The Eldership and members of New Antioch Church of Christ hold strictly to the belief that the Bible alone is the authority in all spiritual matters, is inerrant, and is the only source of written and recorded revelation from God. The writer of Psalms 119 declared “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalms 119:104 ESV). We need to always remember, with a clear aim and determined purpose, to live by the teachings of Christ and His Apostles. Jesus declared “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  (John 14:6 ESV)  Based on this belief, we provide the following Purpose, Vision, and Mission statements for our congregation.
 

Purpose

New Antioch Church of Christ remains steadfast to the plea of the Restoration Movement, calling for religious unity based upon the Bible.  In a divided religious world, it is maintained that the Bible is the only possible common denominator upon which all God-fearing people can unite.  It is further maintained that the Bible alone is inspired and the only source of religious authority.  Emphasis is placed upon a “Thus saith the Lord” for all that is done.  Each member of the congregation should seek to know and incorporate the congregation’s mission in his or her daily life.  As we work to be all that Christ’s spiritual body should be, we also strive to encourage, equip, and involve everyone in our family to more perfectly walk with God. 
“The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one: I in them and you in me—that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.”    (John 17:22-23)
 

Mission

It is the mission of New Antioch Church of Christ to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our congregation, community, and all those who seek Jesus by teaching, fostering spiritual maturity, and encouraging them to pursue a life-long relationship with God and Jesus.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”   (Matthew 28:19-20)


Vision

In order to secure the mission of New Antioch for the present and future, we wish to assure that our congregation remains dedicated to faithfully following the teachings and doctrines of Jesus Christ and His Apostles with the belief that the Bible alone is inspired by God and is the source of all spiritual authority.  Though we incorporate a membership of diverse talent, age, and background, we purposefully seek to be united in Christian love and cooperatively set common goals compatible with expectations of joy and peace uniquely found in Jesus Christ.  We will continue to develop a loving, evangelistic church that strengthens members while reaching out to those in our area who desire a relationship with God.  “But, seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness;” (Matthew 6:33).  These are our vision elements:

  1. New Antioch strives to provide a place that allows the worship of God in spirit and truth; in a worship service that is scripturally based and uplifting; and is presented in an understandable and Christ-centered surrounding.  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”   (Romans 1:16)
  2. New Antioch continues to teach all members with the aim of equipping each person to carry out the command of the Great Commission, understanding that everyone is responsible for involvement in Bible study, continued fellowship, and personal engagement in the work of the congregation.  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”   (Matthew 28:18)
  3. The members of New Antioch remain dedicated to providing a place of prayer for those needing hope, while exhibiting a genuine concern for caring for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, and providing comfort through God’s word.   “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.”   (Philippians 4:6-7)
  4. New Antioch seeks to be a congregation where the role of traditional families will be extolled, affirmed, and supported.  Additionally, marriage will be recognized solely as a Biblical union of a biological man and woman, where faithfulness in marriage is honored, sexual relations outside of marriage is considered sinful, and where God is at the spiritual center of the home.  “Jesus answered, Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female’ and said, For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?”  (Matthew 19:4-5)
  5. The leadership of New Antioch maintains the position that part of God’s design and purpose was the creation of two distinct and complementary sexes, male and female, and that this fundamental distinction was embedded, beginning at Creation, by God in the genetic biology of the entire human race.  We affirm God’s design and unequivocally state that gender identity is irreversibly determined at conception and not by one’s self-perception.  Furthermore, we oppose all cultural efforts to validate claims to transgender identity and to any efforts designed to describe it as morally acceptable.  “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”   (Genesis 1:27)
  6. New Antioch develops activities for the purpose of providing opportunities for outreach, fellowship, and friendship planned to create a greater Christian bond between members and to encourage those outside of Christ to seek to know more of His Word and His kingdom.  “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”   (I John 1:3)
  7. New Antioch is firmly committed to providing a place where children and youth are taught to love God with all their hearts, with all their minds, and all their strength; to honor authority; and to live responsibly while maturing into the future church.  “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”   (Ephesians 6:4)