Our Mission, Vision, and Values

Q: What does 'a faith family on mission' mean?

It means we are a family of believers who actually know each other, walk through life together, and are sent together into the city of Miami to make Jesus known across every neighborhood and every generation.

Christchurch Miami is a faith family on mission. The mission, the vision, and the values below are not slogans on a website. They are the convictions that shape how we worship, how we serve, how we lead, and how we live as a church family in Kendall, Florida.

Mission

Christchurch Miami exists to glorify God
by helping people know, love, and serve Jesus.

Every part of who we are flows out of that mission. Glorifying God is the end. Helping people know, love, and serve Jesus is the means. We pursue both with everything we have.

Vision

A faith family on mission,
to love God and make Him known.

We believe the local church is meant to function as a family - people who actually know each other, eat together, pray for each other, and walk through real life together - not a weekly event that strangers attend. And we believe that family is sent into the city of Miami to make the love of Jesus known across every neighborhood, every generation, and every kitchen table.

Values

Four convictions shape how we live as a faith family.

Jesus is Our Message - we preach Christ as LORD.

Every sermon, every song, every conversation about faith at Christchurch starts and ends with Jesus. He is not one of many topics. He is the message.

People Are Our Priority - we're a faith family where you can belong before you believe.

You don't have to have your theology figured out to find a seat at our table. Doubt, questions, and the long walk back to faith are all welcome here. Belong first. Believe on the way.

Worship Is Our Lifestyle - we glorify God in ALL we do.

Worship is not just what happens at 11 AM on Sunday. It is what happens at the office on Tuesday, in the carpool line on Thursday, across the dinner table on Friday. All of life, lived for the glory of God.

Mission Is Our Mindset - we equip everyone to impact their world for Christ.

Mission isn't a department of the church reserved for the professionals. It is the calling of every Christian - every neighborhood, every workplace, every conversation. Christchurch exists to send people into that calling, not to keep them inside the building.

Our Strategy: WIN, BUILD, SEND

Three verbs translate the mission and vision into how we operate as a church.

WIN the lost. Sundays gather us. The doors are open. The gospel is preached without apology and without shame.
BUILD the believer. Groups, classes, mentoring, and the everyday relationships of a faith family that grows people in their walk with Jesus.
SEND out everyone to live on mission. No spectators. Every person at Christchurch is sent - into a neighborhood, a workplace, a school, a family - to live as Christ's ambassador wherever they already are.

What We Believe

Christchurch Miami is a Bible-believing, Reformed church that stands in the historic stream of Christian orthodoxy. We confess the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Westminster Confession of Faith. We hold Scripture as the inspired and authoritative Word of God.

→ Read our full Statement of Faith

About Christchurch Miami

Christchurch Miami is a gospel-centered church in Kendall, Florida, passionate about helping people know, love, and serve Jesus. We're part of a Bible-believing fellowship of churches united by a shared mission to proclaim the good news of grace. Whether you're new to faith or have followed Jesus for years, you'll find a welcoming community where you can grow spiritually, build meaningful relationships, and make a difference in our city and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mission of Christchurch Miami?

Christchurch Miami exists to glorify God by helping people know, love, and serve Jesus. That mission shapes everything we do - Sunday worship, kids ministry, youth, groups, and how we engage the city of Miami beyond our walls.

What does "a faith family on mission" mean?

It means we are not a weekly event for strangers - we are a family of believers who actually know each other, walk through life together, and are sent together into the city of Miami to make Jesus known across every neighborhood and every generation.

What does Christchurch Miami value?

Four core values: Jesus is our message; people are our priority; worship is our lifestyle; mission is our mindset. These are not slogans - they shape how we preach, how we welcome, how we serve, and how we send people out into their everyday lives.

Is Christchurch Miami part of a denomination?

Yes. Christchurch Miami is part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a Reformed Bible-believing denomination, and belongs to the South Florida Presbytery. We hold to historic Christian theology while remaining contemporary in style and welcoming to people exploring faith for the first time.

Who is Your True Lord? The Complete Service

Oct 19, 2025 • Pastor James Drake

Jesus Is Our Message: Why We Preach Christ as Lord

In a world filled with endless messages competing for our attention, it can be difficult to know what's truly real and worth building our lives upon. From AI-generated content to constantly shifting cultural values, we live in an age where "seeing is no longer believing." Yet there is one message that has stood the test of time for over 2,000 years: Christ is Lord.

What Does It Mean That Christ Is Our Message?

When we say "Jesus is our message," we're declaring something profound about the nature of Christianity. This isn't about religion or following a set of rules - it's about relationship. It's not about what we can do for God, but about what Christ has already done for us

Why Paul Called It a "Ministry of Mercy"

Paul's transformation illustrates an important truth: none of us deserve God's calling on our lives. Whether you're in full-time ministry or working as an accountant, teacher, or athlete, whatever God has called you to do is a gift of His mercy. We haven't been called to be successful - we've been called to be faithful.

This applies to all believers, not just pastors. The Bible teaches about the "priesthood of all believers," meaning that whatever we do - whether in business, education, healthcare, or any other field - we can do it for God's glory. Every legitimate calling is sacred when done in service to Christ.

How Do We Know Jesus Is the True Message?

The Problem of Counterfeits

Paul warns us about counterfeits that try to distract from the true gospel. The first temptation is to water down or tamper with God's word, giving people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. This wasn't just Paul's battle - it's our battle today too.

The Veil That Blinds

Paul also describes how Satan, "the god of this world," blinds the minds of unbelievers. Through distractions and half-truths, he pulls people away from the ultimate truth that can set them free. But Satan's power is powerless when confronted by the power of the Gospel in Christ our Lord.

What Makes Jesus Different from Other Religious Leaders?

Christ as Lord, Not Just Teacher

When Paul declares "we preach Christ as Lord," he's making a radical claim. In Paul's day, Caesar was considered lord - either a god himself or a semi-god worthy of worship. But Christians couldn't bend their knee to Caesar because they had seen the risen Lord Jesus.

The term "Lord" (Kurios in Greek) was used in the Septuagint to translate God's name (Yahweh) from Hebrew. This means Christ isn't just a good teacher - He is the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the Alpha and Omega. When we declare Christ as Lord, we're saying our ultimate allegiance is to Him, not to any earthly authority.

The New Covenant vs. The Old Covenant

Paul contrasts the old covenant of the law with the new covenant of the Spirit. The old covenant, written on stone tablets, was temporary and pointed to our need for a Savior. The new covenant, established through Christ's blood, writes God's law on our hearts and gives us the power to live according to His will.

Unlike Moses' face, which faded in glory after encountering God, Jesus' face never fades in glory - it gets brighter and brighter until the very end.

How Does Christ Transform Lives Today?

Personal Transformation

When Christ's light comes into our hearts, it doesn't just remove darkness - it replaces it with light that shines through us to others. This transformation is real and lasting. It changes not just our eternal destination, but our daily direction.

The gospel message is hard to hear because it tells us we are sinners, separated from God, unable to save ourselves. But it's also the most hopeful message because it declares that Christ has done what we cannot do - He has paid the price for our sin and offers us forgiveness and new life.

The Ripple Effect

When someone genuinely encounters Christ, the change is noticeable to others. Family members who once questioned the reality of faith begin to see authentic transformation over time. This isn't about perfection, but about a genuine change of heart that produces lasting fruit.

Why Should We Share This Message?

We weren't just saved from hell - we were saved for eternity with our Savior. This means we have both the privilege and responsibility to share this good news with others. Sometimes this requires us to step out of our comfort zones and engage with people who don't yet know Christ.

The key is to step into others' worlds, experience what they experience, and build genuine relationships. Whether it's at work, school, the gym, or in our neighborhoods, God wants to use us as lights in the darkness.