ARMS around the World
Purpose Statement and Definitions
Purpose Statement:
ARMS around the World is a kingdom partnership which results in transformed lives and a church planting movement to the Glory of God.
The A.R.M.S. acrostic displays our core values: Accepting all people, Relating with people, Multiplying churches and Serving our families, communities, and our friends and, of course, we do this by serving our Savior, Jesus Christ.
By defining the words and concepts in our purpose statement, we explain the vision God has revealed to us.
Kingdom – We seek to exalt the Name of Jesus, to equip people for Kingdom service and to extend the Kingdom of Righteous by living daily in a growing relationship with Jesus. (Matthew 6:33)
Partnership – We seek to accomplish Kingdom work by engaging in partnerships which advance the Kingdom and that do not require us to compromise our values. We believe partnerships are essential to effective Kingdom work. This will require us to work, to think, to change and to struggle at the deepest places of our hearts. (Philippians 1)
Results – We value results for God’s Glory. The chief result is bringing pleasure to God. Glorifying His Son, loving one another, bearing fruit of the Holy Spirit, changing lives, birthing of churches and the training of leaders are the results we expect. (John 14-16)
Transformation – The deep work of the heart is transformation. Romans 12:1-2 communicates God’s desire for us as His people to continually grow. However, transformation is both internal and external. Much Grace is required as we change. Often the inner transformation manifests in many different ways and is often accompanied with baggage and pain from our past and from quirks in our personalities. Transformation is a process and not a destination.
People – Besides God, this is our focus. People. We are in the people business. Knowing, loving, understanding and equipping people are our goals.
Church Planting – One of the greatest tools God uses to extend His Kingdom is the planting of healthy churches. The training, resourcing and deploying of healthy church planters is one of our highest values.
Movement – Initiating a Church Planting Movement around the world begins with Prayer. Our desire is to be used of God to accelerate and not to limit a church planting movement.
Growth -We believe the best way to change the world is to personally grow in Christ-likeness daily. We further believe that Personal Health and Development will lead to family health and development which will lead to a healthy church which will, in turn, produce Kingdom Advancement.
Character - Biblical character qualities are by-products of a Spirit-filled, growing relationship with Jesus. These characteristics flow from our being as ministry and mission are accomplished when we are rightly related to God.
God dwells with those who are HUMBLE. (Isaiah 58 and I Peter 5) Egos are checked at the door. God will not extend His Grace/Favor to us if we are arrogant and conceited. Jesus took the form of a servant and we choose to do the same. Humility is not a false sense of self-depreciating activity, but a by-product of being in the Presence of God daily. It is not something we can manufacture.
Service - Our motto is “Surrendered to SERVE.” Service to those who are like us, and who love us, is one matter, while service to those who are far from God and who do not necessarily agree with us is another. John 13 is our Savior at work serving both His disciples who loved Him, those who would deny Him and the one who betrayed Him.
Prayer - Daily individual PRAYER and corporate prayer at gatherings is not a religious “add on” for God’s desired blessing, but an intimate communication with Him.
Relationships - Authentic Relationships require hard work. Our commitment is to handle all conflict in the same manner: Biblically. We go to the individual with whom we are in conflict following Matthew 18 and choose to speak the truth in love to the person and choose NEVER to speak about the person without them present. All conflict resolution will be redemptive in nature. The source of the conflict must be discovered: (i.e., is it a personal preference issue, a value clash, a personal sin, or a miscommunication?)
