Our Journey...

Antioch Network was birthed in the North American Evangelical stream of Christianity in 1987.  As a result, our values and practices have been shaped significantly by the distinctives of that movement.  In recent years, however, we have sensed a strong leading from the Lord that we would do well to learn from our brothers and sisters in other streams of the modern global Church as well as the fathers and mothers of the Christian faith.  There is also a growing awareness among us that as non-Jewish believers in the Messiah we have much to learn from our Jewish brothers.  We have been enriched as we learn from them all.

Although we do not feel called to leave behind our Evangelical roots, we earnestly desire to make Biblical and Godly connections with others who are honoring God and the Scriptures.

In our earliest days we adopted the Lausanne Covenant as our Statement of Faith.  We continue to grow in our desire, however, to affirm the incredible richness of our historic faith, and so we have sought to also identify with the early church. In order to do so we have come to value in a new and fresh way the ancient creeds of the church... particularly the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed.  (We are aware that our brothers in the Orthodox Church have been reluctant to adopt certain aspects of the Nicene Creed due to the historical offense when this creed was ratified.  And though we do not wish to add to that offense, we believe the creed has much to offer to the Church today.  So we wish to embrace it in humility.)

Our early years were built on two deeply embedded pillars:

1.      The completion of world evangelization, with a particular emphasis on those who have not yet heard the good news of the gospel.

2.      A high value for the local church and its God-given role in the Great Commission.

Recently, we have come to realize that there has been a third pillar all along:

3.      The pursuit of intimacy with God, resulting in the gradual transformation of the person.

Our original attempts to articulate the values which God was birthing in us as on organization were written in Our Passions. Though heavily emphasizing our initial focus on world evangelization, these values continue to be a strong foundation upon which we have built.

Our commitment to the original pillars of our calling has remained constant, though we see the Lord expanding our understanding of the various activities we undertake to fulfill the call.  Today, areas of reconciliation, discipleship and networking are where the Lord is primarily drawing our attention.

Print a printer-friendly version of "Our Passions"

Our Passions

From our inception, it has been a set of shared passions that has brought us together: 

1. That the Lamb be worshipped among all peoples. The Moravians, a community of believers in Central Europe, matured into the most significant Protestant missionary movement of the 18^th century.  Their watchword was “The Lamb must receive the reward of His suffering.”

2. That the local church be held in high regard.  Scripture describes the church as “the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way” (Eph. 1:23).  After the resurrection, churches became bases from which church planting teams were sent among the nations (Gentiles).
3. That every believer be esteemed as a gifted minister.  Christ has distributed a dazzling variety of spiritual gifts among God's people.  And with good reason!  Establishing Gods kingdom among every people on earth calls for the participation of each one of us.

4. That mission be rooted in community.  Most believers will not leave home to participate in mission.  If their unique contribution is to be made, it will take place right where they are, in the context of the Christian community of which they are a part – their church.

5. That we be committed to the pastoral care of those we send.  God’s purposes are most effectively carried out by people who do so out of fullness – rooted deeply in the resources of Christ.  Mature churches are rich with those competent to care pastorally.

6. That Godly character be viewed as primary.  We live in a compulsive age.  Voices around us tell us to be busy.  God’s goal is inner Christ-likeness.  Accomplishments that do not come from Godly character will implode.  Man wants better methods.  God is looking for Godly people.

7. That prayer be central to all we do.  A 24-hour prayer chain fueled the Moravian missionary advance.  Unreached nations are walled off from God by powerful spiritual forces.  Only God’s gracious working can set captives free.  He has chosen to work through prayer.

8. That churches cultivate God-honoring relationships beyond themselves.  No one church is sufficient in herself alone.  She needs the rest of the body.  As relationships of love and trust are cultivated with others, strengths can be extended and help received.
   
   A note concerning mission organizations:  We must affirm the God-designed role of mission organizations.  Throughout mission history their contribution has been Biblical and powerful.  Churches need mission organizations.  Mission organizations need churches.
    

9. That the body of Christ be united.  Churches are “finding” one another, discovering that the things we share – worship, prayer, love for our neighbor, a passion for God’s glory among the nations, and, above all else, Christ Himself – far surpass anything that might differentiate us.
10. That our mission initiatives be strategically focused.  "What does it mean to complete God's purpose among all nations?"  "What strategic opportunities remain?"  "In which one(s) is God calling our church to be His channel of blessing?"  That is where we focus.