About Us
Life Changing!
A relationship with Jesus is a LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE! Jesus changes us from the inside out as we GROW IN GOD. Our mission is to help you to GROW in this LIFE CHANGING relationship with God. How do we accomplish this mission? Jesus said "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself (John 12:32)."
Jesus fulfilled that statement when he died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again to give us new life! This is called the gospel, or the good news (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Here at West Orange, we want to share this life changing mission with this community. We are not perfect. We don't have all the answers, but we are seeking to share with others the joy that we have found in Christ. We have identified a three-step process for growth which can help you to experience a CHANGED LIFE by GROWING IN GOD through:
Worship- Worship is more than a weekly event. As we surrender ourselves to God's guidance and seek to live for Him, we are truly worshiping (Romans 12:1). In our weekly Worship Gathering we express our love to God and encourage one another through singing, communion, prayer, and hearing relevant, Biblical messages.
Relationships- We encourage each person to actively participate in the "one another" relationships so prominent in scripture. You don't have to be "good enough" to attend West Orange, just open about your need for God. Every week brings new opportunities to deepen our knowledge of the Bible and experience real relationships with each other by participating in Bible Communities.
Service- As Christ-followers, its not only important to worship and learn about God, we also turn our faith into action! Every member is encouraged to join a Life Group, which provides opportunities to serve the community and one another, and also to impact our world for Christ in a meaningful way!
What Kind of Church is This?
West Orange is a part of a fellowship of independent congregations known as the churches of Christ. In the U.S., our fellowship has roots in the Restoration Movement, a movement in which men and women sought to shed their individual differences and unite on the simple truths of the New Testament. Though we in no way claim perfection in carrying out this ideal, we do seek to follow God's word in an open and authentic way. Here are some of our values as a fellowship:
"We are not the only Christians, but we are Christians only."
As Christ-followers, our desire is to glorify Jesus Christ by wearing his name alone. We do not denominate ourselves in any other way. We seek to unite with all those who love Jesus Christ and follow his will.
"Do Bible things in Bible ways. Call Bible things by Bible names."
We believe that the New Testament is the final word on faith and practice for the church. We affirm that the Bible is the inspired word of God, so we don't require anyone to submit to creeds, manuals or systems outside of God's word.
"In matters of faith, unity; in matters of opinion, liberty; in all things, love."
Because of our commitment to the Bible as the only source of authority for the church, we seek to unify on those clearly taught truths found in scripture. We also recognize that as humans, we will never have perfect understanding, and that we may disagree over matters of opinion. We do commit to love one another as we honestly study the scriptures together!
We are not a perfect church. We are a church where imperfect people can connect with a perfect God, where people can grow together, learn together, and serve together. We are each unique members of Christ's body, using the gifts His Spirit provides to build each other up, lift up Jesus Christ in this community, and reach the world with the Good News! We'd love for you to join with us on this journey!
