About Convergence
Purpose
We exist to grow in our friendship with Jesus, our friendship with one another, and to extend these friendships to the world through the power of God’s Word and Spirit.
Friendship with Jesus
Jesus says that He no longer calls us servants, but friends (John 15:15). The primary orientation of a servant is to do work; the primary orientation of a friend is the enjoyment of a person. Our goal is to center our lives around the worshipful enjoyment of Jesus, and to allow all of our obedience and service to flow naturally from that loving friendship.
Friendship with one another
The only Person who didn’t need a team was Jesus, and yet He chose to have one (Mark 3:13-15). There is no such thing as lone-ranger Christianity. The blessings of Jesus’ death are experienced in the community where He is alive, so our goal is to cultivate deep friendships with one another.
Extend those friendships to the world
God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (John 3:16). If a church loves what God loves, then we should love the world also, with a cross-dying, self-sacrificing sort of love. This love should not be mechanical or contrived, however. The primary vehicle for our ministry to the world is friendship, because how else can the world know the richness of a friendship with our Savior?
What We Do
We multiply disciples and churches from Oklahoma City to the ends of the earth.
Who We Are
Convergence is a “church of house churches.” Like the early church, we share communion, meals, spiritual gifts, prayer, Scripture, and a common mission in and through house churches, overseen by devoted shepherds. Also like the early church, we gather in larger meetings for worship, instruction, and ministry. If our large gatherings operate like an extended family, our house churches function like a nuclear family where we form our closest relationships, and those relationships in turn form us—more into Christ’s image.
Convergence is different from a “network” of house churches because we gather weekly as a large group and relate more closely than networks do. We are a church.
What We Believe
Throughout history, the catholic (universal) church has defined its beliefs through creeds. We affirm the Nicene Creed, the Apostles’ Creed, the Chalcedonian Creed, and Athanasian Creed. We consider them boundary markers for the Christian faith. These are our foundational beliefs:
The Trinity
We believe in the Triune God (Matthew 28:19): God the Father (John 6:27); God the Son (John 20:28); God the Spirit (Acts 5:3-4); each Person is co-equal and co-eternal.
Creation
We believe that God created all things, both visible and invisible, out of His goodness and for His glory. (Genesis 1:31; Psalm 104:24; Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11)
Sin
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice. (Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3)
Jesus
We believe that God the Son took on humanity and will forever be fully God and fully man. (John 1:1, 14; 1 Timothy 2:5)
We believe that Jesus died on the cross in our place for our sin and that He was bodily resurrected on the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Salvation
We believe that man can be justified only by grace alone and through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. (Acts 16:31; Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-9)
Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit creates (Psalm 104:30), regenerates (Titus 3:5), empowers. (Acts 1:8), unites (Ephesians 4:3), purifies (2 Corinthians 3:18), reveals (Acts 2:17-18), secures (Ephesians 1:13-14), and mediates God’s presence or blessing (Isaiah 44:3; Romans 5:5)
The Church
We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church (see Nicene Creed).
One. Diverse peoples comprise the unified people of God (Ephesians 4:4-6).
Holy. God calls the church to purity of doctrine and lifestyle (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Catholic. “Catholic” means universal; the universal church spans time and space (Ephesians 1:22-23).
Apostolic. Our faith is rooted in the apostolic teaching and compelled by the apostolic mission. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
The Bible
We believe that the Bible is God’s inspired and authoritative Word. (2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:11; 2 Timothy 3:15-17)
Sacraments
We believe in the sacraments of water baptism and communion. (Acts 2:38-42)
Second Coming
We believe in the future bodily return of the Lord Jesus, commonly called the Second Coming of Christ. (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16)
We believe that God will consign unbelievers to hell and believers to eternal life. (John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:11-15)
We believe in the resurrection of the dead and the renewal of creation. (John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; Romans 8:18-23)
Governance
Convergence is an elder-led, deacon-served, and congregation-engaged local church of house churches. This structure is intended to reflect biblical principles for operation of the local church, with an emphasis on the leadership role of elders, the service function of deacons, and the accountability function of the congregation. Generally, as it pertains to church polity, elders lead the congregation; deacons serve the congregation; and the congregation provides accountability for elders, deacons and fellow members of the congregation.