“God has always been about calling a people to himself to whom he would reveal his glory and through whom he would reveal his glory to the world.”
​–Steve Timmis
 
We thoroughly believe that the above statement is an accurate summary of God’s activity in the world. Surely it does not speak to every detail, and yet, it does what a summary is intended to do.
 
This statement, which we believe concisely captures the message of the Bible, is a very real and shaping influence for us.  The major implication for us at the Journey is that God’s people have a mission to reveal God’s glory to the world.
 
At the Journey, we believe that we are sent on mission to continue the work that Jesus started during his earthly life (John 20:21, Matt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8).  We believe that this mission is not a ministry of the church, but it is the organizing principle of the church.  The purpose of the church, and the purpose of humanity is to “glorify God and enjoy him forever” (taken from historic confessions of faith).  God has designed that we would fulfill this purpose by taking his gospel to the world.  This is how his name would be glorified and how our joy can be made full.  
 
Practically, this means that we are always trying to equip our people in community to live on mission together.  This flows out of one of our identities, made true by Jesus’ work on the Cross.  We are all missionaries.  Wherever we live, work, or recreate is a mission field that we have been sent to by Jesus with the message of the gospel.
 
It may sound intimidating to think of yourself as a missionary, and without Jesus’ promised presence in Matthew 28:20, it would cause us all to despair.  However, what we mean is more and less than you think. It’s more than you think because it encompasses every aspect of your life as the gospel transforms you from a self-absorbed person to a gospel-centered person.  It is less than you might think; we are not asking you to radically re-order your days or put a lot more on your plate.  We are asking people to do what they already do with gospel intentionality.  When you take your kids to soccer practice or dance practice, you realize that the people you get to engage there are people who need the gospel to transform their lives. You are an agent of that gospel (2 Cor 5:17-21).  The neighborhood or apartment complex you live in is a very real mission context that God has strategically planted you in as a gospel influence.  This means that you live your life differently.  Your life changes from a you-centered-grab-for-daily-happiness kind of life, to a God-centered life that reveals his glory through the gospel. It changes the way you go about.  In truth, this is the path to your greatest happiness.  Living for God through daily mission is where we experience the fullness of God’s everyday work in the gospel.
 
At the Journey, we will never offer a buffet of programs that isolate you from your mission fields.  We won’t do Christian basketball or Christian soccer or Christian this or Christian that because that would take you out of your mission field.   Jesus ate with sinners.  In fact, he was accused of sinning himself because he lived on mission to scandalous people.  We will seek to equip you and mobilize you to live on mission in the everyday activities of your life.
 
To functionally demonstrate our commitment to fulfill the great commission (Matt 28:18-20), we have developed “Gospel Communities” that you can read about here.  
 
We are not simply talking about social action.  Doing good for people is not in and of itself a gospel endeavor.  Everything at the Journey is motivated by the gospel and supplied content by the gospel.  See our explanation of “What is the Gospel?”.
 
Movements are about mission, not an organization.  At the Journey, the mission of God is primary for us and we invite you to come along with us as we follow Jesus on His mission.