Posted by Collin Box

I have a story to tell.my heart is with salem - not because there are so many things to do here or because there are so many people here - but because there are people here.

my heart is in salem - not because i want to be here or because i have to be here - but because i feel like i’m supposed to be here.

my heart burns for salem - not because i have a sensitive heart or because i have great compassion - but because i have seen the hurt, the hopelessness, the pain on my friend’s faces here in salem. they all have the same need, and i have the one thing that i know can meet that need. would you willingly hold back the cure to a worldwide epidemic - lack of purpose, lack of hope, lack of meaning?

the pains of the world are everywhere…no one is exempt. whether you follow a certain belief system, come from a wealthy family, have amazing talents, or enjoy a multitude of friends.
the universal remedy for the pains of this world is not money, security, fame, or religion.
the answer to the world’s question is Jesus.
the cure for salem’s problems is Jesus.
the vision is JESUS
since i was a sophomore in high school, i have felt this great burden for my city. i know its not the greatest city by any means, but i can’t help myself from feeling this deep pain for the lost ones in my hometown.

i once met a man who began to weep when speaking about those who would be lost forever. do i have that same passion for my friends who need to know the one who can save them?

i hate saying that i’m religious. i hate saying that i am a christian. i hate talking about “sharing the gospel” or “witnessing” or “evangelism.” these terms have been tainted by the pharisees of this age. Jesus said to those pharisees 2,000 years ago, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law-justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”

what i am is a christ-follower. i am a world changer. i am a part of the glorious story of redemption. i am an administer of love, justice, mercy, and faith.

God has given me a mandate - he has told me to go and proclaim to a hurting, dirty, empty, and dying world that there is hope, joy, mercy, and peace found in his Son. Jesus reconciled the world to himself becuase he loved us too much to let us destroy ourselves. do we love the world enough to get out and offer new life to those around us?
i want to quit this Christian life. i don’t want to be a good, clean person any longer. i am not satisfied with mediocrity or comfortability. i want to push myself further than today’s church has ever gone - into the slums and the problems of a hurting generation. that is why i am part of this “change the world campaign.” i’ve decided that its better to fail while reaching for the impossible rather than succeed settling for less. i’m ready to fail.

will you join me?

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Posted by Jesse Hayes

There was once a gathering of Christians who took a stand. They heard the call of Christ and refused to settle for anything less.

They decided to live out Christian life along side one another in a way that was challenging and encouraging.

They chose to speak with courage, think with purpose, act with passion.

They resolved to share without hesitation, hope without apology, and love without fear.

They willed to worship with everything and in everything.

They dared to dream big and to challenge the impossible.

They were compelled to love God until everything in them changed; and to love their neighbors into loving God.

They decided to no longer grovel in sin already forgiven.

They decided to no longer hide behind “Christian” masks and empty smiles.

They decided to no longer cover up their sin in an attempt to appear good, but to cast aside their sin in an attempt to do good.

They refused to settle for runtdom and instead, strove to be heroes.

They lived life with greatness-not a greatness that has anything to do with self, but a greatness that has everything to do with Christ.

They determined to train hard-to run, to fight, to strive with all that was in them until their bruised and well-worn hands held the prize and their tear-stained eyes saw their King. Until that day, they yearned for every step taken to glorify their Maker; every bead of sweat to fall working for the Kingdom; and every heartbeat to beat in time with their Savior’s.

They decided to no longer give God part, or even most, but all, and that nothing short of all will do.

Who is this gathering? It is us. Or, more accurately, what we could be. This is the call of every Christian-your call and my call. And some of us have heard this call and answered. We are going for it. We are giving God our all.

This is an invitation to come with us.

We are not afraid of who sees us. Please do not misunderstand this. It is not a prideful exaltation of ourselves, but rather, unashamed love.

This is not a club, or a clique, or an activity-it is a lifestyle.

Will you answer the call?

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Posted by Doug Murphy

Lately, I haven’t cared at all. Nothing has mattered to me. God? no, didn’t matter. Friends? I had no desire to put myself out there. I didn’t care about anything…except getting through this week, this semester, this year.I was fully aware of God’s steadfast love but I didn’t want that to affect me. I knewthat God had made me his poema - His masterpiece but I didn’t want that. I was so sick of trying, so sick of failing. I didn’t want anything to do with God. I didn’t care. I gave him my attention when I had the time…which became never. My entire life I had trusted God with my life but this time, I took it upon myself. Ah, how I failed. How weak I am. I was a broken altar made of a heart of stone. But ah, how God breaks that heart of stone.

God is here. God is showing Himself to me in amazing ways. It doesn’t matter what I feel, for emotions are ever changing, ever deceptive. It doesn’t matter what I KNOW about God… for the longest distance is the 12 inches between the mind and the heart. All that remains is faith, hope, and love. It doesn’t matter about the good works I do, but the good works I do IN CHRIST.

It’s funny, everyone asks “are you growing?” What does that mean? Generally, I judge it based on how close I feel to God, how much time I spend with Him, etc. So if I judge my faith on that, ah I’m failing. My quiet times are seldom. I read so many chapters a night for homework, reading God’s Word has become work. That’s it. Emotions? I feel nothing. But now if you ask me “Are you growing?” I will answer “Yes.” Why? Because I’ve fallen. I’ve failed. I am stupid. I don’t care enough. I don’t love enough. I’m realzing this. God is SHOWING me how I can’t do anything. That’s why I’m growing, because I’m realizing that I can do nothing. So I’m falling into God’s arms, allowing Him to be my strength. Allowing Him to give me love. I have nothing to offer so I will simply be. Be in His arms. Be in His presence. Be. Am I growing? Yes, because this is maturity - To fall into His arms.

God is on the move. He is going to pierce hearts. His love will be proclaimed. Ah, I’m so sick of this monastery, this “City on a hill” where that’s exactly what we do - stay on this hill and never move. This isn’t real life here at Corban. We are in this bubble of religious ideas where we think that we’re doing fine. We’re so passive, so comfortable. We don’t realize that we have something INCREDIBLE. 900 Christians, followers of Christ, everyday gathering together.

That SHOULD change US
That SHOULD change CORBAN.
That SHOULD change SALEM….
THE WORLD.

Are you ready? Oh it’s coming….
Can you feel it? It’s here.

God is going to move.

A post from a Credo member (Brent Hayes)

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Posted by Doug Murphy

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Posted by Doug Murphy

I think possibly the most difficult thing about being a pastor is getting people to believe God created them for greatness-I’m not saying that there won’t be tragedy or defeat; but to paraphrase Paul in Ephesians, we aren’t saved by good works but for good works!

Arrgh!!! When will we learn? The old man will not pass away until we put on the new man. We are never told that we will be without sin on this side of heaven, but that remains to steal our focus. We are commanded to love one another, but instead of striving for this, we focus on our own shortcomings. We get stuck. We focus on the things we need to quit doing, dwell on the things we’ve failed at, and fixate on the things we’ve fallen short in. We were created for greatness, yet we refuse to embrace it.

-Doug Murphy

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Posted by Doug Murphy

I was amazed this past Tuesday the 30th; I saw what started out as an amazing spark, ignite into a flame. A flame that will hopefully be stoked into a roaring fire. . .A small group of Credo members attending Corban College decided that they were fed up with living lives of mediocrity, that if united together they could make a significant impact on Salem. They brainstormed how to reach our community and how to become change agents in our local colleges. They rose above the self-seeking temptation of this world and began to brainstorm different possibilities of bringing a message of hope, love and healing, to a generation of people who so desperately need it. . .

Let’s be honest, a group of people gathering together in a church to talk about outreach ideas is about as common as a cloudy day in Seattle. But here’s the thing that is so exciting to me, everyone there made a commitment to go out and recruit anywhere from 3-5 people for next week’s meeting. That’s almost unheard of-people agreeing upon a measurable goal and actually making a commitment to do something. I can’t help but want to say something really sarcastic about the lack of action in the body today-but I won’t.

I am excited to see what November 6 brings and if people truly follow through with their commitments to go out and bring others. . .

I will keep you posted.

-Doug Murphy

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Posted by Lindsay Erickson

God:  We believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ:  We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. We believe he was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now acts as the only mediator between God and people.

The Holy Spirit:  We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit, as the third person of the Trinity, is to apply to people the saving work of Christ. He does this by bringing conviction of a person’s need for the forgiveness of Christ. He regenerates their hearts and then permanently indwells them when they believe. His ongoing work is to guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by Lindsay Erickson

Authenticity:  We believe authenticity, acceptance and truth-telling create the atmosphere where people can become whole (Romans 12:3, Ephesians 4:11-16, 25-26). There is no need to pretend we are better or worse than we really are, but as we accept each other and speak the truth in love to one another, we can help each other grow into whole people.  This is not a place to put on your churchy face or mask your problems. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by Lindsay Erickson

“To help the un-churched and de-churched people become a unified community of growing Christ-followers.”
(Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:12-13)

Jesus never saw church as a place to go, but as people who love him and who are learning to love others. At Credo, no matter what your spiritual background or past, we want you to “Come as you are.” From there, we’ll all grow together!

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