Our mission is to connect people to Jesus – just as they are – so they might live in their full identity, their full purpose, and their full hope.

As disciples at Hosanna, we’ve identified some core values that keep us from tripping up as we move together in this mission.

 Following Jesus      

‘I want to get dusty.’

 There’s an ancient Jewish blessing that goes something like this: “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.” This is our hope – not just that we would follow Jesus – but that we would follow Him so closely that we are covered in the dust of His footsteps. And He is much more than a rabbi. He is our Savior. He is our God. And the dustier we are, the easier it is to embody the rest of our core values.

Gracious      

‘I want to believe the best and forgive the worst’

 When we give someone the benefit of the doubt, we're really the ones who benefit. We see the potential good in people, even people who annoy us. Our relationships become stronger. It takes a lot less energy and produces a lot less stress to assume that other people's motives are good, or at least benign, until definitively proved otherwise.

And if another person does something wrong or wrongs us? We remember the prayer Jesus has taught us: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

 Joyful      

‘I want to be a balloon not a brick’

Living a full life in Jesus is a life of joy. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. The Spirit is at work in us to make His joy complete. That’s what we would hope to be for those we interact with – leaving them lighter in spirit, rather than heavier. Of course, there are days when situations make it more difficult to be joyful. That’s why being gracious is also one or our core values.

 Caring      

‘I want to see the one who needs care and to be the one who cares’

In the times we are in now, many are speaking and too few are listening. Many are looking to their own interests and don’t see the needs of others. To love our neighbor, we must see our neighbor and respond when they need care. Because we have “seen the One who sees me” (Genesis16:13) and have received His care, our eyes are opened to others. See the one, be the one. (Luke 10:25-37)

 Team Player      

‘I want to give my all to make all of us better.’

Try playing Silent Night in the key of C without using the note, G. Just leave the space empty. It’s incomplete. It doesn’t sound right. It’s not the same song. All the notes are needed for melody and harmony. Your note is needed for the ministry at Hosanna. Or if you’re not a music person, try to imagine a car engine running when a spark plug is missing or not functioning well. Or a sports team missing a player – you get the idea. But we also want to get the truth – we are the body of Christ together. All of us are needed and blessed to be a blessing. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

As a healthy church, we don’t want to be working against each other.

If you have an issue with another Hosanna disciple, go directly to that person first to discuss whatever concerns or heartburn you might be carrying. If a disciple comes to you to vent about issues with another disciple, you can simply say, “Matthew 18 makes a great team,” and discourage unhealthy triangulation.

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’” Matthew 18:15-16

 Our mission and values are essential to who we are.

You can expect to hear them communicated and encouraged frequently, either by one word or in tagline. We want them to be engrained in culture of our Hosanna community.

This is who we are as Hosanna, and what we are focusing on to connect people to Jesus.