The “modern looking” DNA strand/two fishes logo represents exactly what we are all about.
We are a family within Himself.
I encourage us all to broaden the Kingdom through such relationships.
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Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
Cease to do evil, learn to do good;
Seek justice, correct oppression;
Bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
Isaiah 1:16-17
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Q&A:
Since this is a new Bible study, I figured people might have some questions.
Q: What are the core beliefs of Family in Christ?
A: We base our core beliefs off of Scripture. We choose to live our lives based on what/how Christ has told us how to love. Our “theme verse” is Isaiah 1:16-17.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
Q: Do you use a specific translation in this Bible study?
A: No. We are all leaders, and Christ has all called us to use different translations of the Bible. Through using multiple translations, we will develop a richer sense of the text. Until Christ has revealed to us which translation to base our teachings upon as a group, we will not say that one translation will dominate in our group.
Q: How will you seek out God’s direction and plan when it comes to choosing a translation?
A: Prayer.
Q: By nondenominational, do you mean any denomination within the Protestant denomination?
A: Nope. Nondenominational in our case means any believer of Christ as their Savior.
Q: Since most of the members live in different states for most of the year, how do you all get together?
A: Through skype, writing hand written letters, e-mails, etc. Our Bible studies during the school year will be done via skype (once a week, or once every other week). Prayer requests and other letters of love can be received through text, calling, etc. Everyone in the group will be contacted by others in the group, more than likely, on a daily basis. We will have a directory once the Bible study is more established.
Q: That’s a lot of communication time, how exactly do you find your time being spent in this group?
A: This is true. There will be a lot of communication time. We believe that we should “Encourage one another daily…(Hebrews 3:13).” A family loves each other everyday. We aren’t going to differentiate this group of people as anything less than blood related. We will have times planned to get together during breaks. Most of our time, while we are at home, will be spent doing service together.
Q: So will you be setting up missions trips together?
A: Very good question! We already have a missions trip in planning progress for the summer. All of our missions trips will be done in the US as of right now. However, we have connections with so many churches that if one of our members feels called to go on a missions trip elsewhere, we would be able to provide such a trip.
Q: So what is the leadership like in Family in Christ?
A: Every single person in our group has been called to be a leader in Christ due to the fact that they were created to be a unique person in Christ, with unique spiritual gifts. We will all be taking turns sharing what God has put on our hearts. I guess one could say that we will have a “disciple of the night” for each Bible study. Every single person will have a large part in the study. It will be a great way for everyone to know that they have a huge part in the Body of Christ, as well as Family in Christ.
Q: So the Isaiah verse is talking about seeking social justice. Are you an activist group?
A: Nope. We are not defined by our actions, but by our Savior. With that being said, God has called us to seek justice, and we do associate ourselves with some “social” groups (Love146 and blood:water mission, as of right now)
Q: So for service opportunities, do you guys work for these groups? How is your service done?
A: Every single person in this group is called to service in different areas. For example: Katie Williams is called to serve through her studies at Siena College, preparing to go to med school, which she has already gotten into. Ai Valley is a Campus Rep for TOMS shoes and is a volunteer at Capital City Rescue Mission. Matt MaLossi is a disciple on his school’s baseball team. We will do service projects together at different places when we get home (local food pantries, churches, etc.) and we do hope to make connections with these places, in order to get to know those who work there and those who visit. We are not looking to be established with just one service group, but we hope to connect to several.
Q: So, are you funded by a church?
A: No. We all help to financially support one another in the group. There isn’t one church that we go to for help. However, if we do need assistance from people outside the group, all of our members belong to different churches within NY, and we know that we can get help from any of those places. We aren’t a sponsored group, if that’s what you mean.
Q: So if a controversial question arises in the group, where do you go to find the answer.
A: Scripture and prayer. If there is still not a clearly defined answer, we will go to local Pastors and other religious leaders (Bible study leaders, elders, etc.).
Q: So, to wrap it up, what is the purpose of the group?
A: The purpose is to truly live by what Christ teaches. There is so much going on within so many churches that do not follow the Word of God. We desire to follow after God’s heart, and deny our own desires to be filled with His. He calls us to be family. We rely on God and His Divine Providence. We desire to love with the heart of God’s, rather than a corrupt human heart. We desire to broaden His Kingdom on Earth, through seeing through the eyes of Christ. Our group is learning how to truly deny ourselves, pick up our crosses, and follow Him.
While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50
