Imago Christi

Why do you have the name “Imago Christi?

Imago Christi is Latin for Image of Christ. Scripture tells us that we are created/born with the “Imago Dei” or Image of God. However sin has killed the spirit and damaged our Godly character. Spiritual Formation is the work of God, once the spirit is made alive through faith in Jesus Christ, to restore our created nature by transforming us into the image of Christ. See 1 Cor 3:18.

Is the Spiritual Formation iTeam for those who want to grow spiritually?

Those who are called to participate on the Spiritual Formation iTeam are called to the ministry of spiritual formation. It is our goal to develop resources and coaching for Christian leaders to be able to become more intentional in cooperating with the Holy Spirit in the spiritual transformation process and to lead their churches to become spiritual formation centers for their members.

If Imago Christi is a North American iTeam, why does it include CRM staff from our international teams?

The development of spiritual formation resources and coaching in our global society must be approached from a global perspective. There is always a danger of viewing spiritual formation from a narrow Western evangelical perspective that would not be informed by the whole of Christian experience and would be unable to speak to other cultures. CRM’s wealth of experience cross-culturally puts us in a wonderful position to learn and minister from this global perspective. This means that we must team together from the very beginning.

Does a person have to be on CRM staff to participate in Imago Christi?

Imago Christi has two levels of participation. The Core Team is made up of CRM staff. These staff may be serving on other teams in CRM as well. Core Team members commit themselves to live according to a common covenant.

Missional members of Imago Christi may be CRM staff or minister in other settings, but are not held to the common covenant. Both levels of participation come together around a common calling to the ministry of spiritual formation directed toward leaders and churches.

Why does Imago Christi have a common covenant?

We believe that, particularly for the development of spiritual formation, that we must be practicing a lifestyle in which we can learn from God. Thus, we covenant around four areas in a type of “rule” to which we hold one another accountable:

1. A Foundational Calling: To love and serve Jesus Christ.

2. A Covenanted Lifestyle of Personal Spiritual Formation: Listening prayer, study, shared journals, silent retreats, a working spiritual formation plan.

3. Accountabilitywithin the Community: Transparent participation, committed relationships, regular gatherings

4. A Ministry of Spiritual Formation: To serve Christ in spiritual formation ministry for the Church and its leaders