Our Vision

At Northside, we call ourselves a Community Church because we believe that every person is formed by community and for community. From the very beginning, God, who exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, created us to live in the fullness of his love, joy, and peace.

Yet, in our longing for control and independence, humanity turned away from that divine community, breaking the very relationship we were made for. But Jesus entered our world, humbling himself to share fully in our brokeness, so that we might be invited back into the perfect communion he has always shared with the Father. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus restored what was lost, making it possible for us to live once again in the fullness of God’s presence.

When Jesus says, “Come, follow me” (Matthew 4:19), he is not just inviting us into belief, he is calling us into a way of life. A life of being with him, becoming like him, and joining him in his work in the world. Learning to love God and love others (Matt. 22:37-39). This is the heartbeat of the life in God’s kingdom, a kingdom-shaped community where we are formed together into a people who embody God’s love, justice, and grace.

At Northside, we express this as Pursuing Jesus in Community. Following Jesus is not a solo journey; it is a life spent moment by moment in relationship with him and with others. As we say yes to his invitation, he leads us into three essential expressions of community:

1. Community with God – Jesus invites us to abide in him, to slow down and live in deep communion with the Father through prayer, Scripture, and the Spirit’s transforming presence. This is where we are shaped into Kingdom people.
2. Community with one another – As we follow Jesus, we are shaped by relationships of love, humility, and grace, mirroring the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit. In this fellowship of difference, we learn to bear with one another, forgive as Christ forgave us, and grow together in the bond of peace.
3. Community for the world – The love of God is not meant to be hoarded but shared. As we experience God’s love, it compels us outward, to serve, bless, and invite others into the same life-giving relationship with him. This is the cruciform life, a life shaped by the self-giving love of Jesus, for the sake of the world.

This is the invitation of Jesus. Not just to believe, but to be formed into people of love, a community of wholeness, healing, and mission in the world. This is life in community – life in the Kingdom.