PART A: REGARDING OUR CHURCH

Our Goal

To be a vibrant, “missional” church in the downtown of Hamilton, seeking the renewal and transformation of the city.

Our Philosophy for Demonstrating our Goal

Believing that God’s heart is for the local church to be the primary agent of His extravagant grace and love in Hamilton and around the world, Crossfire will seek to:

1. Be an integral part of the life of the city

2. Add positive influence and character to the city

3. Give opportunity for individuals and families to improve their quality of life and place in life

4. Invite individuals and families to salvation through Jesus

5. Invest in other communities around the world.

Our Methods for Moving Towards our Goal

1. Develop specific, in-house, long-term plans and programs which nurture life and Kingdom values within the church. (e.g. worship, fellowship, discipleship, mentoring, etc.)

2. Develop specific plans and programs which enlarge Kingdom life and respond to the needs of the community around us. (e.g. ESL classes, education, job-training, family-skills development, etc.)

3. Partner with Christian ministries and other community organizations to respond to identified needs for the purpose of strengthening Crossfire, the city church, and our community. (e.g. partnering with Generation Now, Mission Services, the Dream Center, the Living Rock, Canadian Hearing Society, schools, City of Hamilton, etc.)

4. Partner with churches around the world by devoting time, people and finances to their ministries in their communities.

Our Physical Centre of Operation

1. Close to the downtown

2. Facilities which allow us to: i) minister to our church family ii) interact with our community

Crossfire's Present Strengths (at time of writing, July 2004)

1. Extending grace and acceptance to a broad range of people

2. A willingness to be flexible and open to a variety of ways by which we experience the moving and leading of the Holy Spirit

3. Being practical in our preaching so that what happens on Sunday is expected to impact our Mondays

4. Having an environment in which it is safe to: i) try new things without fear of failure ii) be challenged to stretch and change

5. Sunday worship

6. Mid-week ladies’ group / Mid-week men’s group

7. Deaf congregation