Mission & Values
Our Mission
To see people deeply transformed by God's grace through the gospel of King Jesus in Memphis, to the ends of the earth.
Deeply Transformed
We resist shallow and superficial. We seek loving environments that encourage openness, vulnerability, and intimacy with God and one another.
God's Grace
A true encounter with the grace of God is the only power for deep transformation and heart change. God’s grace is free and costly.
The Gospel of King Jesus
We stand with the King—Jesus’ incarnation, kingdom ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension to God’s right hand, and sending of the Holy Spirit are our hope.
Memphis, to the Ends of the Earth
We live small, focusing on our tables, neighborhoods and city, but we dream big, seeking to influence Shelby County, the Mid-South, and the world for the kingdom.
Our Values
At Oikos, our values are more than ideas—they’re how we live and the culture we’re seeking to grow. These convictions shape how we walk with Jesus and engage our neighbors. In a noisy world pulling us in a thousand directions, we return again and again to these anchors.
Spirit-led Movement
We are God’s oikos because His Spirit lives in us (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 2:5). We seek to be led by the Spirit in every step of the journey, whether we’re gathered in worship or scattered across the city. In a go-your-own-way world, we seek the Spirit’s presence, gifts, and power. We value:
-
Prayerful listening
-
Communal discernment
-
Deep engagement with Scripture
-
Being sent to make disciples
-
Unity that’s bigger than any one church
Renewed Identity
In a culture where identity is something we achieve and express, we believe true identity is something we receive from Jesus. If you want to find yourself, you must deny yourself (Matt. 16:24). By grace, we’re becoming our true, new selves (Eph. 4:22–24). We value:
-
Faithful surrender
-
Relational vulnerability
-
Confession of sin
-
Resisting cultural narratives
-
Embracing freedom in Christ
Beloved Family
God’s family, His oikos, is a diverse, spiritual family of brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers (Eph 2:19; Gal. 6:10; Tit. 2:1-10). In God’s family, unity is prioritized, diversity is celebrated, and ministry is shared. We value:
-
The way of love and joy
-
Multigenerational worship and church life
-
Multiethnic diversity
-
Multifaceted gifts
-
The family table
Holistic Ministry
The gospel doesn’t only change souls—it changes homes, neighborhoods, systems, and cities. The early church moved from oikos to oikos (Acts 2:46; 20:20), bringing the full presence of Jesus into every corner of life. In an either/or world, we value “and” in our holistic ministry. We value:
-
Gathering and scattering
-
Personal and public faith
-
The whole gospel–evangelism and justice
-
The whole person–heart, soul, mind, and body
-
The whole world–Memphis and the nations
Rhythm of Life
God’s people have thrived as a counter-culture by living into rhythms of life that pursue His presence. When we say rhythm of life, we mean the whole of our lives—Up, In, and Out—lived in a balance of movement and rest. In a world “anxious and troubled by many things,” we value “the one thing that is necessary” (Lk. 10:41-42). We value:
-
Life-giving limits and Sabbath
-
The Christian calendar
-
The Transforming GRACES (link to GRACES)
-
Simple and repeatable
-
Consistent community