The Mission
The mission of CommUNITY Church - Virginia is the same mission Jesus gave his followers: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The Vision
The vision of CommUNITY Church - is to create a community of authentic believers and to witness a city transformed by the life changing reality of the gospel, as people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Our Story
On July 7th, 2005, Pastor Tom and his wife Laurie sat at a booth in Outback Steakhouse under strong conviction from God to start a church. As the evening progressed and prayers were offered, a coaster and napkin were used to invent a church name and logo. With so many churches marked with disunity and conflict, God provided a name that Pastor Tom wrote on a napkin, CommUNITY Church. Unity being capitalized as a focal reminder that nothing grieves the heart of God more than strife between His people in regard to church. Then Pastor Tom and Laurie set their sights on a logo. It was their desire to break away from traditional and contemporary church growth models and revive that New Testament Church elaborated upon in Acts chapter six. So, God impressed upon Laurie a cross with a heart in the middle. The cross demonstrating the power of God and the heart the love of God. Finally the church motto was developed, “A New Church with an Old Vision” as was a mission statement (see below) and theme scripture, “Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in UNITY” PSALM 133:1 (Emphasis mine).
On July 10th, 2005 CommUNITY Church held its first service in a donated office building with just a handful of people present, many from out of town showing support! Our Pastor stepped out of 8 years of full-time ministry, became a school teacher and became CommUNITY Church’s volunteer pastor, refusing any salary or benefits until the church was stable. Less than 1 year later the church had purchased property and a building, sound/visual system, started a bus ministry, raised over $11,000 to send 17 members to North Dakota on a mission trip and voted to receive our founding pastor Tom McCracken, as a full-time paid pastor. Our church is on the brink of crossing a 300 membership with no sign of slowing down!
We continue to grow physically as we grow spiritually. Our church’s mission statement is, “To demonstrate Christ’s love in specific ways, so that every person we meet will know they are IMPORTANT, LOVED and WANTED in Jesus’ name. And are invited to become a part of the Greatest Network of Caring People our world has ever seen!”
We are affiliated with and support the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia (SBCV), the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association (RVBA), and the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
On July 10th, 2005 CommUNITY Church held its first service in a donated office building with just a handful of people present, many from out of town showing support! Our Pastor stepped out of 8 years of full-time ministry, became a school teacher and became CommUNITY Church’s volunteer pastor, refusing any salary or benefits until the church was stable. Less than 1 year later the church had purchased property and a building, sound/visual system, started a bus ministry, raised over $11,000 to send 17 members to North Dakota on a mission trip and voted to receive our founding pastor Tom McCracken, as a full-time paid pastor. Our church is on the brink of crossing a 300 membership with no sign of slowing down!
We continue to grow physically as we grow spiritually. Our church’s mission statement is, “To demonstrate Christ’s love in specific ways, so that every person we meet will know they are IMPORTANT, LOVED and WANTED in Jesus’ name. And are invited to become a part of the Greatest Network of Caring People our world has ever seen!”
We are affiliated with and support the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia (SBCV), the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association (RVBA), and the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
What We Believe
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." - A.W. Tozer
God
There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise. God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Revelation
God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself.
Mankind
Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin and appointed as caretakers of the rest of God's creations.
The Fall
When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time.
Salvation
Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers as a free gift eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.
The Church
The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Resurrection
Jesus Christ is returning one day to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth.