And this isn’t a new idea. In Genesis 12:1-3, when God first called a people group to himself, He makes it clear that their role will be to bless all the other nations around them. As we then follow the story of the Bible we discover that this people group, known as Israel, is called to bless the nations around them by representing God’s moral character (his Holiness) to the world around them. The idea was simple – as Israel followed God, Israel would reflect God’s goodness to others, others would then to be drawn into the worship of God, and ultimately be blessed through their allegiance to him.

The problem, however, was that Israel was never great at following God. But God never gave up on Israel. Instead, as read throughout the story of the Bible – Israel was constantly encouraged to look forward to a future king who would come and lead Israel, and the world along with it, back to God. And ultimately it was understand that through this king (Messiah), the world would be blessed.

When Jesus shows up on the scene its clear he is the long awaited king/messiah figure Israel’s prophets had long spoken of, and through Jesus’ own death and resurrection the world was now fully capable of receiving the full blessing of God.

But shockingly, the story of scripture doesn’t end with Jesus. For throughout his ministry Jesus consistently empowers his followers to go and do what he came to do – namely bring hope and love to a world in desperate need of it. This is why we believe every church community everywhere exists to radically transform the communities the Lord has called them to with the hope and love of Christ.

For as we noted above, the Church does not exist for itself. God’s intent for his people was never to be a holy huddle walled off from the world. Rather, Jesus calls us into the world to love others as he has loved us, and ultimately, make disciples (Jesus followers) out of people of all stripes.

As Woodhaven we do that by both providing gathering spaces on our 68th and Wilson Street campus, and by investing in our members so that they are equipped, empowered, and supported to create various other spaces in their homes, workplaces, online, etc. where the people they engage on a regular basis are best able to encounter Christ (experience his love, his grace, his truth), and begin to live like him.

Each of our spaces is subsequently shaped by our four Core Theological Convictions: That in his grace, God has first reached DOWN to us. We respond best to him by reaching UP to Him, IN to others, and OUT to the world around us. Find out about each of these Convictions in the drop-down boxes below.