Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” –Luke 7:22

We believe the Good News was not just the death, burial and resurrection of Christ but also the restoration of the fatherless, the sick, the poor, and the abandoned. This Good News was the arrival of the kingdom of heaven, and Jesus shows John the Baptist that through his care for the oppressed, he is the king of this kingdom. As a church of this new kingdom we hope to care for the oppressed, the downtrodden, and the poor and bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. Counseling, loving community, and authentic prayer are central to our care for our members.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name… –Philippians 2:8-9

We believe Jesus came as a humble servant. His leadership was a leadership of service to others. Authority was given to him, not taken by force. Our church pledges to follow in his example, encouraging leaders to be the most active servants. Authority is a crown, but it is a crown of thorns. Our leadership hopes to bear that crown by viewing our positions as no greater or lesser than any member of Wayfarers.

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. –1 Corinthians 11:23–26

Jesus saw importance in holding ritual meals within the church and commanded his disciples to continue them. Rituals are responses to past events that allow us to participate in those events as if we were there. They offer another way to understand the story of Jesus and Israel by acting out those parts. At Wayfarers we aren’t just concerned with head knowledge, but also with rituals that lead to a deeper understanding of faith.

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” –Matthew 28:18–20

Our mission is to engage with communities in Memphis, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religious background. We invite you no matter where you are in your journey in life. Our hope is to be a place of rest in a crazy and anxious world. We aren’t afraid to preach what we believe but you are definitely welcome even if you don’t agree with us.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. –1 Peter 2:9

Priests stand as communicators between the holy and the unholy. At Wayfarers we believe that our lives are set apart as special, and God lives inside us. We are more than just humans holding onto pews until we die. We are bridges between heaven and earth. We have connections to beauties, arts, and loves that define our lives. Through those connections we hope to bring others into that same kind of relationship.

So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. –2 Corinthians 5:6–8

The word for “belief” here is pistis, and it’s a word that has a meaning somewhere in between allegiance and trust. At Wayfarers we live by trusting in a future not yet here. Our hope is in all things being made right by Jesus who we believe will return to set the world right. We are in a period of Advent now, with much hardship, but one day all will be joy.