...and what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

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VALUES

 

InnerCHANGE desires to produce results worthy of the cross of Jesus Christ. By the light of God's word and the leading of His Holy Spirit, we recognize the following values to be essential as we minister among the poor:

1. Evangelism

We will express the Good News of Jesus Christ in both word and works. Both communicate the Gospel -- both authenticate one another. We will not make any attempt to magnify or prioritize one above the other.

John 10:37-38; 14:10-11; Romans 15:18-19; James 1:27

2. Identification

We will identify incarnationally with the needy of the world for the sake of their salvation, just as Jesus left His wealth and power to identify with us for the sake of our salvation.

John 1:14; Philippians 2:6-8; 1 John 4:9-11 and therefore 1 John 3:16-17;1 Corinthians 9:19-23

3. Context

We will mobilize to serve the poor of the world in whatever context that God directs. We understand that poverty comes in a variety of forms and contexts and is not simply defined as a lack of material welfare.

4. Relationships

We will minister the reconciling and regenerating life of Jesus Christ primarily through personal relationships as we seek to practice the presence of Christ. As personal relationships give insight into poor communities, we will develop strategies which may include partnership with institutions serving the poor.

Luke 14:12-14; Luke 19:1-10; Isaiah 58:7,10

5. Spiritual Warfare

We will commit to engage in spiritual warfare on behalf of our neighbors. We will seek to discern and defeat the powers which hold the poor and needy captive.

Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

6. Justice and Mercy

We will commit to promote justice and mercy as reflections of God's character in the same spirit and with the same energy with which we pursue personal growth and piety. We recognize that working for justice and righteousness is part of our devotional life.

Matthew 23:23; Isaiah 58:6-9; Micah 6:8; Amos 5:24; Jeremiah 22:16

7. Community

We will work to build healthy communities among our staff. A healthy community: dramatizes the power of Jesus' words and the presence of His kingdom; protects against the special hardships of living among the poor;and promotes the awareness of God's love for each community member.

John 13:35; 17:22; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

8. Upside-Down Kingdom

We will minister low to high, that is, from the bottom rungs of a society upward, remembering that significant aspects of God's kingdom are often lodged in the humblest crevices.

We will not despise faithfulness to small things in favor of the big picture, believing that the kingdom of God is upside down with regard to many of the world's values.

1 Corinthians 1:27-28; Matthew 5:3-12; Luke 16:10,15; Zechariah 4:10;Isaiah 57:15

9. God's Sovereignty

We value the Spirit's guidance through prayer, fasting and listening as we commit to discover how God has gone before us in preparing the urban poor for the Good News.

Exodus 23:20; John 16:13-15; Acts 16:6-10

10. Comprehensive Change

We will seek to appraise the social, political and economic factors that affect the urban poor, and how the transformation of these factors can encourage people to accept the gospel

Luke 16:8; Proverbs 31:8-9; 29:7