Our Values.
At every level across the mission we commit ourselves to practicing these values in everything we do.
UP - We value a life oriented to God, where courageous faith, prayer and the Bible are the basis of all we do as a mission.
IN - We are committed to integrity and mutual respect in our relationships, that we might be known for loving and caring for each other as we work towards our common vision.
OUT - We believe in participating actively and creatively in God’s mission as we reach out to the peoples of Europe through the establishment of new communities of Jesus followers.
TOGETHER - We are committed to working and learning together, as teams, fields and national sections, and through partnerships with others, in pursuit of our common purpose
These four values - a life oriented to God, integrity and mutual respect in our relationships, mission to the peoples of Europe through church planting, and collaboration are the core values of ECM. They are expressed in simple, modern language as UP, IN, OUT, TOGETHER, but they rest on ancient foundations, namely the four marks of the church as expressed in the Nicene Creed.
These have been the core values of ECM since its inception in 1904 under the leadership of Ganz Raud: prayer, loving working relationships, church planting in Europe and partnership with others. Anchored in the past, but expressed in fresh language for a new generation of missionaries, they have the potential to guide our behaviour into the future.
Statement of Faith.
This Statement of Faith used by ECM International is a standard Biblical and evangelical statement of faith, similar to those used by many other evangelical denominations, missions and churches:
God - There is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He is unchanging in His character and attributes. As creator and Lord of the universe He governs all things according to His sovereign will for His own glory.
The Bible - The Bible, comprising the Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God. It was inspired by the Holy Spirit through human authors and is an entirely true revelation of God’s will and purposes. The Bible is our final and infallible authority in every matter of belief and conduct.
The Human Race - God created all men and women in his image to love and worship him; consequently we have inherent equal dignity and worth. As a result of the disobedience of our first parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted. We have become alienated from God as guilty sinners, incapable of saving ourselves. We are under God’s just condemnation, needing to be forgiven and reconciled to God to know, enjoy and worship him.
Jesus Christ - The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He is the eternal Son of God who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and given birth by the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life in Obedience to his Father, was crucified as the only substitutionary sacrifice for our sins to redeem us and reconcile us to God through his shed blood. He was raised bodily from death and ascended to heaven where He is now exalted as Lord over all.
Salvation - God in His love and mercy reconciles sinners to Himself through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross. As sinners repent and turn to God from their sin they receive God’s forgiveness, are adopted into His family and given eternal life. Salvation, by God’s grace alone, is received through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply His work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the church and empowers its members for worship, service and the world-wide proclamation of the Gospel in obedience to the Great Commission.
The Church - The one universal church, the body of Christ, of which each local church is a visible expression, consists of all true believers born again by the Holy Spirit. As a fellowship of believers, the church is called to worship God, grow in grace and bear witness to Christ and His kingdom throughout the world. This calling is opposed by Satan, the enemy of God, who still works to frustrate God’s purpose. Through His death on the cross, Jesus Christ has deprived Satan of his power, a victory in which all believers through faith can share.
The Future - The Lord Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly, to raise the dead and bring to completion His work of salvation and judgment. Believers will be welcomed into the presence of God forever, while unbelievers, together with the finally defeated Satan, will suffer eternal punishment in separation from God.