Vision

To live the Great Story throughout the marketplace.

Mission Statement

Agora is a gathering of people on a journey with the emerging generation which exists to facilitate authentic relationships, community involvement, and leadership training through relevant instruction, marketplace mentors, and interest-driven small groups.

We Value

Acceptance

Because we value acceptance, we value everyone without regard to their age, IQ, gender, marital or life status, race, behavior, or sexual orientation.

Families, Children, Singles and the Singles Again

We believe families come in all shapes, sizes, blends, and ethnicities. Because we value all families, we put an emphasis on marriage enrichment, but are sensitive to the needs of single parents. Because we value children, we provide ways to assist parents in the scriptural and spiritual training of their own children. For the single and single again we believe “God sets the solitary in families.” (Psalm 68:6) We want to be family to you.

Servant Leadership

Because we value servant leadership, we aren’t hung up on titles or hierarchy. Christ, the very head of the church, laid down His life for it. How can we do less?

The Holy Scriptures

Because we value The Holy Scriptures, we value creative, relevant, scriptural instruction. And, we encourage personal study thereof, not only for personal growth, but also as a tool to mentor others. One must truly know what one must teach.

The Priesthood of all Believers

Because we value the priesthood of all believers, we believe there is no distinction between clergy and laity. Therefore, we value, support, and encourage every believer’s call to ministry. We want to find ways to say, “Yes!” to relationships, ministries, small groups, and programs to fulfill that call. And, we want to provide gifts assessment and the training needed for equipping every believer.

All of Live as Worship

Because we value all of life as worship, we want to sanctify the ordinary and make holy the mundane. We believe that driving to work on Tuesday morning is as valuable in the eyes of God, as any act of sacrificial worship. We are the ones who make the dubious distinction.

Authentic Relationships

Because we value authentic relationships, we believe that gathering together in small or large groups is an end in itself. As a result, we value relationships over programs, people over buildings, the journey over the destination. And, that true discipleship happens in the context of relationship(s).

The Kingdom Over Agora

Because we value the Kingdom over Agora, we are concerned with reaching out to the community and to the world with help, love, and tangible support without regard for the benefit to Agora. Therefore, our motivation derives from a desire to do the right thing, rather than to gain anything.

God's Creation

Because we value God’s creation, we value His creatures, the natural environment, and the rich resources He provides. We value discovery (Matt. 18:3) and creativity. And we believe that we are to bear fruit. Therefore, we are called to plant (John 15:16).

God's Voice

Because we value God’s Voice, we value silence. His voice can best be heard when we are silent. Whether in prayer, in worship, or in conversation, we must listen more than be heard.

Purpose

We exist:

1. To facilitate our members in the fulfillment of their life calling through Every Member Ministry.

Every Member Ministry

– Marketplace Minister
We are called to make public our worship of God, our love for one another, and our service to others.

– Marketplace Mentor
We are responsible to share what we have learned with someone else.

– Marketplace Missionary
We will continuously discover together new ways of sharing our faith.

2. To forge community among our members in small groups called:

community

The purpose of community is to develop meaningful relationships with others in order to assist one another in becoming, developing, and nurturing disciples. Each group’s goals should include increased spiritual growth, biblical knowledge, corporate harmony, and progress toward maturity.

Community groups take many different forms. Some look like Bible study groups, others like prayer groups. Some are more socially oriented and based on the common interests of participants. Some are ministry or outreach groups such as ushers, greeters, altar workers, jail or nursing home visitation groups. Some are support groups which arise out of life needs. What ever the make-up, all the groups encourage discipleship.

Discipleship is best learned in the observation, instruction, and application of a biblical principle and worldview in everyday life. Just like the example Jesus displayed during His ministry years with the disciples, none of it was done in a classroom setting. Instead, He used real-life situations to reveal Himself and His message.

In the same way, we believe that teaching without training is futile–like learning to drive a car from a book without ever sitting behind the wheel. True discipleship is only accomplished by doing, not just hearing (James 1:22).

3. To foster relationships within the larger community– neighborhood, city, state, and world–by giving support in the form of programs, civic involvement, personnel, and finances.

RE: SOURCE

Because God is the source of all that we have materially, we are then merely executors or trustees of His resources. Therefore, if it all belongs to Him, we must decide what to keep, not what to give away. As executors of all that is His, we are obligated to hold with an open hand the income, assets, and hours He has provided to us.

Understanding this, Agora provides avenues of service that connect God’s resources (our time, money, and possessions) to needs in the larger community.

Programs – outreach functions initiated by staff or members that benefit individuals or organizations outside the Agora family.
Civic Involvement – providing finances and/or volunteers to work with existing outside social or behavioral programs. (e.g. Teen Challenge, Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, Salvation Army, John 3:16, etc.)
Personnel – the giving of time is the currency of the post-modern age. To give someone time is to give them your undivided attention. We encourage each member to make a daily effort to get acquainted with neighbors, work associates, store clerks, cashiers, tellers, wait staff, people you come in contact with every day.

We also encourage participation in short term missions trips local and abroad, (e.g. New Lifehouse Teen Challenge, Open Doors, Little Lighthouse, Bridge Builders International), proactive personal benevolence (from money, to meals, to auto or home repair), aid to smaller churches, and many others.
Finances – setting aside income to support missions and missionaries stateside and overseas, sending others on short term missions when you cannot go, and/or giving to the designated national missions support organizations such as Light for the Lost, Women’s Ministries, Speed the Light, Boys & Girls Missionary Crusade, etc.