Our Core Values

Worship    We believe something special, something different happens on Sunday morning that does not happen during the rest of the week.  God’s people meet corporately to be drawn into his presence, to confess sin, receive forgiveness, hear from His Word, and feast at His Table.  In other words, worship is primarily what God’s people receive from Him, not what we give to Him.  What we give to God is always a response to what he has given us.  This is important because Sunday mornings will be a time where God’s people come to receive rest and refreshment that they might do the work of the church the rest of the week.  What we do on Sundays will inform and shape what we do throughout the week. 

Service     We believe the church to be the only organization in the world that does not exist for its members.  The church should be outward focused as it fights against things such as illiteracy, injustice, and poverty; while fighting for orphans, widows, and others that cannot fight for themselves.  When we meet people in our neighborhood the first two questions we ask are, “What do you love most about living in the neighborhood?” and “What is the best way a church could serve this neighborhood?”  We want to make sure that folks know that this church is here to serve this neighborhood for its good and not use it for our good.
   
Community    When we speak of community, we are speaking of a group of people, who being united to Jesus, are committed to knowing, serving, and loving one another well.  We want it to be more than simply a group of people who believe the same things and go to the same church.  West Side will be a diverse church where people are free to struggle, doubt, and don’t have to answer “fine, every thing's fine” when someone asks them how they are doing.  We are committed to the fact that it is difficult to love and be loved if there is not a safe place to know and be known.  We are convinced that the more people experience the exposing love of Jesus the more they will be free to be who they really are without having to hide, while at the same time being free to give of themselves to others.

Expansion    From the beginning we are committed to being a “church-planting church.”  We do not want to grow our own Kingdom, but are praying that more and more Christ-centered churches will be started in neighboring communities: Marmalade, Rose Park, Glendale, and West Valley City.  We are committed to being a part of Mission Utah to help facilitate these future church plants in any way we can.  We are also committed to being a part of supporting other church plants throughout the country, and are hoping to take on world missionaries soon.