OUR VISIONGod is forming EBCLA into a Faith Village: a unique social

community whose life together is both a picture and a preview of what God is doing in and for all of creation.

OUR MISSION & CORE VALUESWe exist to be and bring Christ’s hope, humility, and hospitality to the world, and thus our mission must be to train heroic apprentices of Jesus who clearly embrace and embody biblical reconciliation and missional living.

HOPE HUMILITY HOSPITALITY

UNCONDITIONAL HOSPITALITYHEBREWS 132 Don’t forget to extend your hospitality to all—even to strangers—for as you know, some have unknowingly shown kindness to heavenly messengers in this way.

220,000,000 Results for “Hospitality”Hospitality Industry. Taking great care of paying customers. No references to Jesus or Church.

“Friendliness”A friendly disposition, attitude or creating a friendly atmosphere in community.

Kingdom HospitalityMaking room for another (corporate inclusion) Creating space for another in your heart (inner embrace)

Much DEEPER than friendliness.

CREATING SPACE FOR EVERYONE IN OUR HEARTSMATTHEW 543 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor. Hate your enemy.’ 44 But here is what I tell you. Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you.

We Don’t Want to Make Room for ‘UNs’UNcomfortable. UNdesirable. UNpleasant. UNholy. UNfamiliar. UNattractive. UNqualified. UNGODLY.

Rev. Danilo Cortez GCN, Portland January 9, 2015

LUKE 628Bless those who call down curses on you. And pray for those who treat you badly.

ROMANS 56 At just the right time Christ died for ungodly people. He died for us when we had no power of our own. 7 It is unusual for anyone to die for a godly person. Maybe someone would be willing to die for a good person. 8 But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

ROMANS 56 At just the right time Christ died for ungodly people. He died for us when we had no power of our own. 7 It is unusual for anyone to die for a godly person. Maybe someone would be willing to die for a good person. 8 But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

So whenever we refuse to create space in our hearts for someone completely UNlike us…

Our Hope grows as we become more and more rooted in the love of Jesus.

Hope

Humility

Hospitality

LOVE OF CHRIST

Our Humility emerges from our Hope as we become less selfish and more giving.

Our Hospitality reveals how much Jesus’ love is actually transforming us into a Faith Village (Picture & Preview).

His Dream for America Still Hasn’t Happened in Our Churches“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.”