Mission

The mission statement of Edmonton Chinese Baptist Church is "To share God's love and help you fulfill Christ's purpose for your life". As a congregation, we strive to share the love of God with others through our words and our deeds - by what we say and by what we do; and we desire to see people's lives changed as they encounter the transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ and begin to seek God's purposes.

Purpose

John 3:16 proclaims the love of God for all men and women. For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Matthew 28:18-20 says: Then Jesus came to them [his disciples] and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." We take this Great Commission to be our purpose - we are to seek to tell everyone the Good News of what Jesus Christ has done for us; the Good News that God loves us and desires us to be with Him forever in heaven. To this end, we proclaim without hesitation and without shame that Jesus is the way and the truth and the life; and that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6). Jesus says in John 10:9, I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

We seek to share the love of God not only through our words, but also through our deeds, our actions. The two greatest commandments are expressed by Jesus in Mark 12:30-31 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: love your neighbor as yourself. Loving our neighbor is second only to loving God. 1 John 3:16-18 says, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. James 2:15-16 asks, Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? At ECBC, we desire to show the love of God in an active, practical way. We accept and embrace people from all walks of life within our congregation, regardless of race, religion, social standing, or disability. We seek to do our part in meeting the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of people in our church and the community at large - we recognize that we cannot do everything, or be all things to all people, but we seek to make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities.

As well as sharing the love of God with others through word and deed, we strive to help each person who comes through our doors to fulfill their God-given purpose. We believe that God created each one of us special, and loves us very much - and that He has a purpose for our lives. Everyone is significant, and has a role to play. As a church, we desire to equip people to identify and fulfill God's purposes.

We affirm that first and foremost, the purpose of each individual on earth is to glorify the Lord God. God created us to know Him and to love Him; it is our primary purpose to praise and worship and honor and adore and glorify Him as God. We were also created to serve God - not merely to acknowledge Him as God, but to actively serve Him. This is where our God-given purpose comes in. How do we serve God in our lives? ECBC is here to help you find that out!

This brief statement of vision and purpose is neither definitive nor exhaustive - but we pray that it communicates the heart of our congregation - what we yearn for and pursue!

Vision

As we look towards the future, this is the vision we have of what our congregation will look like.

We picture a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-generational church. A church where young adults, married couples, families, and the elderly feel welcome and comfortable too. A church where English-speaking people of all cultures gather to worship God in unity of spirit and purpose. A church where everyone feels loved, wanted, and appreciated.

We desire to see a church which is known in its community as being a refuge of love, mercy, and acceptance. A place where everyone is accepted and loved, regardless of race, background, economic status, or religious background. A church which extends the merciful hand of Jesus Christ to the underprivileged and disadvantaged members of our community.

We envision a congregation which continually sends members on mission. A congregation which sponsors annual summer missions projects for youth and young adults; which sends young adults on semester missions projects; and which supports home-grown career or long-term missionaries at home and overseas.

We desire to encourage and support followers of Christ in their spiritual life. We acknowledge that accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord is only the starting point in our Christian life. Thus, we desire to foster an increasing knowledge of God, to spur one another towards good deeds and deepened commitment to the Lord God, and to encourage believers to use their gifts and talents to glorify God and spread the Good News of His salvation.

We picture a congregation whose members engage in passionate, intimate, uninhibited, and fearless worship - where hearts are oriented towards God and focused upon His glory and majesty.

We dream of a church whose members all actively share the love of God in their life. Through word - having the courage and equipping to know their faith and be able to articulate it clearly (1 Peter 3:15). And through deed - being filled with the Holy Spirit, and living lives of holiness and compassion that point others toward Christ (Philippians 2:14-16; Matthew 5:16).

We dream of a church which is growing new believers, disciples, small groups, and even churches. Where members are leading friends and neighbors to faith in Jesus Christ; where small groups are branching off and beginning new groups; and where new churches are planted by members of our congregation.

We do not pretend to presume upon God. But these are our dreams and visions for our beloved English congregation.

Share on Facebook