God has given SCF a specific calling and vision: to Care, Share & Grow

The Elders continually seek God’s wisdom through The Bible and through prayer. As a church we are also fully committed to the priesthood of all believers and expect God to speak into and through everyone – regardless of age – within our church family.

Moving into a New Era

Continually Seeking God

As a Leadership Team, and as a church, we recognise the need to continually be open to hearing God for His direction and purposes. During 2018 SCF received a prophecy that very much echoed what we were already starting to discern.  The prophecy said;

‘…as a Fellowship you are facing, not just a new season, but a new era’ 

As Elders we continued to pray into what God has on His heart for this ‘new era’.  As He revealed a renewed vision to us, He began to show us that it was a continuation of the vision He had revealed to us in 2015 ( https://www.scfchurch.org.uk/scfs-vision/).  He also revealed that, coming into the fullness of this new era for SCF will require us to be willing to change; everyone within the SCF church family will have to be willing to lay some things down so we can pick new things up.

Discerning, what this “New Era” will entail, is very much a work in progress.  The next stage is for us all to move forward together as the church family as we collectively seek to work out God’s plans in the life of the church.

You can listen to Ben Lees our Lead Pastor talk more about this New Era by clicking here

The New Era; 

There are four areas within the renewed vision which are central to SCF coming into the fullness of what God has for us in this New Era:

• Whole Hearted adherence to The Bible as God’s Word

The Bible is foundational for us.  We believe it was inspired by God, He is the author.  Here at SCF we choose to preach from the whole bible as God’s Word to us.  We view scripture just as the Apostle Paul described it to Timothy ie

 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 –NLT

• Personal Engagement in Evangelism.

Part of this New Era will be seeing everyone in the SCF church family engaged in evangelism.  Our heart is that people will see that Christ-in-us has transformed our lives.  Everyone will evangelise differently – not everyone will stand on the street and speak to strangers; for many it is being authentic and open in their everyday circumstances with those in our community, workplace or school, seeking opportunities to demonstrate and then explain Christ’s love for them. 

• Radical action towards those less fortunate (Centre of Care)

SCF has a desire to create a Centre of Care, reaching out to our community to meet their needs.

We believe that we are called: “to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke”, and be Christ’s hands feet and voice for those in need: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”   

Our desire is to not only meet the initial need but through relationship help people come into all the fullness of life.

• Create a Church that the unchurched want to attend

Jesus drew people to him from all walks of life.  Especially those who were considered outcasts by the religious.  The Pharisees turned their noses up at Him when He ate with tax collectors and sinners.  But Jesus simply wanted to love them.  He did not compromise his message, but showed real compassion and care to everyone who came to Him.  We want SCF to be a church family just like this.

Our understanding of how these areas will work out in practice, is still in its infancy.  We are seeking for every church member to help us grow and shape God’s renewed vision for SCF in the life of the church; to journey together into a New Era.