Our Vision & Values
As a local church we seek to keep the gospel - the good news of Jesus! - central to who we are and all we do.
We believe it is the most valuable thing specifically entrusted to the Church (2 Tim 1:9-14). For this reason we
desire the whole culture at Larne Elim to be shaped by the gospel. The following values are chosen with this
in mind, that we might root ourselves in it as well as reflect and proclaim it to others.
values and mission
The Bible – The Bible teaches us what the Gospel is
As a church we value the Bible as God’s written Word (2 Tim 3:16-4:5). For this reason, we also value faithful,
healthy and quality Bible teaching in our times together and we encourage the personal reading and study of God’s Word (2 Tim 2:14-18). The Bible more than anything else helps us grow in our understanding of who God is,
what the Gospel is and how to grow in Christian faith.
Life in the Spirit – The Holy Spirit makes the Gospel real in our lives
As well as being rooted in God’s Word we also desire to be a church that is open to and dependent on the
ministry of the Holy Spirit. Valuing life in the Spirit means celebrating the new life he gives us in Christ (John
3:5-8), trusting him to make us like Christ (Gal 5:16-24), relying on him to empower us to live for Christ (Luke
24:49, Acts 1:8) and being open to his ministry and gifts in our everyday lives and our times together (1 Cor. 12).
Fellowship with One Another - The Gospel produces Christ-centred community
One of the things the Holy Spirit does is make a Christian part of the Church – the body of Christ (1 Cor.
12:13). As a body of believers, the gospel calls us to love and value one another as brothers and sisters in Christ
(Rom 12:10). Fellowship with one another (and other Christians) includes growing deeper in relationship with
one another (1 Pet 4:8), serving one another in practical ways (Gal 5:13), meeting together for worship and
prayer (Acts 2:46, Heb. 10:24-25), recognising one another’s gifts (Rom 12:3-8) and partnering together to
extend God’s kingdom (Phil 1:5).
Christlikeness – The Gospel gives us the same attitude of Christ
Just as Jesus came not to be served but to serve, we want that same attitude to characterise all we do
together and all we do for God and others (Matt 20:25-28, John 13:34-35). We want to joyfully, humbly and
prayerfully do what we do not for what we can get out of it but simply to bring glory to God and bless others.
We desire to serve one another and our community with the servant-hearted and sacrificial love of Christ.
Everyday Mission and Evangelism – The Gospel is a message that must be shared
While gathering with other Christians and being part of a Christian fellowship is essential to truly following
Jesus, we also believe church and Christian living is much more than a location or worship service (1 Peter).
Church is a dynamic movement of people whose whole lives have been set apart by the grace of God for the
mission of God (Matt 28:18-20). Church is God's people gathering in Christ-centred community and it is also
God's people living Christ-like lives in the wider community every day (Phil 1:27). Part of the purpose of our
weekly times together is to remind us what we are called to live for everyday and who we are called to be
because of the amazing grace of God!
Mission Statement
Planting the good news of Jesus in hearts and communities.
Equipping the church to be disciples of Jesus in everyday life.
Being a testimony of the transforming and reconciling power of the gospel.