Deep Creek Anglican Church, Doncaster East - Living & Loving Like Christ

At Deep Creek, we give attention to our Mission, Vision, Strategies and Tactics - but not for the sake of corporate lingo! We want to understand and live out daily God's purposes for us, connect in the present based on God's certain plan for the future, and on a regular basis make sure that what we are doing now lines up with our Vision.

Our Mission is not unique to Deep Creek. It is to:

"Make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20), and grow the Kingdom of God (Mark 4:30-32)."

Matthew 28:18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Mark 4:30-32

30 Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."

Our Vision seeks to line-up God's big plan with our particular situation:

"To build a community who live and love like Jesus (Mark 12:28-31); to bring those in East Doncaster and beyond into the New Heaven and New Earth (Isa. 25:6-9; Rev. 21:1-5)."

Mark 12:28-31

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Isaiah 25:6-9

6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine - the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. 9 In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

Revelation 21:1-5

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." 5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Our Strategies are based around growing in Christ-likeness and hence 'being Christ' (missional) in our communities and networks.

Our Tactics focus on near-term steps consistent with our Strategies. We like to think of making disciples of the Lord Jesus and growing God's Kingdom as a BELT:

As the beginning of the journey we seek to BE Christ; reaching out, connecting with our networks and the world around us. We do this on an individual level and a corporate level. Our 'love connectors' seek to serve and connect with people.

As we serve and connect, we Love people through gospel proclamation. This occurs as individuals "give an answer to the hope that lies within"; as we build relationships and then prayerfully invite folk to gospel formats, such as Alpha. It occurs as people attend our Corporate Celebrations and Small Groups.

God's grand plan is to fill up the new heaven and new earth will people who are like the Lord Jesus. And He wants that Transformation to be happening NOW. Many of our teaching seminars are geared towards helping folk grow in Christ-likeness.

The BELT is continuous, as those who are touched by the Gospel become citizens of God's Kingdom, and then they themselves and in groups, live out BELT.