Our Mission:
The heart and soul of Calgary Life Church is to introduce and connect people of every walk of life with the living God.
The purpose of Calgary Life Church is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in such a way that it turns people into believers, and believers into disciples, and disciples into fruitful, mature servant-leaders, who will in turn reach others for Christ.
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus announced, "... on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." Jesus loves His Church and is actively, organically, and intimately involved in seeing it reach its maximum potential on the earth.
Before He left for heaven He gave what's known as the "Great Commission. "Matthew 28:19,20 '"Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Living a Life of E's
Evangelism
Mark 16:15 Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.
The first word of the Great Commission is "Go." Jesus calls us to take the initiative to reach out and impact our world. He never commanded the world to come to the church, but for believers to go and be His personal representatives and ambassadors of His Message!
The Great Commission has often been misunderstood as the "Great Suggestion" or "Great Option." However, Jesus made His heart for lost people unmistakably clear; lost people matter to God! If we are going to be a people after God's own heart, then lost people need to rank as priority on our hearts as well.
Therefore each one of us has the responsibility to reach out and take Jesus to our world of family, friends, neighbors and acquaintances.
Our Sunday morning services are designed to partner with our members to attempt to win their loved ones to Jesus. The ambience and culture of CLC are shaped to support this one ultimate goal.
Equipping
Jesus called us to make disciples! There is a vast difference between a believer who has made a 'decision' and a disciple who has counted the cost to follow Jesus. After someone comes to Christ we seek to equip him or her to live a successful Christian life. Teaching may fill the mind with knowledge, but Equipping supplies all the necessary tools and equipment to practically live out this new life.
Jesus preached to crowds but mentored His leaders in a small group. We aim to see all new believers maximize their potential by being connected to a small group - here at CLC we call them 'Connect Groups'. Our Alpha, Elevate Courses and ISOM for example, will teach people how to apply the Word of God to enrich their spiritual growth.
Empowering
"Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well." 1 Peter 4:10
Serving in love, with the natural abilities and spiritual gifting God has given us is the "switch" that empowers us to truly experience a life of significance. (Eph 2:10).
Jesus said, "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them." (John 13:17). Our Elevate Courses and other leadership training events helps people to discover, deploy, and develop their gifts and grow. We believe every member is a minister who is called to a minister in the local church family. (Eph 4:11-13). In this stage we seek to develop and empower servant leaders.
Extension
Finally, Jesus calls us to reach out to others compassionately and courageously. We can do this because Jesus promised us, "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Not only are all believers called to ministry in the local church but they are also empowered for a mission in their world. We call this stage "Extension," where all of us reach out to invite someone else to this new life, just as we were invited!
These four stages naturally flow and build upon each other, - Evangelism, Equipping, Empowering, and Extension. These stages mark the process of spiritual growth for every Christian from (1) salvation to (2) disciple to (3) fruitful, mature leader who goes out to reach others for Christ. This is God's Master Plan. By the way, there is no "Plan B."
These four stages, inspired by the Great Commission, are the foundation for our mission statement:
The purpose of Calgary Life Church is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in such a way that it turns people into believers (Evangelism), and believers into disciples (Equipping), and disciples into fruitful, mature servant-leaders (Empowering), who will in turn impact their world to reach others for Christ (Extension).
Core Values
No Exceptions
All people, Christian and non-Christian, are valuable to God and His Kingdom.
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. "
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
Non Exclusive
People are eternal. Therefore their present behaviour is not as important as their eternal destiny. Evangelism is a process. Our aim is to provide people with a safe environment of love, acceptance, and forgiveness so they may progress on their spiritual journey.
"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. "
1 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)
Effective
Effective ministry is designed by God to function best through teams.
"Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."
Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)
Encounter
The simple presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in creative ways will impact and transform lives.
"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes--Jews first and also Gentiles."
Romans 1:16 (NLT)
Excel
We excel when we commit to a lifestyle of consistent spiritual growth with genuine accountability.
"Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
Meditate upon these things; give yourself entirely to them; that your progress may be evident to all."
1 Tim 4:14, 15 (NKJV)
Empower
We believe every member is a minister who has been given gifts to be discovered, developed and deployed.
" Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them."
Romans 12:6 (KJV)
Encourage
Genuine caring and loving relationships are key to the life of every endeavour.
" ... but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Hebrews 3:13 (NKJV)
Embrace
The most effective evangelism happens through people inviting people.
"He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah'."
John 1:41 (NKJV)
Exalt
In all things the exaltation of Jesus Christ is our purest desire and aspiration!
"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV)