So, what are we aiming for as a church? Values shape who we are and guide what we do.
1. We Are to Be Family and Community
Whether we are a church of 100 or 10,000, our goal is to be a genuine family and community. Growth is welcome, but never at the cost of relationships. We want people to feel that when they come to Twynham Church, they are coming home — to a place where they are known, loved, and cared for.
We are not striving to be an “empire church,” focused on size, status, or spectacle. If leadership becomes about power, programmes, or performance, then something has gone wrong.
Instead, we choose family. We will not all believe the same things, have life figured out, or always get it right. Church will be messy at times — sometimes amazing, sometimes painful — and that’s part of real community. This means choosing forgiveness, grace, patience, care, and love as we journey together.
2. We Are to Be Wholehearted in Spiritual Worship
Our church family is not a social club. We belong to a Heavenly Father, we believe in the Holy Trinity, and we long to grow closer to God. That closeness is shaped and sustained through worship.
Worship is central to who we are. Everything we do flows from placing God at the centre. We learn about God through His Word, and we know Him more deeply through worship.
This is not limited to Sundays or midweek gatherings. We want to grow as people who long for God every day, making worship a lived, daily expression of our faith.
3. We Hold to the Centrality of Scripture
We cannot truly know God without the Bible. Scripture reveals His nature, character, and purposes in a way nothing else can. While creation shows us something of God’s greatness, it is the Bible that gives us the fullest picture of who He is.
We measure teaching, prophecy, and spiritual experience against Scripture, which provides the framework for understanding God’s character and His call throughout history. Described as God-breathed, living, powerful, sharp, and penetrating, the Bible is far more than a collection of books.
At times, its message may challenge cultural norms or personal comfort, but we are committed to remaining faithful to its truth. Scripture is foundational.
4. We Are to Be Relevant in Our Outreach
We believe we carry a message of immense value for every person: the story of Jesus. That story must be communicated in ways people can understand and engage with — relevant, but never compromised.
The most effective outreach remains relational. Not everyone is called to be a public evangelist, but everyone can share their story with authenticity and grace.
We are not about winning arguments. People are not drawn to Jesus by being belittled or demeaned. As 17th Century Mathematician Blaise Pascal observed, Christianity should be presented in such a way that those who hear it want it to be true in their lives, and that we show that it is.
5. We Are to Be Spirit-Led and Equipped
We cannot expect to engage in a spiritual battle using human tools and weapons. Jesus Himself relied on the empowering work of God, and He taught His disciples to do the same — and to pass that teaching on.
We value the leading and equipping of the Holy Spirit because without Him our ability to impact a spiritually dark world with life changing, world changing power and healing grace would be limited.
As with all churches, we are not perfect. But by living out these values, we hope to shine a brighter light in our community and beyond.