We desire to be a family from all nations who passionately exalt Jesus Christ as Savior, Treasure, and LORD over all of life and to express His love through the transforming power of the Gospel.

The Church is the family of God. Paul says in Galatians, “Do good to all men especially those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). The word is used in the same way as when we speak of our biological families. In 1 Timothy 5:8 where Paul says, “If a man does not provide for his relatives and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith. This is one of the greatest titles of the Church, the family of God, as it shows our relationship to God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and to each other. In Ephesians 2:18-22 Paul says:

For through him we both have access in one Spirit. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundations of the apostles, prophets and Christ Himself being the corner, in whom the whole structure being joined together into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

The entrance of sin into the world brought enmity between God and man, and with each other (Gen. 3: -19). On the human level, this enmity is expressed in disunity between one race and another, disunity among people of the same race, disunity among people of the same house, etc. Consequently, there is much brokenness, broken lives, fragmentation and rugged individualism in the world.  But our text tells us that through the cross believers have been united into the family of God.  We have received the same grace and access to God so that we are no longer strangers and hostile to each other (Eph. 2: 19).  Christ Himself has knitted us together into a habitation of God by the Spirit (Eph. 2:22).

This title of the church as the family of God is instructive. It emphasizes the filial relationship between believers and God and the bond among members of the family. It also teaches us that we have one Father, Savior and Lord and must surrender the control over our lives; being totally committed to His cause and the extension of His Kingdom on earth. It teaches that as members, we all meet on the broad even platform of equality (Matt. 23:8) and together for the good of the family. Pastors and elders are included, for they are no more than members of the family. All share the same privileges and benefits.  This is God’s will and vision for His church and it is our vision at ANCF.