OUR CORE VALUES

While we are proud to be called a Christian Church, that label is a bit generic. To understand the unique character and personality of Parkside, you’ll need to look a little deeper.

The following Core Values define what matters most to us. Like the DNA in our bodies, these values are imprinted in everything we do. Programs or methods may change, but these underlying ideals will always shape who we are, how we relate to our world, and where we are headed in the future. While it may not be the only way to do church, this is the Parkside way.

Jesus is Calling Us to Be…

…Authentic
Becoming like Jesus is a life-long journey and none of us have arrived. So we don’t try to be something that we aren’t. We’re real people who just want to be like Jesus. Everyone is accepted as they are but loved far too much to be allowed to stay that way. We expect one another to be affirming, honest, compassionate and accountable.

Colossians 2:6-7, James 1:22-25, 1 John 2:3-6, 1 Peter 2:12

…Relational
People always come first. We were created with a need for family, community, and friendship, yet our society is increasingly isolated. The church must be a community that offers a sense of belonging. When people connect, it fills needs, builds character, expands perspective and encourages everyone. Besides that, it is just more fun doing life together. Creating environments where people can connect is a priority because life change happens in the context of day to day community and life to life witness. Religion is just about rules. Jesus invites us into a relationship with our Creator.

Mark 12:30-31, Acts 2:42-47, Romans 12:10, 1 John 4:7

…Engaging
It’s not about us. Unless the church is culturally relevant, engaging the hearts and minds of people who might be far from God, how can we lead them into a life-changing relationship with Jesus? It’s up to us to break down barriers or build bridges to everyone we contact. Each of us must remain externally focused and embrace our responsibility to share Jesus with the world. We’ve all got a job to do, so let’s get busy.

Matthew 9:10-13, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 10:14-15, 1 Corinthians 9:19-22

…Biblical
We take direction from God and His Word, expecting the Holy Spirit to totally transform our lives. It’s not enough to just hear what the Bible says. God requires absolute obedience. We are committed to creating environments or experiences where the Word of God comes to life and radically alters our attitudes and lifestyle.

Psalm 119:10, Colossians 3:16, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12

…Selfless
The love of Jesus compels us to live unselfishly, to serve wholeheartedly and to love indiscriminately. Serving others is a privilege and our highest calling. Ministry thrives when accomplished by teams of gifted and passionate people who are compelled by a grateful
heart. Sometimes life gets messy, but we don't ever want to be afraid to "get our hands dirty." It's not about us. When we deny ourselves for the sake of others, we become part of God's great enterprise and people see Jesus in us.

Matthew 16:24-25 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Micah 6:8 Ephesians 2:8-10 James 1:27

…Intentional
We are intentionally simple and consistent in all we do so that no one misses the opportunity to have a life changing relationship with Jesus. We would rather do a few priorities extremely well and prefer to communicate our walk with Jesus in normal terms. Why make the simple truth more complicated than it is? The next step for each of us should be clearly defined.

1 Corinthians 10:31, Philippians 3:13-14, Colossians 3:17, Colossians 4:5