The Statement of Ministry of Everlasting Covenant Community Church of Central Florida (ECCC) shall embrace a personality that will continually be reflected in this Body of Believers. Within this statement there are words that describe the atmosphere that we desire at ECCC: words that point to Christ as the Head of the Church are also intentionally used in our Statement of Ministry!
A. The Atmosphere of ECCC
1. We want to be a growing church. In Everlasting Covenant’s founding scripture, Hebrews 13:20-21, there are two prayerful requests: first, that God would equip the believers with all they would need for doing his will; second, that God would produce in them all that is pleasing to him. Our desire is to grow because we are equipped by God to do His will and to be productive in ways that are pleasing to Him.
2. We want to be a magnetic church. Right after Jesus gave us the Beatitudes in Matt. 5, He made two interesting statements concerning Christians. He said, “You are the salt of the earth” (v. 13) and “You are the light of the world” (v. 14). Jesus’ expectation of our lives is that we should be a preservative to our society. Our lives should, as salt, make those around us thirsty for Jesus. We ought also to be light on the path of a darkened, troubled world. We become beautiful when our attitude toward Christ, others, and ourselves is right. An attitude is nothing more than “an outward expression of an inward feeling.” When we are inwardly attractive we become an outwardly beautiful demonstration of love to those around us.
3. We want to be an encouraging church. Heb. 10:25 states that we are not to “give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but . . . encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
4. We want to be a church with multiple ministries—“a dynamic ministry serving . . .” To minister is to reach out and meet needs. Jesus taught us that the highest form of ministry is service to others. We do injustice to the word ministry by restricting its use to pastors or full-time ordained ministers. The importance of lay ministry is demonstrated in Matt. 26:6-13. A woman came, poured perfume on Jesus, and expressed her devotion to Him. Others complained about the cost of the perfume—evidence that they did not understand that ministry to others is more important than cost or status (for she was a lowly woman). Jesus was so touched by her ministry to Him that He declared, “Wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her” (v. 13).
B. The Attitude of ECCC
1. Reach the lost for Christ. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).
2. Preach the doctrine of entire sanctification. “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life” (1 Thess. 4:7).
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).
3. Equip believers for a dynamic ministry (Eph. 4).
C. The Achievement of ECCC
1. Disciple believers in God’s Word. A disciple of Christ is one who loves and obeys the Lord’s teachings.
2. Send others into full-time Christian service (Acts 13).
3. Provide a climate for spiritual growth. The only thing beautiful about our church is Jesus. When, as a congregation, we sense His presence in our services, then all is well. When He comes, lives are changed, hurts are healed, and joy is received.
4. Grow a great church in our city for God’s glory.