Purpose and Vision

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.”        John 15:16

OUR PURPOSE - “To Bear Fruit That will Last”

What fruit are we called to produce?

1.  Declarations of Faith – as demonstrated by individuals declaring their choice to follow Jesus, repenting of sins, being baptized, receiving the power of the Holy Spirit for a new life. (Romans 10:9, John 3:16, Romans 1:16, John 1:12)

2.  Deepening of Faith – as demonstrated by the evidence of the Fruit of the Spirit, increased knowledge and application of the Bible, closer communion with God through prayer, worship and the spiritual  disciplines, healthier relationships. (Ephesians 4:13, Galatians 5:22-23)

3.  Deeds of Faith – as demonstrated by acts of serving the needy and oppressed, sacrificial giving, greater utilization of spiritual gifts. (James 1:27; 2:14-19, I Peter 4:10, Matthew 20:26-28)

These three types of eternal fruit are produced in the individual’s heart and life, but they develop most easily within healthy Communities of Faith. We believe that we at OSAC have been called not only to produce these faith responses, but also to multiply the opportunity for growth by producing more and more:

4.   Communities of Faith - as demonstrated by committed gatherings of people with recognized leadership, the pursuit of truth through the Word, relationships characterized by trust and loving support, and mission experienced through serving others outside the group. (Hebrews 10:25, Acts 2:42-47)

In essence, To Bear Fruit that will Last means to produce Declarations of Faith, Deepening of Faith and Deeds of Faith within healthy Communities of Faith.

OUR VISION

                A community of believers had a holy discontent with only weekly religious observances. Moved by a passion for the lost and a desire to experience a 24/7 kind of faith, they started to pray.

They began to gather in Homes, taking off their masks and vulnerably engaging one another in deeper relationships. They learned from one another as they opened the Scriptures and changed their ways, becoming more like Jesus. Their love deepened as they served each other’s needs and together extended helping hands to people far from God.

They united together in the Temple to pray for spiritual renewal, to worship and celebrate God’s grace together and to learn His ways. They extended grace to one another there and experienced a unique camaraderie between generations.

They partnered together with other believers in the Field and sacrificially gave to support those who were sharing the message of Jesus elsewhere. They went themselves to help with the work and were never the same again.

            It was contagious. As people responded to Jesus, Homes filled. New leaders stepped forward, new Homes were opened, the Temple overflowed, the city was changed. They began to release HomeGroups as an interconnected web of Home Churches with the passion and power to change the world.