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On July 2001, Mike & Carol Watson (originally from the
UK) packed up their family in Little Rock, AR and came
to join with a small group of people in the Austin area
to help establish a new Anglican Mission church in central
Austin. Their heart was to see a church based around
small groups which took seriously Jesus' command to
"go and make disciples", seeing people's lives
shaped by the teaching of Jesus.
During February of 2006, Mike and Carol were challenged
to consider what it means to be part of a people group
living missional lives together, living their faith
openly and serving those who are yet to know what it
means to experience God through a relationship with
Jesus Christ.
It was here they began to focus less on larger worship
services, and more on local, small communities gathering
in local neighborhoods and workplaces which have come
to be known as Simple Churches or Kingdom Communities.
In these Simple Churches, we seek to focus upon participation
by all, building relationships, caring for one another,
serving the needs of others, prayer and discipleship-making.
The journey continues . . .
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Essentially, the Apostles' Creed outlines the core of
what we believe. The Creed historically was the profession
of faith made at baptism, and today, it continues to outline
the basic premise of Christianity as well as helps us
avoid inadequate or incomplete versions of the faith.
The Apostles' Creed
We believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
We believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He
descended to the dead. On the third day he rose
again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at
the right hand of the Fathr. He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the world-wide
Church, the communion of saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resurrection
of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen. |
The message behind this statement of faith
is that we worship a God who loves us, who
desires for us to know him and experience
life fully in spiritual oneness with him.
He is a kind, compassionate and merciful God
who has revealed himself supremely in the
Person of Jesus Christ, his Son. Jesus came
to reveal the Father, but also to make it
possible for us to experience this relationship
with him, now and for all eternity.
In many ways, a statement of Faith is (and
perhaps should) be as ambiguous as faith itself.
However, the Apostles' Creed encompasses the
facets of the Faith we aim to exemplify in
our lives.
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Throughout the history of the Church, there have been
a variety of ways in which followers of Jesus sought to
gather in community and in worship. Jesus was not totally
prescriptive about this; however, he did lay out some
principles we are seeking to follow.
The word "Church", introduced as the English
translation of the Greek word 'ecclesia' after the Reformation
and the production of the King James version of the
Bible, would be better translated as 'Gathering' or
'Assembly' (as in Wycliffe's earlier translation). The
word literally means the 'Called Out ones' - in other
words it describes who we are, not a place to which
we go (as often used).
The dominant metaphor used in the New Testament for
the followers of Jesus, is a family. Brothers and sisters
who know and worship the same Father and who are called
to love one another. The goal is relationship or a family,
rather than an institution. As a family, we operate
best (or most healthily), when everyone is valued equally
and everyone plays a part or has a role.
Our purpose is given to us by Jesus who is the Head
(the Lord, the ‘boss’) but who is also present with
us through his Spirit (the Holy Spirit). This is "God's
Gig", not ours, we live for his good, not primarily
our own. We see this generally as continuing what Jesus
began by being good news (kind, loving, hopeful, generous,
joyful, helpful, etc.) to people around us.
Our Simple Church model seeks to emphasize these priorities
of family and everyone involved, and Jesus is invited
to be present and in charge, so our primary expression
is seen in small groups of people, with mixed ages and
backgrounds, meeting in homes, offices or wherever space
is available. These groups grow as new people are invited
in and 'join the family' through their faith in Jesus
Christ. Multiplication takes place as the 'children
(in faith)' grow up and decide to begin a new community,
perhaps beginning with just one other person.
Ultimately, we seek to create a loving environment
where everyone can flourish and grow, fulfilling the
particular call and dream that God has put into their
lives.
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BridgePoint is a network of Simple Churches where each
small group has its own organic leadership. Therefore,
the ebb and flow of each group may change over time. Regardless,
the network is overseen by Mike & Carol Watson, who
have been involved in church leadership and ministry for
over 20 years in England and the United States.
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