We seek to become a multigenerational church that has an undeniable cultural impact on the Finger Lakes by lifting up Jesus Christ, teaching God’s Word, and making disciples who love and live like Jesus.

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WHAT DO WE DO?

We share and celebrate God’s Great News of the life, work, and love of Jesus Christ with those inside and outside of the church!

 

WHY DO WE DO THIS?

We live by the “Great Commandment” in Matthew 22:37-40 and the “Great Commission” issued in Matthew 28:19-20.

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20

 

WHERE DO WE DO THIS?

We share and celebrate Christ within our own church, our nearby communities, our region, and our greater world.

 

HOW DO WE DO THIS?

 

SCC's mission is to make a difference in people’s lives, wherever they are, by leading them into a growing relationship with God through Christ.

Making a difference is all about being the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16) without losing its flavor, or holiness (1 Peter 3:15). We want to live in such a way that the entire world is touched with the Great News of Jesus Christ.

Wherever you are has a two-fold expression. First, we look to make a difference wherever we physically are: at home, at work, during leisure time, while out and about, while worshiping, etc. It’s never far from our heart that we represent Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) and his Great News. Secondly, we want to make a difference in the lives of each person we meet, wherever that person is at spiritually (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). We accept wherever they are in their spiritual journey, and point them to Jesus’ Great News, helping them grow in their relationship with God through Christ.

 

HOW DO WE LIVE?

We follow God’s leadership. In everything, we seek to follow God’s leading through prayer, study of His Word, following and modeling His examples, spiritual leadership, participation in the larger Church, accountability, engagement with the community, etc.

We honor Biblical truth. We develop the practice of receiving and integrating God’s word into our lives every day.

We share Christ with others. We actively and compassionately engage and invest in the lives of the people in our world in order to share the Good News with them.

We build authentic community. We regularly connect with other Christ-followers through genuine and mutual expressions and experiences of knowing, loving, and serving.

We live generously. We leverage our God-given resources willingly and sacrificially for God’s kingdom building work.

 

HOW DO WE PARTNER WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?

So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I’m commanding you today—live a good life. – Deuteronomy 10:12–13

We believe the journey of growing in our relationship with God is exciting, challenging, and satisfying. There are at least four areas of focus for a person desiring to grow in their relationship with God. These areas of growth form our strategy. However, always remember, it is out of our being (internal growth) that these growth areas are able to evolve. The life that is all about doing, and not being, is a life at risk.

At SCC, the defining question is not “How are you doing?” It is always “How are you growing?” This God-centered inner life is expressed in a growing awareness and love for God, others, our church, and the whole world. Partnering with, and relying on the work of the Holy Spirit, we create environments through four SCC sponsored events we pray are a catalyst for a growing relationship with God. We explain them like this:

Growing awareness and love for God through Worship Services

A growing awareness and love for God is collectively and outwardly expressed when we participate in weekend worship services. We recognize that a worship service is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to loving God through a life of worship, but it can be a place to start for many. Foundational to, or below the water line of worship, is a daily personal experience with God that includes Bible reading and prayer that is energized by the Holy Spirit.

Growing awareness and love for Others through Community Groups

A growing awareness and love for others is outwardly expressed when a Christ follower begins to live out his or her faith within the smaller community of a Life Group or Ministry Team. A healthy Community or Life Group is a catalyst for spiritual growth. Participants are challenged to grow in their Christ-likeness as they live out, in relational community, what they are learning. This moves us towards maturity in faith as we seek to imitate Christ in every aspect of our lives.

Growing awareness and love for our church through Strategic Investment

A growing awareness and love for our local church body is outwardly expressed by the giving of oneself to Seneca Community Church. A person doesn’t honestly love Christ’s local church when they are not passionately giving themselves to it. A person who is at this place in life, is now ready to officially join the church through becoming a partner in the life and mission of the church where every member is a minister.

Growing awareness and love for the world through Actively Engaging

A growing awareness and love for the world is outwardly expressed through an awareness of and involvement in the world beyond the walls of our church. It is demonstrated by a desire to establish authentic relationships with people in the places where we live, work, and play, and which ultimately point to the possibility of a relationship with God. Involvement outside the walls of the church is not limited to the places we live, work, and play, but extends around the world through our missions outreach. We are to act locally while thinking and praying about global possibilities that may even include us personally.

Keep a healthy balance first!

We approach our ministry with the understanding that balance equals health, and healthy things grow. We intentionally seek to provide balanced attention and resources, reflecting our love for God, our love for others, our love for our church, and our love for our world-neighbors (locally, regionally, and globally).

 

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

We want to be the church in Seneca County most known for making a difference in people’s lives wherever they are. Here are some of the ways that we’re striving for excellence in achieving our mission.

Our goals are…

• To implement a Team Development Initiative, aligning and engage leaders, staff, and volunteers with mission, vision, values, strategic ministry initiatives, etc.
• To have approximately 200 regular attendees on Sunday morning who share and celebrate God’s Great News.
• To have about 15 small groups meeting weekly throughout the community for the purposes of connection, encouragement, care, growth, support, etc.
• To have a NEXT/First Impressions ministry for the purposes of establishing connection and initiating next steps, including membership seminars for those seeking membership.
• To offer Starting Point and Foundations for new learners/growers in the church.
• To have a Making Ripples ministry for identifying and meeting real needs in our community, region, and world; we meet these needs through partnerships and relationships regionally and globally.
• To repurpose, expand, and renovate some of our current building space.
• To have a Children’s Ministry Director (part time staff) for advancing connection and growth of our children.