Who We Are

We reflect God’s kingdom by living in authentic fellowship that celebrates differences, resist division, and pursue Christlike unity through humility, curiosity, and a commitment to stay at the table.

Biblical unity is not the absence of difference; it is the triumph of Christ over everything that keeps us divided. Biblical unity is not achieved through sameness but through surrender— laying down comfort, pride, privilege, and preference for the sake of the Gospel. Diversity is not a cultural idea; it is God’s design (Genesis 1:26-27, 12:2-3, Ephesians 1:10, 2:14-16, 3:10). Diversity is not a nice idea; it is God’s vision for humanity (Revelation 7:9)—every nation, tribe, and language worshiping together as one family. The Church is called to practice today what heaven will perfect tomorrow.

Unity always comes at a cost. It requires humility to see others the way God sees them (Philippians 2:1–8), courage to confront prejudice in ourselves and in others (Psalm 139:23-24, Galatians 2:11-14), curiosity to suspend judgement long enough to understand people’s story (Proverbs 18:13, 20:5 James 1:19, John 7:24), and a commitment to stay at the table and resist the instinct to defend, diminish, or dismiss differences that create discomfort (Ephesians 4:2-6). Unity will cost us something, because unity cost Jesus everything… “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8.

Unity is not uniformity. Unity is not oneness of person; it’s oneness of purpose (John 17:20-23). Unity is diversity living in harmony. Ephesians 2 declares that Jesus “destroyed the dividing wall of hostility,” not by making us the same, but by making us one new humanity in Him. That means diversity is not merely a social conviction—it is a gospel calling. At Parkcrest, Courageous Diversity means we choose love over likeness, reconciliation over retreat, and listening over labeling. We challenge the gravitational pull toward people “just like us” and stretch toward those who see differently, vote differently, think differently, and come from different stories. We create space for different perspectives, generations, ethnicities and backgrounds living in authentic fellowship. Not because diversity is trendy, but because it forms us into a community that embodies the kingdom vision of Revelation 7:9—a multiethnic, multigenerational family centered on Christ.

Our unity becomes our witness. Our diversity becomes our strength. Our courage becomes our identity.

We believe discipleship is the intentional process of pursuing Christlikeness. This is a life-long commitment to growing IN relationship with Christ, growing UP into Christlikeness, and growing OUT on mission with Christ.

Jesus didn’t just call us to believe in Him. He called us to become like Him. Following Jesus is a lifelong pursuit of becoming—being shaped by His character, rooted in His truth, and moved by His love. It is the call of every believer and a commitment to grow in depth and breadth, expanding the Kingdom of God in ourselves and the world around us. Jesus’ final command was not simply to make believers, but to make disciples—people who increasingly look, live, and love like Him (Matthew 28:19-20). Discipleship is a lifelong journey of growing IN Christ (identity – Colossians 2:7, Romans 8:29), UP in Christlikeness (character – Ephesians 4:13- 15), and OUT on mission for Christ (purpose – John 20:21, Acts 1:18). It is not a program but a process, not a single event but a lifestyle of being formed in the image of Christ. Paul captured this vision when he wrote, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” – Galatians 4:19.

Reproducing Christ means we surrender our whole lives—habits, relationships, decisions, and desires—to the shaping work of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). And as Christ is formed in us, He flows through us into others. Jesus discipled through proximity—personal and intentional investment into the lives of a few for the purpose of releasing them into their unique ministry (Mark 3:14). Paul followed the same pattern: “Follow me as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). This is life and truth transference—disciples making disciples, generation after generation.

At Parkcrest, this value is foundational because the Kingdom advances through multiplication, not addition (2 Timothy 2:2). We are not merely gathering people; we are forming disciplemakers. Our goal is that every person would grow deeper with Jesus and intentionally help someone else do the same. This is our identity. This is our calling. This is how we spread the hope of Jesus Christ by making a personal commitment to the Great Commission lived out in our everyday lives.

We exist to pursue Christlikeness, and from our Christlikeness we offer our unique contributions to God’s mission of reproducing the image of Christ in the world.

We don’t do life alone; life is better together. God invites us into His body, which is a fellowship of believers not just doing life together, but a life of ministry, serving one another.

God created us for community. Before sin entered the world, God declared, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Life was always meant to be shared. The early church embodied this beautifully: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship… They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:42, 46). Their life together wasn’t occasional—it was essential. The Christian faith is a relational faith. We move from rows into circles, from spectators into participants. Spiritual growth does not happen in isolation; it happens in community where truth is spoken, burdens are carried, and gifts are activated (Romans 12:4–6; Galatians 6:2). Jesus modeled this value by surrounding Himself with a small group of disciples He ate with, traveled with, prayed with, and served with. Community was not just His strategy for ministry—it was His strategy for formation.

Life With is a commitment to belong to one another in real, tangible ways. We show up, stay consistent, speak truth, confess sin, offer grace, and serve side-by-side. We believe the church is not an event you attend but a family in which you belong—a fellowship that strengthens faith and reveals Christ through a shared life of serving one another. When Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, it was an invitation to participate in a life of service of one another and with one another (John 13:1-17). This was not just to create a sentimental moment, but to establish a pattern: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15)

At Parkcrest, we don’t just belong to one another—we serve one another. True fellowship always moves toward ministry. In a world of isolation, we choose presence; in a culture of consumption, we choose contribution. Our community becomes our formation, and our formation becomes our ministry. Life With is not just life together—it is life poured out to each other for the sake of Christ.

Jesus formed His disciples through shared life and shared ministry, and we follow His example. We do life together to become the hands and feet of Jesus to one another and to the world.

We live as sent people who move toward those far from God, carrying His love and hope into every place we go—for the sake of advancing the mission of Jesus.

Evangelism is not the work of a gifted few; it is the identity of every disciple. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). We are sent with His authority, His compassion, and His mission to reconcile the world back to His love. Jesus constantly crossed boundaries to pursue the lost, the overlooked, the outsider, and the hurting. He initiated conversations in common places (John 4), shared meals with the religiously unacceptable (Luke 5:30–32), he loved the unlovable (Mark 1:40-45), and invited the uninvited (Luke 19:1–10). His mission was outward-facing, compassion-driven, and people-centered. If we follow Him, our lives must take the same shape. This is an invitation for every believer to discover their God-given purpose—the unique way God designed them to carry His love into the world. Each of us has Kingdom “superpowers” …our spiritual gifts, passions, life experiences, and stories that God intends to use not just in the church but through the church for the sake of the world (1 Peter 4:10–11). When we stretch outward, we bring our gifts into alignment with God’s mission to heal, restore, and reconcile all things to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:18–20). Mission isn’t something we add to our life; it becomes the defining purpose of our life.

Stretching Outward requires courage. Love that never costs anything is not Christlike love. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20) demands intentionality, risk, and a willingness to be uncomfortable for the sake of someone else’s eternity. We stretch because Jesus stretched toward us first—leaving heaven, entering humanity, and giving His life so we could be brought home.

At Parkcrest, stretching outward means we live on mission in our neighborhoods, workplaces, families, and networks. We carry the gospel through presence, compassion, service, and invitation. We refuse to turn inward. We move toward the margins because Jesus moved toward us. And we each play our part—using our gifts, our story, and our influence—to join God in His mission of reconciling the world back to His love.

We go where Jesus goes—toward the margins, toward the lost, and toward those who need His love—so that others may find their way home.

We sacrificially and joyfully give our time, talent, and treasure as an act of worship, so that God can multiply our gifts and advance His Kingdom.

God so loved the world that He gave (John 3:16). Generosity is not just something God does— it is who He is. And when we give, we reflect His heart. Generosity is one of the clearest marks of a disciple because it reveals our trust, our worship, and our participation in the mission of God. We give not out of obligation but out of overflow—because everything we have is a gift of God’s grace (1 Corinthians 4:7).

Sacrificial Generosity is our worship. It is our ministry. It is the result of our discipleship, and it is the fuel of our evangelism. When we give, we declare that God is our provider. When we give sacrificially, we loosen the grip of greed and self-reliance that allows God to grow and respond to our faith. The Macedonian church modeled this beautifully: “In the midst of severe trial… they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability” (2 Corinthians 8:1– 3). Their generosity was not based on their circumstances but on their confidence in God’s provision. Paul teaches us that giving is a spiritual work of grace that begins in the heart and overflows into radical, joyful sacrifice (2 Corinthians 9:6–11). Sacrificial Generosity is not limited to finances—it includes our time, our talent, our attention, our influence, and our resources.

At Parkcrest, we give meaningfully and sacrificially to meet needs, serve the vulnerable, support mission partners, and advance the gospel in our city and around the world. Every act of generosity becomes a seed of transformation that God multiplies for His glory and the good of others. We believe that living open-handedly is the pathway to spiritual freedom and the posture of Kingdom participation. As we give, God expands our capacity, deepens our joy, and strengthens our faith.

Sacrificial Generosity means we offer our lives—our whole selves—as gifts to God, trusting Him with what we release so others may experience His provision, love, and hope.