What Guides South?

South’s Vision Mantra

Everyone matters to God

An ENCOUNTER with Jesus can change anything.

A Change in you can change the world

South’s Mission Statement

We help people find and follow Jesus.

South’s Values

Our church values are guiding principles that determine our behaviors and decision-making priorities. As long as the things we do are rooted in one or more of these values, we know we are living out our authentic identity as a church.

Encounter With Jesus

South is a place for people to Encounter God! A place where you can belong even before you believe. It is a safe place for everyone. But safe doesn’t always mean comfortable. The Bible presents a dangerous message of life change. We expect every person to be moving closer to seeing Christ fully formed in their lives.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God continually transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” Romans 12:2

“You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness—righteous, holy and true.” Ephesians 4:24

Engage With Other

We value creating environments that help you engage in meaningful relationships. Where you can be real about where you are in life. We aren’t interested in being a church where a lot of people get together for an inspiring service but never move beyond casual relationships.

“We loved you so much that we gave you not only God’s good news but our very lives as well.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8

“So put away all falsehood and tell your neighbor the truth, because we belong to each other.” Ephesians 4:25

Equip to Grow

We desire to equip people with God’s word so they can grow in Christ and help others know and grow in Him. Ephesians 4:11-12

Empower to Share

Jesus empowers believers to go into all the world. We understand that God’s calling on our church is to go beyond just serving inside the walls of our church. We are constantly looking for opportunities to honor God by sharing the gospel and serving others.

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain glowing in the night for all to see.” Matthew 5:14

“When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

What We Believe

Jesus is Lord.

The singularity, the exclusivity, the divinity of the one Lord Jesus is central to who we are. He is the Bread of Life. The Water of Life. The Lamb of God. The Way, the Truth, and the Life. The one Mediator between God and humankind. The Lord of lords, the King of kings. The Son of Man. The Son of God. The Word become Flesh. The Name at which every knee shall bow. Jesus is the subject (Acts 2:36).

Holiness.

The Person, the work, and the power of the Holy Spirit is fundamental to who we are as a people. We unabashedly own the truth that the Spirit can transform us, possess us, equip us, and empower us. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that sanctifies us, makes us holy, sets us apart for sacred service, and seals us for eternity’s sake. It is the Spirit that convicts us of sin and enables us to overcome sin. It is the Holy Spirit that can breathe supernatural gifts into us, for Jesus’ sake. He is the Comforter promised by Jesus and the witness of our redemption (Galatians 5:22–23).

Unity.

We are a people uniquely called by God to be a catalyst for Christian unity, believing that the division of the body of Christ is hell’s greatest weapon to thwart heaven’s ends in this world. We are convinced that the splintering of the body is not the Lord’s work, but the enemy’s; we believe that hell trembles at the prospect of a people united, redeemed by the blood, and possessed by the Spirit (John 17:21).

The Great Commandments.

Love God with your whole self. And, love your neighbors as yourself. The Scripture tells us this is the sum of the Law and the Prophets. When a teacher of the Law sought to test Jesus (Luke 10), asking, “What must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus asked him what he read in the Scripture. When the man replied with the Great Commandments, Jesus approved, saying, “You have answered well; do this and you will live.” It was this exchange that birthed the seminal parable of the Good Samaritan. As a people in the pursuit of holiness, the Great Commandments clothe us.

The Supremacy of Scripture.

We are a people of the Bible—the Old and New Testaments, supernaturally inspired, preserved across time, cultures, and continents, delivered to us, useful for reproof and instruction, for righteousness. The Scripture is our backstop, the ultimate field of inquiry and judgment, the measure of conduct, faith, and practice. Whatever the question, whatever the test, whatever comes before us, in the end, it is the Scripture, above all other disciplines, that informs and defines us. All other sources of knowledge fall beneath its shadow (2 Timothy 3:14–17).

Great Commission.

To go and make disciples is the divine privilege and responsibility given to each of us. We champion the work of evangelism and discipleship in our own neighborhood, as well as the sending of international and home missionaries to places beyond our individual reach (Matthew 28:19–20).

Kingdom of God.

The rule and reign of God is a present reality to be embraced and experienced today. His kingdom is not of this world, and will therefore never be about earthly politics. As children of God, the spiritual riches of the King of kings are ours to claim and steward as we preach the good news of the kingdom to the world (Luke 17:20–21)

The Trinity.

Though difficult for the human mind to fully comprehend, our one God expresses himself in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity serves a unique role to bring God glory and accomplish his purposes in the world (Genesis 1:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Women in Ministry.

The distributions of gifts by the Holy Spirit for the edification of the body of Christ is not determined by gender. God has poured out his Spirit on all people, and both sons and daughters will prophesy—and teach, and shepherd the flock. In Christ, in the kingdom of God, that which once divided us—Jew, Gentile; slave, free; male, female—no longer separate. From the earliest days of the Church of God movement, we’ve celebrated the ministry leadership of outstanding women clergy and continue to do so (Acts 2:17; Galatians 3:28).

Direction & Beliefs