Who We Are
On January 17th, 2016, God's grace, prayer and planning from a handful of faithful volunteers, four preview services, and the support of the Metropolitan Bible Church (Ottawa) culminated in the official launch of WestVillage Church in the heart of Westboro.
Since then, we have experienced God's faithfulness and steadfast love through those He has brought to WestVillage – each at the right time – and through the community God has given us to serve and share the good news of Jesus Christ with.
OUR STORY
OUR PURPOSE
We exist to make disciples who love God, love their neighbour, and make disciples.
Our vision is
to be an authentic church community that is radically transformed by Christ, filled with passion and purpose for the Gospel, together reaching out to share the Good News and care for our neighbours near and far; especially those who are hurting and in need.
Our mission is
to see people connect, be challenged, and celebrate through personally knowing and following Christ.
CONNECT
We are a people connecting with God through Jesus Christ and experiencing real community.
CHALLENGE
We are a people challenged by the truth of the Bible and the serious call to follow Jesus Christ with our whole lives.
CELEBRATE
We are a people joyfully, authentically, and regularly celebrating the Good News of Jesus in our personal lives and in community.
CHRIST
We are a people envisioning Christ Jesus lifted high in our church, our city, our country, and our world.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
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The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the complete Word of God. As originally given, it is verbally inspired, without error, and entirely trustworthy. The Bible constitutes supreme authority in all matters of faith, teaching, and behaviour. The Bible has Jesus Christ as its focus and fulfillment.
2 Peter 1:16-21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Luke 24:27, Matthew 5:17-18
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God is the Creator and Sovereign Lord of all. The Lord our God is one God who eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three have the same perfect nature and attributes. Each Person of the Godhead is worthy of the same worship, confidence, and obedience.
Genesis 1, Psalm 8, Psalm 8, Romans 8:28-30, Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19-20
THE FATHER
God the Father loves the world. He sent His Son into the world to save sinners. He raised Jesus from the dead, exalted Him – putting all things under his power — and together with Him has sent the Holy Spirit.
Luke 3:22, John 3:16, 1 John 4:14, 1 Peter 1:21, Philippians 2:9-11, John 14:26
THE SON
God the Son became God incarnate as Jesus the Messiah. Jesus is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life. He was crucified, raised bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven where He reigns as King and serves as our High Priest and Advocate. He will return as King of kings and Lord of lords to set up His earthly Kingdom.
John 1:1, John 1:14, Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 7:14, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 7:25, Revelation 22:12-13
THE HOLY SPIRIT
God the Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ in all that He does. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. At the moment of salvation He regenerates, baptizes, indwells, gifts, and empowers for Christ-like living and service.
John 16:8-15, Titus 3:5-6, 1 Corinthians 12:11,13, Romans 8:9-14, Galatians 5:22-25
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God created angels for His glory and service. Some rebelled under the leadership of their fellow angel, Satan, and are opposed to God and His purposes. Though Satan is still active, he has been defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ and will be committed forever to the lake of fire with all the fallen angels.
Hebrews 1:14, Jude 6, Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 20:10, Ephesians 6:12
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Human beings are created in the image of God. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were disobedient to the will of God with the consequence that every aspect of their human nature became sinful and corrupt. Thus, being spiritually dead, they became subject to physical death and the power of Satan. The image of God is distorted in all humanity, with the exception of Jesus, as we inherit a sinful nature at conception. Therefore we are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God and under His condemnation.
Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:16-17, Genesis 3:6, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:9-10, Psalms 51:5, John 3:36, Romans 5:12-14
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Redemption is accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was made to be sin and died in our place as an acceptable sacrifice to God. His atoning death is sufficient for all and effective for every person who repents and believes in Him, resulting in a reconciled relationship with God. Salvation is available by grace through faith. This salvation is not our own doing. It is the gift of God. Salvation includes being declared righteous by God (justification), being transformed into the likeness of Christ (sanctification), and being fully restored to the image of God (glorification). This salvation, which includes our new birth and eternal inheritance, is kept by God’s power. It is therefore impossible for the saved to lose their salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:6-10, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:1, John 17:17-19, 1 John 3:2, John 5:24, John 10:27-30, Romans 8:28-39, 1 Peter 1:3-5, 1 Timothy 4:10
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The Church consists of all the redeemed who are united by the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ, of which Jesus is the Head. Local assemblies of believers are visible representations of the Church. They gather regularly for the purpose of worship, which includes instruction in the Word, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances: Believer's Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Though not the means of salvation, these ordinances testify of the Gospel. The Church has been entrusted with the task of global discipleship as found in the Great Commission.
Matthew 16:17-18, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 11:23-28, Luke 22:19-20, Romans 6:3, Matthew 28:19-20
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At a time known only to God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ will return bodily and in glory, receive His own, and establish His earthly thousand-year reign. God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world. The unsaved will be cast into the lake of fire to suffer eternal conscious punishment. The saved of all ages will be forever with the Lord. God will rule over His Kingdom in the new heaven and the new earth for all eternity.
Matthew 24:36, Acts 1:7, Mark 13:26, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, John 14:1-3, Revelation 20:1-15, Revelation 14:11, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, Revelation 21:1, Revelation 22:1-5
OUR VALUES
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We are a church that emphasizes the Good News of Jesus Christ in everything we do and say – not just as a message to proclaim, but a Person to know and love and to follow and experience. This means that we desire to not just know about Him or the Bible, but to have a living relationship with Him, applying the teachings of the Bible to our "everyday," being devoted to talking with Him in prayer, and living life with Him and for Him through the power of His Spirit, while showing and sharing Him with those around us.
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We desire to be a church that gives ridiculously and lavishly, willingly and cheerfully. This means giving of all kinds; our resources - from money and possessions to time and gifts - to God's work and the things He is about. We desire to be a blessing to our community, our city, our world; those who are a part of our church and those who are not, and especially those who are in need or are marginalized.
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We desire to be a church that gives our best for the One who gave His best. This is an act of worship to our God and an act of love for our community.
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We desire to be a church that is real. This means it will be less than perfect (or the appearance of such) and at times messy. It also means we will be truly friendly and inviting to all types of people at all stages of life. We will strive to maintain a full balance of being full of grace and truth, just like Jesus.
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We desire to be a growing and reproducing church. Healthy, living things grow and reproduce. This means an emphasis on introducing people to Jesus and teaching them how to follow and live for Him more fully, and pouring into the next generation, developing leaders and supporting new churches that desire to do the same.
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We desire to be a church that is unified in its mission and diversified in its make up. In the same way that our bodies are made up of many parts working together and each part plays its part for a greater goal, the church is most effective and healthy when the people who make it up are active and work together, using their individual God-given gifts, experience, energy, time and passions, as part of the larger mission and life Jesus calls His church to be.