God's Mission for Rehoboth

In early 2009, we as a congregation agreed to become an outward-focused church. An outward-focused church sees itself as primarily here to serve others, those who visit or live around us, and not to serve ourselves, our own preferences, desires, or habits. This shift is true to Christ’s instructions that he and his followers “come first to serve, not to be served” (Matt 20, Mark 10)

This turning of Rehoboth is also true to Christ’s call to repent, or literally, to turn back. Outward-focused is how Rehoboth Presbyterian started. When we were just a small outpost Sunday School, over 60 years ago, we reached out to those in the community around us. We invited them, served them, and let ourselves be served by them. We gave generously of our time and talents in service to God. We gave generously of our monies in order to help God’s good news be shared wider and wider beyond the membership, and into the neighborhoods and community around the church. In so doing, this little church that started with only 40 or so members grew to a membership of over 600.

Our repentance and recommitment to be an outward focused church led us to a new mission statement:

Growing

in number and in spirit...

Disciples

who believe, confess, and serve...

of Jesus Christ

who is the way, truth, and life...

through Relationships

with God, each other, and our neighbors.

This statement says so much in so few words. Growing is the life of a disciple of Christ. None of us is ever done growing in our understandings, our relationships, our knowledge, or our wisdom. The day we think we are done is the day we think ourselves to be God. Disciples are students. We may come from different backgrounds, stages of life, cultures, experiences, or beliefs. But our unity is not in these things, but in whom we are students under... Jesus the Christ. Jesus Christ is God revealed. In Christ's birth, life, teaching, and death, we find God's true love and intention for all of God's creation. In Christ there is a way for each of us to live in rhythm with God. In Christ there is a truth that transcends all our misconceptions and misinterpretations. In Christ, there is a life full of peace and wholeness. And Relationships... Despite all our differences from God, God chose to be in intimate relationship with us. How could we not, despite the differences between us and ourselves, or between us and our neighbors around us, not live the same example, and go deep into relationship with one another, despite these differences.

We have discerned this is God's mission into this community for this congregation. And we invite you into relationship with us, and to journey beside us and we follow our teacher, Jesus the Christ together.