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Our Pastors
Sermons
Vision Statement
Project Overview: Footscray Central Community
Hub Research
Make Poverty History
Micah Challenge
Baptists Today Conference
Pictures from the family camp at the
Campaspe Downs country resort
Other pictures
www.footscraybaptist.org.au
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VISION STATEMENT
Our vision for the community of Footscray Baptist Church grows out of our
relationship with God, the source of all life, who draws us into the mystery of
God’s presence.
Our vision is -
To come together to celebrate God’s love for the world, which we believe is
expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
To answer God’s call to become co-workers in the world, in God’s passion for
wholeness - inviting people to respond to the story of Jesus Christ, seeking
justice, upholding the dignity of all human beings and promoting protection of
the environment.
To support each other in our journey of faith so that we become who God wants
us to be, respecting each other in our God-given diversity, and creating a safe
space to grow.
We seek to fulfil our vision in worship when we come together to celebrate
God’s love for the world, which we believe is expressed in the life, death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We will do this by:
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Coming together expectantly for our worship services to meet the living
God who encounters us in surprising ways.
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Accepting our weaknesses and preparing ourselves as best we can to allow
God to have central focus in all parts of the service.
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Aiming to make our worship services reflect the creative God.
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Making our services inclusive, relevant and balanced - in race, gender and
age - and encouraging the use of inclusive language.
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Being a multicultural church, encouraging the use of different languages
in our services.
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Recognising that God has given various gifts to every person, gifts which
are of equal value, and inviting their use in creative ways.
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Being open always to radical ways of expressing our faith and connecting
with God.
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Celebrating our faith in practical ways through the sharing of meals, the
celebration of special occasions and in our response to particular needs.
We seek to fulfil our vision in mission when we answer God’s call to become
co-workers in the world, in God’s passion for wholeness - inviting people to
respond to the story of Jesus Christ, seeking justice, upholding the dignity of
all human beings and promoting protection of the environment.
We will do this, knowing that:
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In the stories of the Old and New Testaments, we see that God is
passionate about life, constantly reaching out to save people from misery, to
liberate them from oppression and to heal them from all dehumanising
conditions.
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God does not act alone, but in cooperation with human beings. God gifts
every person in different ways and calls us to contribute our gifts to God’s
passion for wholeness.
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God’s very being is reaching out for the wholeness of all life, which
includes the restoration of people’s relationship with God. It follows that
the community of believers has no choice but to become a partner in God’s
passion.
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God is a God of justice. We will seek to challenge injustice among us and
in the wider community.
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God has given dignity to every human being. We will commit ourselves to
treat every person with respect, and to help restore that respect wherever it
has been violated, particularly among those whom society has marginalised.
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God is the creator of the universe and of the earth. We are called to be
good stewards of the natural resources and to protect all plants and animals
from exploitation.
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God has gifted us with the practical resources of our church buildings. We
will aim to maintain them in a way which reflects the welcoming and creative
nature of God.
We seek to fulfil our vision in community when we support each other in our
journey of faith so that we become who God wants us to be, respecting each other
in our God-given diversity, and creating a safe space to grow.
We will do this as we:
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Acknowledge that we are broken people in need of forgiveness and healing.
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Create a safe space for us as we are, but remain open to the transforming
presence of the Spirit of God through whom we will receive forgiveness,
healing and growth.
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Challenge life-destructive tendencies among and within us, not judging,
but encouraging growth towards wholeness.
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Expect that God will meet us in other people, whatever their age, race,
religion, capability, gender or sexuality.
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Recognise the special contribution children make to our community. We seek
to nurture their innate hunger for learning and in turn learn from their
uninhibited way of expressing joy and sorrow in life.
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Commit ourselves, on our journey of faith, to seek to understand our own
Baptist traditions and those of other churches, to learn from the testimony of
other faiths and cultures, to invite critical thinking through the attendance
at seminars on current issues, and by encouraging small group discussions and
formal theological training.
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Realise that the journey of faith will challenge us to move beyond the
familiar and comfortable. We commit ourselves to the willingness to suffer as
Jesus was willing to suffer. Growth and transformation involves pain but we
trust in the promise of God to bring new life and joy.
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