What We Value
Authenticity
We are a real place for real people. We are tired of religion, which has to fake it and mask what's really going on in our lives. The more we grow in our understanding that our relationship with God is based on his grace (we don't get what we deserve, but forgiveness and adoption), the freer we are to be authentic with him and each other.
Biblical Truth
We are a place for people on every part of the spiritual journey, from those just investigating whether there is a God, to those who are committed followers of Christ. We don't assume everyone believes the Bible, but we do assume everyone who comes through our doors is open to exploring it.
Community (doing life together)
We aren't interested in being a church where a lot of people get together for an inspiring service, but never move into deeper relationships. We want to grow by "doing life together." Community is about knowing and being known, loving and being loved, celebrating and being celebrated, and serving and being served. Those people who grow the most at New Valley are those who, by serving and/or being part of a cGroup, move beyond just coming to church.
Excellence
While we don't believe in striving for unrealistic perfection, we seek to do everything with excellence.
Gospel Centrality
Gospel literally means "good news". The Bible teaches that the gospel (through faith in Christ we are forgiven, counted as righteous, and adopted as the children of God ) is the entry way into a relationship with God, and the ongoing key to maturing in our relationship with him. The more we understand the love of God and apply it to our every day lives, the more we grow in our love for Him and our love for other people.
Growth
Healthy things grow! We seek to be a place where Christ Followers reproduce Christ Followers, leaders reproduce leaders, and churches reproduce other churches. We not only want to see un-churched people come to an introductory level relationship with God, but for every follower of Christ to grow spiritually.
Mercy
We realize that we are accepted by God when we are spiritually poor and needy, and so we are inspired to pour grace on others because of what God has done for us.
Mission
We are a church that is called to be a mission to our own culture. We treat seekers and skeptics with patience and grace, taking their questions and concerns seriously. We strive to understand the fears, concerns, dreams and goals of our friends in order that we may show them how the gospel is the answer to all of our heart's deepest longings. We also strive to communicate this good news in forms that are culturally current.
Basic Beliefs of New Valley Church
Scripture
We believe the Bible (the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments) is God's Word, completely trustworthy and without error in the original manuscripts. It is the ultimate authority for all that we believe and practice. The Bible's truth is timeless and speaks to us today.
Trinity
The Bible teaches that one real and personal God exists eternally in three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Humanity
The Bible teaches that people were created in the image of God to glorify him and enjoy him forever. The human race, however, is separated from God because of our sin (building a life apart from God and His Word). Left to ourselves, we would never seek a relationship with God or fulfill the magnificent purpose for which we were created, but instead perish forever.
Jesus
God the Son became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ. He lived a sinless life, obeying God's law fully, suffered and died on the cross for the sins of His people, and was then physically raised from the dead on the third day. He did all of this to accomplish the salvation of His people. Jesus is returning to judge the living and the dead.
Salvation
Salvation is received by faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by good works. Anyone who trusts and believes in Jesus' death for their personal sins is forgiven and accepted by God, and is restored to a personal relationship with Him as His sons and daughters.
Church
We believe that all those, anywhere and in all times, who have trusted in Christ (the head of the church) as their savior make up the one true church. The purpose of the local church is to worship God, share the gospel, strengthen believers, and be a place of prayer and mercy.
These and other truths are affirmed in various statements of faith, such as the Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed, from the early church. We also stand within the rich tradition of the Reformation of the sixteenth century, which is anchored in the gospel of grace. The Westminster Confession of Faith is a beautiful expression of the central teachings of the Bible, and has served as the doctrinal standards for Presbyterians since the
seventeenth century.
New Valley is a member of the
Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
Historic
We are committed to the timeless message of the Bible, which was taught by the early church, and emphasized in the Protestant Reformation.
Progressive
We believe that God's unchanging message is so life changing, satisfying, and fulfilling that it must be communicated to each generation in contemporary (culturally current) language, forms, and styles.
Unique
This combination of a rich historical tradition communicated in culturally relevant forms is unique. The international scope of our movement also gives us unique opportunities. We have ministries working to plant churches throughout North America and throughout the world. We have had 330 new churches started in the past five years, including 50 new works in multi-cultural/non-Anglo populations.
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