• People matter to God, therefore, they matter to us
• Full devotion to Christ is normal for a believer
• Life change happens in small groups
• The church should be culturally relevant but doctrinally pure
• Excellence honors God and inspires people
• Every member is a minister
• Authenticity is critical to spiritual and relational growth
• The church structure is to be simple and Biblical
• Prayer is the power source behind our ministry
• The church must be a servant to its community
• What is the "JOURNEY" of WRC?Jesus invites us to grow spiritually throughout our lives' journey. We work to help each other grow in maturity through the four stages, or calls of Christ. He said "come to Me" and believe, "follow Me" by learning and living like Him, "serve Me" by ministering to our church and community, and "make disciples" by leading others to be like Him. The Journey is West Ridge's spiritual growth strategy based on the Bible.
To be a member of WRC is to commit to participation in a small group, which is God's design for our growth (1 Corinthians 12). The "Journey" is best made with a fellowship of Christian brothers and sisters. WRC is structured around small groups for every age. Adult small groups are called "Journey Groups", which are 6-12 people meeting in a home each week to pray, care for each other, and share lessons they are learning on the Journey.
We believe that there is one God who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is the creator. Jesus Christ is the Son who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of all people, was buried, resurrected the third day, ascended into heaven, and will one day rule on earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Spirit indwells every believer and gives power for holy living and gifts for service. The Bible is God's inspired Word without error, given to guide us in truth for our beliefs and daily living.
God created us and loves us deeply. We rebelled against God with our sin. Our sin separated us from God, and the penalty was that we would be eternally punished in hell and separated from Him. There was no action we could take to save ourselves from sin. God loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to live a perfect life on earth, to die on a cross to take our punishment, to be buried, and to rise from the dead three days later. By faith, we ask God to forgive our sin debt and invite Jesus to be our Savior. Since we did not save ourselves, we have no power to keep ourselves saved. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been born into God's family, and it is He who holds us.
The Bible teaches us that baptism is a meaningful symbol of our love and obedience to Jesus Christ. It does not provide salvation for us, nor does it have special power to wash our sins. Our pastors publicly baptize by immersion children, teenagers and adults who have trusted Christ as Savior. We do not baptize babies, but we do dedicate them to the Lord. Communion is also a meaningful memorial of Jesus' death and a symbol of our love for Jesus. It is open to all Christians who have examined themselves and confessed their sin to God. We baptize and take communion on Sundays, every 4-6 weeks.
West Ridge is an autonomous church. We are members of the Willow Creek Association, and the Southern Baptist Convention, a group of churches dedicated to biblical Christianity and world missions. We welcome people from a wide variety of Christian denominations.
As the church was birthed, God gave us a mission, purpose, vision, and values by which it was to operate. That mission guides the very act of calendar planning and programming. Scripture and God's Spirit guide the ministry of WRC. No activity, service, or program is planned that does not fit one of the purposes of WRC. In this way, the life of the church is not encumbered by "busyness" that burdens our families and distracts us from our main calling.
God wants our hearts, not our money. But, "where your treasure is, there your heart is also" (Matthew 6:21). We give to God through His church, so that we worship Him and support the ministries of our church. WRC encourages its members to follow the biblical practice of consistent, percentage financial giving, called 'tithing' (Deuteronomy 26:12, 1 Corinthians 16:2). Tithes and offerings are received each Sunday during the morning services. The money supports the budget of WRC, which covers ministry programs, operation, and salaries. The budget is prayerfully designed each November by the pastors, is agreed to by the church membership in a January meeting, and is guided and watched by the church elder team that meets every month. A church administrator and accountant oversee the weekly disbursement of funds.
The church is the community of fellowshipping Christians, and so it is not tied to a building or location. In fact, churches met in homes, courtyards, and fields for the first 300 years of Christianity. So, WRC emphasizes the fellowship of Christians more than the location of a meeting. However, land and buildings are useful tools for ministry.
The Bible does not dictate a clear, detailed church leadership structure. However, it does present a picture of servant-leader roles that operate in the church. After much prayer, a study of scripture (Acts, 1 Timothy, Titus, 1 Peter), and a look at church history, this is the structure God has given us. WRC has one lead pastor who is the chief overseer, a servant leader who provides direction for the whole church. He is supported by a group of pastors who oversee the feeding and leading of the church, and an elders team of godly men who advise the pastors, oversee the discipline and doctrine of the church. This group oversees 15-20 godly men and women called Ministry Team Leaders who serve as administrators over the programs of the church.
We have 15 ministry areas, from media and set-up to teaching and leading small groups. The quickest route to involvement is to talk to a WRC staff person who leads a ministry that interests you (see Staff list). The best preparation for service is to attend the two-part Journey class. In the "Journey Into Ministry" section you will be given tools to determine your God-given 'shape' for ministry, and you will be interviewed to match your profile and interests with a suitable ministry.
"Praiseland" is our Sunday morning ministry with babies and preschoolers. "Clubhouse", the Sunday morning ministry to kindergarten through 5th graders is a two hour learning adventure with music, skits, games, small groups, and large group teaching. Seasonal events include Children's Camps, the Fall Festival, and Dinner Theater. "Revolution" is the action-packed Sunday morning rally for Middle Schoolers. "Reunion" is the Sunday night rally for high school students. "Journey429 Groups" are also offered for students during the week. Seasonal events include a mission trip to Jamaica, camp, retreats, paintball, etc.