Who We Are
History
Known originally as North Side Church of God, and later as First Church of God, Central Community Church has been an active force in Hanford for over 100 years. Records indicate that the church began in 1898, and was officially incorporated in 1926. Over these many years the congregation has ministered to hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals of all ages. Our Affiliation
W
e strongly affirm that God’s church is bigger than our own congregation. For that reason we strive to cooperate, wherever possible, with other churches because, despite differences in tradition and approach, our ultimate objectives are the same. One of the significant ways that we maintain accountability and connection is by voluntarily participating with the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), an international movement of churches. The Church of God places emphasis on two often neglected teachings of Scripture: Unity and Holiness. Unity reminds us that God's church is made up of all followers of Christ, and is not limited to any one location or denomination. Therefore, we must work towards harmony and cooperation, avoiding unnecessary divisions and labels. Holiness is about making our faith practical instead of just a matter of belief. We are called and empowered to live in God’s way so that we can make a difference within our world. Our Beliefs
The center of our faith and life is God in Jesus Christ. We believe that ultimate life is found in his teachings, death and resurrection; and that we can experience and live that reality through the presence of God’s Spirit. Our core beliefs are those shared by most Christians. We avoid formalizing our beliefs into a creed or into rigid theological statements, convinced instead that Scripture is the sufficient basis for discovering God’s plan. Acquiring truth requires humility, sincerity, diligence, and openness. What We Do
Our Mission
To love people so they discover all that God created them to be and
live as followers of Jesus Christ. Our mission statement describes our purpose, or what it is we do. As a church we uphold the conviction that we exist not just for ourselves, but for the whole world, including those who do not yet follow Christ. The message of Jesus is good news and brings new life. We will do whatever we can to help people discover God’s way and how it can become a reality for them. Everything we do is based on this mission of developing disciples (i.e. We will avoid establishing programs that may distract us from accomplishing this purpose. Our Vision
To be an alternative church for irreligious people to discover and live a meaningful faith that impacts the world. Our vision statement summarizes our specific calling, and what we are becoming. Every church is unique in composition, character, strengths, resources, and approach. A city like Hanford can benefit from a variety of different churches, each finding their own niche and impacting people that they are best suited to reach. At Central Community Church we have determined that, while we reach out to everyone, we are best able to connect with adults, 40-60 years old, who have given up on or may have been hurt by organized religion. We see ourselves becoming an “alternative” church for those who are reluctant to enter a more traditional setting due to their past experiences and impressions. Many of these people can be considered “irreligious” because, while they may still believe in God and are interested in spirituality, they are not involved in religious activity. We understand our goal to help them develop a “meaningful faith” that is more than tradition or rote, but that engages them in their everyday lives. Worship Service begins Sunday mornings @9:45am and ends at 11:30am with a 15 minute fellowship break at approx. 10:10am.
