OUR VALUES

It is not down on any map; true places never are.

– Herman Melville

COMMUNITY

Grace Explorations is a space where people with names create real community and conversation based on a common purpose. We are not a place where programs with numbers create religious consumers and commentators based on a colorful personality. Community cares. Consumers critique.

REDEMPTION

We are a redemptive community. We are not a religious culture. Relationships heal. Religion hurts.

NOBILITY

We pursue original glory and heal with honor. We do not police original sin or help with hiding. Pilgrims journey. Performers judge.

STORY

We promote stories. We do not preach sermons. Stories touch. Sermons tell.

HEALING

We perform soul surgery on patients. We do not pronounce sentence on prisoners. Guilt convicts. Shame condemns.

REAL

We care more about acceptance and becoming right. We care less about agreeing and being right. Real persuades. Right politics.

AUTHENTICITY

We welcome returning prodigals. We wound religious Pharisees. Authenticity attracts. Hypocrisy alienates.

CONVERSATION

We dialogue. We do not debate. Grace humbles. Pride humliates.

GRACE

We end arguments with awe. We do not begin arguments that end awfully. Grace awes. Mercy accepts. Justice argues.

SIGNIFICANCE

We fail forward. We do not succeed backwards. Failure impacts. Success impresses.

CREATIVITY

We are catalytic leaders. We are not micro managers. Leaders create. Managers control.

EXPLORATION

We explore. We do not settle. Pioneers do. Settlers dream.

BROTHERHOOD

We are a Band of Brothers with names and faces. We are not a building of bodies with numbers and places. Brothers bond. Buildings break.

TRANSCENDENCE

We climb mountains to change our character. We do not curse mountains to change our circumstances. Climbers conquer. Complainers crumble.

HEART

We are a fellowship of the heart. We are not a federation of minds. Hearts feel. Heads formulate.

LINEAGE

We are beloved sons. We are not betrayed slaves. Sons belong. Slaves behave.

HONOR

We are a league of extraordinary gentlemen. We are not emasculated males. Men are made. Males are born.

KINGDOM

We compliment the church. We do not compete with the church. Missional ministries multiply. Denominational distinctive’s divide.

TRUTH

We are a safe space for people to process a dangerous message. We are not a dangerous place for programs to promote a safe message. Truth frees. Legalism fears.

CHRIST

We are followers of Christ. We are not fans of Christ. Followers change. Fans clap.

_____________________________

OUR DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE

From the ends of the earth to the edge of eternity,

Grace Explorations will climb every mountain,

march every field and sail every sea

in the relentless pursuit of our original glory

created in the image of Christ.

We will embark on a heroic quest whose only guarantee is a

changed life upon an uncertain return as God’s great secrets

are revealed when a man returns from his great search.

We will walk ancient paths into pain, power and purpose

where the future is past to find timeless truth and arrive

where we were first meant to be.

We will drown into destiny to discover the journey is the

destination to every point unknown except to God in order to

make Him known.

We will go where few dare to go to

live our deepest and truest life as a waking dream where the

weight of eternity thins time into a “thin place.”

We will touch the undiscovered country within to reach the

naked soul of man and read what a sword of words bled from

a painful pen writes as a text of tears.

We will adventure into awe further than sight can see where

weapons of wonder hurt to heal and help us find home on

the far side of a strange sea this side of heavens shore.

From the furthest shore to the final frontier, Grace

Explorations will never stop exploring God’s Amazing Grace.

Where “there be dragons” there is also grace even unto the

ends of the earth and ourselves to find a new beginning in