Himself through His word, which is sufficient to guide us to salvation through Christ Jesus and to increasingly conform us to His image. God’s word is the final authority for all matters of life and godliness. Therefore, we place as our highest priorities the proclamation and practice of His word in our daily lives (Deut. 30:10-14, Ps. 19:7-11, Ezra 7:10, Isa. 40:6-8, Col. 2:6-8, 2 Tim. 2:15, 2 Tim. 3:14-17, 2 Tim. 4:2, Heb. 4:12, 1 Pet. 2:2).
#3 - A Commitment to Community
God created us for loving family relationship with Him and His people. At salvation, we are adopted into a spiritual family in which we can grow into mature children of God. Therefore, we will seek to established close-knit relationships in which we are continually and intentionally challenged, corrected, and comforted (John 13:34-35, Acts 2:42-46, I Thess. 2:7-12, 1 Thess. 5:14, Gal. 6:1-2, Heb. 10:24-25).
#4 - A Desire for Spiritual Growth
God calls us to be conformed to the image of His Son. This is an ongoing process that begins at salvation and continues throughout our lives. As we mature, we will desire God’s will above our own. Therefore, we will lovingly encourage people to pursue prayerful, spirit-filled, evangelistic, biblically-centered lives so they may become more like Christ (Gal. 5:16, Col. 1:28-29, 1 Pet. 2:2, Eph. 6:18-20, 2 Tim. 2:15).
#5 - Gifted Service
God has gifted each believer for service and each is called to use that gifting to build up the church and impact the world. Therefore, we will encourage and empower members to carry out this vital responsibility (Eph. 2:10, 1 Pet. 4:10-11, Romans 12:3-8, 11, Eph. 4:11-16, 1 Cor. 12:7, 27).