Living Way is a Confluence Church.  Confluence is a family of churches together on mission. We work to strengthen existing churches, plant healthy churches, train and equip leaders, and partner with our global family. Confluence Churches believe that relationships really matter, that mission is the goal, and that servant leadership is the model for the family of churches. Additionally, Confluence Churches have the following values:

Gospel-Centered

We believe that receiving the gospel — the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus and the associated benefits to man — is both a moment and a process. The same grace that saves us in an instant also progressively changes us in every area of life. We believe the gospel delivers us immediately from the penalty of sin and progressively from the power of sin. It is the source of new life and also of a new lifestyle.

Paul uses the gospel as motivation for generosity in 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 and selfless living in Philippians 2:3-7. This means that the completed work of Jesus should be central across all ministries and in the lives all believers within a church. It means that instead of growing out of the gospel we need to increasingly grow into the gospel of grace (Col 1:5-6, Eph 4:15-16).

Spirit-Empowered

Paul speaks of individuals being temples of the Holy Spirit and of the church being a house in which God lives by his Spirit (1 Cor 6:19, Eph 2:22). Laying a foundation of the Spirit in churches was high on the apostles’ agenda, strikingly portrayed by Peter and John in Samaria, and Paul in Ephesus, Galatia, and Corinth (Acts 8:14-17, Acts 19:1-17, Gal 3:2, and 1 Cor 12 & 14).

We acknowledge the vital role of the Holy Spirit today, believing local churches should enjoy the presence, power, fruit, and gifts of God’s Spirit in a way that is attractive and beneficial to believers and unbelievers. And above all, we believe the Spirit empowers us for mission to our neighborhoods and nations (Acts 1:4-8).

Team-Led

Our churches are led by called and capable teams of elders, working alongside other servant leaders in the local church body, and supported by our regional Confluence team. They model servant leadership as they equip and release the local church for works of ministry, lovingly guarding, guiding and empowering those in their care. This emphasis on local eldership autonomy and regional relationships, enables Confluence churches to be self-governing, while also enjoying meaningful partnerships, accountability, and opportunities to engage in mission together.

We recommend reading The Spirit-Filled Church by Terry Virgo for a more in-depth description of what these core values look like when they are expressed in the life of a church.