More about our Purpose…

Our purpose is to embody God’s love to bring about peace, justice, and belonging.

We seek to create an intentionally diverse and inclusive Christian community, living out Jesus’ call to love and do justice for every one of God’s children. Embodying God’s love happens in our faith and action, worship and advocacy, spirituality and service. We experience the abundant and unconditional love of God, and we are called to share that love in the world – individually, as faithful followers of Jesus, and collectively, as a community of faith.

Peace - Oakhurst has been a peacemaking congregation in the Presbyterian Church (USA) since the late 1980’s.  The ways in which we worship, live, work, and witness in the world are built upon a desire to build a culture of peace and nonviolence. Some of the ways we do this are through: anti-racism work, efforts to prevent gun violence, and relationship building with the Southeastern Mvskoke Nation. More information can be found here.

Justice -  “…What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” These words from Micah 6:8 serve as our call to engage in the work of Racial Justice, Environmental Justice, Economic Justice, and more. We participate in advocacy and direct support and engagement with those most affected by societal injustice, in order that each and every member of God’s creation may have the resources and support they need to flourish and be free.

Belonging – We are a welcoming and affirming community, which intentionally seeks to reflect and celebrate God’s diverse creation.  We are willing to be honest and acknowledge the dividing walls that can separate us. We are willing to have difficult conversations  across differences to foster belonging, so we may worship and witness together fully as children of God.  Some of the differences we experience in the Oakhurst family include people of different races, ethnicities, gender expression, sexual orientation, economic realities, and religious backgrounds. Through this blessed diversity  we work to create space where people of many cultures are active  participants in the community, grow in their faith, serve and lead in our mission, and flourish as disciples of Jesus.