FUNDAMENTALS

Dales Faith – Exists and works:

through Relationship – Everything we do happens through relationship. We connect with each other, with God, and with those we serve through our relationships. It is the quality of these relationships which defines who we are and how effective we are and will be as disciples of Jesus.

as Community – Our relationships bind us together as community. Much of scriptures’ guidance is directed at the plural ‘you’, the community, as which we seek to live, to serve faithfully, and to embody the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

in Partnership – As individuals and community, through relationships with people and communities in other places we partner together with Jesus (Heb 3:14) to build his church and see his kingdom come.

FOUNDATIONS

We are, at all times:

1. Guided by God’s word…
2. Empowered by the Holy Spirit and…
3. Sustained through Prayer

As we:

1. Participate with Christ in his life, suffering, death, and resurrection and…
2. Encourage each other to love and good deeds

PRINCIPLES

• Not Success but Obedience
• Not Membership but Relationship
• Not Fitting-in but Belonging
• Not Going to church but Coming home
• Not Planting but Sowing
• Not Programme but Vision
• Not Congregation but Community
• Not Set Times but Seasons
• Not Institutional but Organic
• Not Attenders or Consumers but Accomplices of Jesus and Partners with God

The Kingdom and the Path We Make by Walking

We always like to know where we are going before we set out, our destination determining the path we choose to follow. When the path is less clear and the goal a future hope, then we must navigate in other ways. The Bible reveals in images and narrative, a kingdom on earth where God reigns and Jesus is Lord. This kingdom is coming, but at times and places we see it in the here and now. We do not need to leave the Dales to find it, it is even now close at hand. Jesus spoke of good news for the poor, freedom for the oppressed, and sight for the blind, and healed many sicknesses. All these are signs of his coming kingdom . (Isaiah 43; 61)

At Dales Faith, we know that through Isaiah’s words, God has also promised to do new things, for springs of refreshment to well up in wild and barren places, for there to be a way made for people to be able to walk to the place where they will meet him. This was what John the Baptist declared.

Our focus, therefore, is on being the people Jesus calls us to be. We are not called to be successful, but faithful. Just as Jesus called his disciples to simply follow him we are people on a journey, travelling together, with each other and with our guide, through this world’s places of beauty and places of pain. Encouraging, loving, supporting and spurring each other on. This is the journey we all follow, we would love to walk it with you.

“He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.””

Isaiah 30:19b-21

An Invitation to Participate

As believers we are called to care for each other, to encourage and build up each other, to teach, comfort, stir up and to pray for each other. We are also called to use the gifts we have been given for the benefit of each other.

If your gift is poetry or prose, prayers or reflections, writing or painting then maybe you might be willing to share it with others through our Community Contributions. Here’s how…

We’d love to hear from you.