The Word of God

First and foremost, Reformation Baptist is founded upon the Word of God. The Bible reveals who God is, who He says we are, and the good news of His Son Jesus come to save from our sins. Reformation Baptist exists to preach the Word, make disciples who are saved through the gospel of Jesus Christ, and equip them to live mature lives of godliness that testify to God’s power to save (Gen. 1:1; 2 Tim. 3:14-4:5). This foundation is what informs and drives our God-given Mission and Vision at Reformation Baptist Church.

Mission

The Mission of every church should reflect why that church exists, and what God has called that church to do. At Reformation Baptist, our Mission is to equip disciples to live all of their lives for the glory of Christ. We believe that following Jesus should radically change our lives as we grow to live for His Kingdom more than our own (Luke 9:23-24). This means that following Him should affect how we love our spouse, we raise our children, work, live as citizens, and view the stewardship of our finances, time, and abilities. No part of our life is left untouched by our discipleship to Christ. Jesus really does redeem sinners and our desire is to be a church that practically shows how following Jesus should result in a complete redemptive overhaul of all our dreams, desires, priorities, and practices to the glory of God (2 Cor. 3:18).

Vision

Where Mission explains why a church exists, Vision looks at how the God-given Mission of that church serves the Great Commission and what it would look like to live that Mission out. Jesus already gave the ultimate vision for His church in Matthew 28:18-20 saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” As such, every church is called to make disciples of all nations and teach them how to obey all that Jesus has commanded. In other words, every true church’s mission is to preach the gospel and instruct all who believe to live all of their lives to the glory of Jesus.

The way Jesus’ Disciples led by the Spirit carried out this Great Commission was through the local church. After the Spirit fell at Pentecost in Acts 2, Peter preached the gospel and 3,000 people were saved. After this, Acts 2:42-47 describes the their life together as a church. From there, the Apostles worked to plant, build up, and encourage more churches throughout the world. This means that the Apostles understood that the best way to fulfill the Great Commission was through the local church. Understanding this, our vision is to see Christ worshiped as Savior and King throughout Northwest Arkansas and all the world through building healthy churches.

It is our hope that the Lord will enable us to be faithful to this vision through 1. Raising up and training Elders to either bless our church or be commissioned to pastor other churches in biblical faithfulness, 2. Partnering with other churches, missionaries, church plants, and church revitalizations to pray for and support them as the Lord allows, and 3. If the Lord so allows, training up the next generation of pastors, and sending out missionaries and men nationally to bless, serve, revitalize, and plant other local churches that can continue to minister the Word faithfully to the ends of the earth.

These three areas represent ways we hope to see the Lord work in and through our congregation to further the work of His Kingdom. We do not yet know which areas the Lord will bless us in or if there are other areas that we have yet to see. The key is that we are seeking the Lord, and praying that He would allow us to, first, be a faithful church ourselves, pass the gospel on to the next generation, and if He wills, help build up and bless other biblical churches through our ministry. This is a big vision that will take years to begin seeing the fruit of our labor, but we serve a big God who has promised us that He will build His church (Matt. 16:18).

How We Get There

In order to prepare our congregation for the task ahead, we believe the Lord desires our church to labor diligently in the following three areas:

1. Discipleship - Following Jesus and helping others do the same.

This is where we all take Jesus’ command to deny ourselves and say, “Sign me up! I want to live for His Name and His Kingdom.” This is where we stake all our life on following Jesus and growing to be more like Him in our local church while at the same time, encouraging and exhorting other members towards Christ-likeness. This means becoming a member and getting plugged into the life of the body through Sunday Worship, Community Groups, and Serving.

2. Kingdom Generosity - Both individually and corporately using all our time, talent and treasure to say, “It is all for the Kingdom.”

To be Kingdom-minded is to make our work the work of Jesus’ kingdom instead of working for our own individual, selfish kingdoms where we reign supreme. This works on two levels. First, as individuals and families, we must use our time, talents, and treasure to serve our local church knowing that God promises to accomplish amazing things for His Kingdom through our congregation as we seek Him first. Second, we must corporately take opportunities to be generous with other churches and ministries as God allows to further the work of the gospel in other areas so that more people will know Jesus.

3. Prayer - Relying on God to build His Church.

May all of our members commit themselves to prayer and ask God to accomplish His purposes for our church. After all, why would we expect God to do something in and through us, if we aren’t asking him to do so? (James 4:2). It is our conviction that the only way that Reformation Baptist will see God’s purposes for our church is through our prayerful dependence on Him and His grace.

Reformation Baptist’s Heart to Equip and Send

Paul wrote, “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?...So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:13-15; 17). Every member is essential for us to carry out our Mission and Vision. People need the gospel to be saved and God has sent us to share it with them (Matt. 28:18-20). Reformation Baptist’s heart is to equip and release our members to carry out the Great Commission wherever the Lord has placed them. To go to our families, workplaces, and community with the message of the gospel and the testimony of a transformed life so that more people may hear the gospel, repent, and be saved. And we believe God’s Word is sufficient to accomplish this task (Is. 55:1-13). The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16). God will accomplish His purposes for our church and he has invited every member to join him in that work.