Who is Cornerstone Church?
Cornerstone Church is made up of ordinary people from all walks of life who understand they need to continually rely on God. We aren’t perfect, but we seek a God who cares and desires to be active in our daily life. We believe church is for everyone; it should be fun, exciting, powerful and relevant.
The story of Cornerstone United Methodist Church is short, yet filled with great accomplishments occurring at a pace that can only be attributed to God and the people He has gathered to serve together in this young church.
Cornerstone came to life in 1999 when Rusty Hutson and his family moved to Auburn to plant a church for the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. The first meeting was held at the Auburn Wesley Foundation with a small group of 35 who learned that the church would be named Cornerstone United Methodist Church. They began with weekly Wednesday night meetings to plan, pray and grasp God’s vision… read more
Our Mission…
“Leading people to know and serve Jesus” (read Focus on Five)
CORE COMMITMENTS…
In order to lead people to know and serve Jesus, we commit ourselves to…
EVANGELISM
Evangelism literally means to share the good news of Jesus Christ with non-Christians. Jesus came to “seek and to save that which was lost”. In other words, people who had yet to encounter Him. So we as a church are committed to reaching people who are far from God with the message of salvation. – Luke 5:30-32, Luke 15, Luke 19:10
FELLOWSHIP
Fellowship is the process of people making a connection with other people. It important that the church provide a way for people to build relationships and friendships. Therefore, we are committed to creating environments help people build these important relationships. – Acts 2:46-47
DISCIPLESHIP
Once people come to know Christ and make that important connection to the church, we are committed to helping them take the next step and grow as a believer. Discipleship is an intentional process designed to help people grow in their understanding of the Christian life. – Ephesians 4:22-23 Romans 12:2, 2 Peter 3:17-18
WORSHIP
We often think of “worship” as that hour on Sunday morning when we sing, pray and listen to the message. While that is true, it is not a complete understanding of the idea of worship. It goes well beyond that one hour into every part of our life. It means that we are working toward giving up more of this world to gain more of Christ. The word “sacrifice” best describes what true worship is all about. It is about sacrificing control of things like our time, money, resources, desires and dreams in order for God to carry out His purpose through us. We as a church are committed to helping people become true worshipers. – Romans 12:1; Matthew 16:24-25
MINISTRY
For a person to fully understand their purpose in this life, they must be involved in serving God. Ministry is the area dedicated to helping people discover their unique gifts and abilities. Here they are trained and then provided an area to serve within the church. – Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12
The Core Commitments are the purposes for which our church exists and the things that will keep us focused into the future.
Our Values…
The Values are characteristics of our church that help define our ministry. In order to lead people to know and serve Jesus we will be guided by the following values…
RELEVANCE
A STYLE OF COMMUNICATION THAT ENGAGES TODAY’S CULTURE
(This statement is important in terms of defining how we will do things at our church. For example, we will worship in a way that reflects our current time. We will not use elements that appear outdated or irrelevant to how people live today. While this is just one example, we will apply this standard to everything we do at our church. The word “communication” may be a better term so as not to confuse “ministry” in this statement with “ministry”, the purpose in our commitments)
AUTHENTICITY
A GENUINE APPROACH TO BEING THE CHURCH
(This statement reflects the need to reach a culture that is wary of anything that is fake or insincere. Also, it is embracing who we are as a broken people in order to reach broken people. The world needs to know we are real people, whether on Sunday morning, Wednesday night or at our Small Group.)
TEAM
MINISTRY CARRIED OUT AS A TEAM
(The most effective and Biblical way to do ministry is as a team. We are not a federation of sub-ministries, but a unit centered on Christ and His mission for us. We, therefore, value working together to make ministry happen.)
COMMUNITY
DOING LIFE TOGETHER
(The church is not just an organization, it is a community of people. In a community, people “do life together”. In other words, they share in each others pain, grief, frustration, struggles, joy, victories, etc. We value this as a part of our church and will work hard to both promote and protect it.)
COMMITMENT
HELPING PEOPLE TAKE THEIR NEXT STEP TOWARD CHRIST
(It is important that people make commitments in life. We want to help them make the right ones. Of course, the right one is the next one we take toward Christ. This includes the first step and then every step after that. The church should lead people to make commitments and take them seriously; such as, growing in their faith, joining the church, tithing, serving and living a Christ-centered life. We believe this brings help, hope, and the abundant life Jesus offers to people.)
Our Beliefs…
Cornerstone is a church that strongly values and believes…
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. Genesis 1-2; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30
ABOUT HUMANITY
We are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. We are the supreme object of
God’s creation. Although we have tremendous potential for good, everyone is marred by an
attitude of rebellion toward God called sin. Sin separates people from God. Genesis 1-3; Romans 3:23
ABOUT ETERNITY
People are created to exist forever. Every person will either exist eternally separated from God
by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from
God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is heaven. Heaven and hell are places of eternal
existence. Ecclesiastes 3:11; Romans 6:23
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus was born of the Virgin
Mary by miraculous conception, lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect
sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days
demonstrating His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory where He is the
only Mediator between God and people, and will return again to earth. He will reign as King of
Kings and Lord of Lords. John 10:30; Luke 2-24; Philippians 2:6-11
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is a gift from God to all people. Men and women can never make up for their sin by
self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness
can a person be saved from sin’s penalty. When God has begun a saving work in the heart of
any person, He gives assurance in His Word that He will continue performing it until the day of its
full consummation. Ephesians 2:8-10
ABOUT PRAYER
Prayer is our vital link to God. More than just bringing a list of wishes, wants and concerns,prayer is a constant conversation that happens naturally as our love for God grows. We live and move and have our being in Him, therefore we should be in communication with Him. God always answers our prayers. Sometimes with a “yes” and sometimes with a “no”. Either way He is hearing our requests and carefully choosing his answers based on what is best for us and His will for our life. 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Proverbs 3:5-6
ABOUT GOD’S DEPENDABILITY
Because God gives man and woman eternal life through Jesus Christ, and adopts them as His
own, salvation is received and maintained by the grace and power of God—not by the self-effort
of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives believers the assurance of
salvation. No power in the universe can separate God’s children from Him. Romans 8:35-39
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make
people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of
salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and
guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily. Luke 11:13;
John 14:26; Romans 8:26-27; Galatians 5:25
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is God’s word to all. It was written by human authors,
under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures are inspired by God and are
infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full and final authority on
all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
ABOUT FAITH AND PRACTICE
Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it
cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather,
each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately
responsible. Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 8:12-14; John 16:13
