I believe our purpose as a church can be discovered by looking at three sources.  The Great Commandment, The Great Commission and our United Methodist Church Social Creed.

• The Great Commandment, Matthew 22:37-39

  And Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

• The Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20

  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 lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.

• The United Methodist Church Social Creed, adopted 1930

  We believe in God, Creator of the world: and in Jesus Christ the Redeemer of creation.  We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God's gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.

  We affirm the natural world as God's handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind.

  We joyfully receive, for ourselves and others, the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family.  We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and those with handicapping conditions; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.

  We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the glory of God and the good of themselves and others, and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress.

  We dedicate ourselves to peace individual freedom for all people of the world.  We believe in the present and final triumph of God's Word in human affairs, and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world. Amen

  • Pg. 166 of THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE of The United Methodist Church 2000.
    

I have a great commitment to the great commandment and the great commission and I believe this commitment is born out in our social creed as well.  Taken together I believe these lead us to our purpose as a congregation, which is to:

REACH out to all the community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Becoming a Beacon to Battle Mountain and Beyond.

SUPPORT one another with our prayers, fellowship and service.

TO LOVE AND FORGIVE just as our God in Heaven loves and forgives us.

WORSHIP the Lord Jesus and welcome all who would join us in the family of God.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN THE FAMILY OF GOD.

In Christs’ Service, John C. Kimbell Pastor, Battle Mountain UMC