Cause oriented
We want to bridge with causes that are investing in the general good of society. Canadians continue to give 2 billion hours to volunteerism and Ontario high schools require 40 hours to be completed for graduation. We want to come alongside people working for the betterment of society. Jesus modeled serving others and by us doing likewise we are reflecting God’s image.
Place of shalom – through Sabbath
Jesus said, ‘The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.’ Mark 2: 27 NLT
We want to operate from a place of peace (shalom). Jesus resists the busyness of society from a deeply rooted peace from God. That place can only come from intentional time with God, waiting, anticipating, watching, interceding, listening… Sabbath helps engage a posture that brings our whole selves and not our distracted selves. Sabbath helps us learn who activates and energizes any good thing we are a part of. Launch Point seeks not to be about frantic human effort in isolation from God, but rather a community energized by that deep inner gift of the Spirit of love, joy and peace. As we enter this sanctuary of time, such sabbath gives us the energy, the vision, the insight, and the purpose for everything else we do.
Our picture of God is enlarged with diversity
Multiple generations from a growing number of cultures and backgrounds increase our understanding and revelation of God. We seek to actively pursue conversations that connect our faith in Christ and life stories to each other.
Radical generosity for the benefit of others
The church that reinvests 50% back into the community. That’s our goal. We want to keep the operational budget as minimal as possible. We want to foster a culture that is others centred. We want to be a people that casts a spotlight on the betterment of others. A Psychology Today article by Allen R McConnell Ph.D. confirms the science that giving really is better than receiving, as it creates shared investment and ownership of community. More importantly, God modelled sacrificial giving when He gave us His Son. In the bible, giving isn’t so much a command as much as a door into God’s principle for life. Malachi 3:10-12.
Fostering a playful culture
Pressure, bottom lines, and stress are often by-products of our worldly culture of performance. We want to be counter-cultural, inviting people into an environment where it’s okay to fail—providing for a safe place. As kids, we learned to play with others, from which grew connectedness, community, creativity, and joy. As adults, we desire to recapture that. We want to be about pursuing excellence, but not perfection, giving room for failure and growth. It’s not about us! Performance is not the goal, because God can work through our shortcomings and imperfections. This fosters a culture of freedom and recognition of our humanness. It’s energy-giving rather than energy-depleting.
