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About Reality Church

Vision 2023

"Living the Relational Kingdom"

About the vision:

As we began our journey through the book of Matthew last year, we heard many messages about the kingdom of God and the identity of
Jesus. As Jesus travelled around, he was demonstrating and teaching about what the kingdom of God is like and what it means to be his disciple. In all these interactions, it becomes clear that what Jesus was doing and saying was entirely unexpected, even to those who were eagerly anticipating the coming of the Messiah. Jesus was the unlikely king bringing an unlikely kingdom: and it was (and is) Good News! This leads us to consider how we can fully understand the kingdom, Jesus the King, and our place in the story today.

When Jesus, “…the visible image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) was teaching about the kingdom, he was demonstrating how we are to embody the kingdom in our everyday lives, and in our everyday relationships. We are not just called to “preach the Gospel”, but live it out in our homes, schools, workplaces, and in our communities. We need to commit ourselves to the God of reconciliation, who invites us to participate in the “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18) and to cultivate healthy relationships in all areas of our lives.

The Kingdom is a Big Deal!

Our God is relational. We are called into relationship with him and each other, for the sake of the world!

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. (John 17:21)

The vision we have for our church community this year, is that we will learn what the kingdom of God is like, as we grow into living it out – together.
“When followers of Jesus share life together in a particular place they become much greater than the sum of their parts – they actually become something altogether new.” 
(The New Parish, Sparks, Soerens, and Friesen, 2014, p 22)

We will resist the cultural urge to think of ourselves as individual believers, that merely gather on a Sunday morning to celebrate our shared faith. Instead, we are seeking God for what kingdom community is, and what it looks like “where the rubber hits the road” in our everyday lives, and our everyday relationships.

“Christlike victory is not about power over the other. It’s not about our own success or accomplishment. And it’s not about choosing our own missional identity. It’s about learning a way of love together that overcomes hatred and fear and brings about healing and renewal.”

(The New Parish, Sparks, Soerens, and Friesen, 2014, p 48)

Five Year Vision (2022-2026)

- to be known as we make Him known -

Our 5-year vision is multi-faceted: to be Known. To know God and be known by Him is not simply to have knowledge, but it is a lived experience of being caught up in His presence. It is a relational term. 

As we are transformed, it is then our task to “make Him known”. We are ambassadors of Christ, called to take what we know and experience of Him into the world around us. This should be the heartbeat of our everyday lives. The next level is to believe in the vision for our church. To trust that God has called Reality for a purpose, to be His vehicle for transformation and liberation for our families and communities. 

Our vision is that Reality Christian Fellowship becomes known in the community of Traralgon, and the Latrobe Valley. Within the next 5 years we want to see accommodation and retreats, conferences, leadership training, community and outreach events, employment opportunities and church plants. All this along with our existing ministries thriving and participating in the eternal purposes of God.

Reality's DNA

Reality is a place where you can “come as you are.” Believing that the salvation of God is freely given for all people, through grace and faith.

Reality is a place where family is Nurtured, Developed & Demonstrated.
Every part of the body being “valued,” released, and effectively operating in the gifts God has given to them.

Reality is a “safe place” of Love, Growth and Acceptance. Reality will be “known for our Love”.

A place where “Genuine Life Transformation” takes place in the hearts, minds and lives of our people.

Regardless of our numerical size we will always “give beyond measure”. This giving includes, Time, Money, People, Love, Care & Hospitality, always allowing our-selves to be inconvenienced for one other.

Reality will always have a “vision beyond our-selves”, reaching out into the wider community and ultimately throughout the world.

We will be a “strong base” for local churches, from which we will send out supported ministry for short- and long-term ministry.

Jesus is our benchmark, the one we aspire too and the rock we build our lives upon. It is a privilege to be a part of what God is doing and growing at REALITY CHURCH.

Let the whole earth praise Jesus’ wonderful and beautiful name.
We commit to you, Ps Rob & Bec and Leadership Team.
AMEN

Statement of Beliefs

At Reality Christian Fellowship we believe:

  • In the Bible as the inspired Word of God.
  • In God, the Creator, who has revealed Himself in the Persons of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit;
  • In the Divinity and sinless Humanity of Jesus Christ, and in His miraculous ministry, His suffering and death on the Cross as the only Saviour for the sins of the world, and His resurrection from the dead;
  • That Jesus will return to the earth as its final Judge of the living and the dead;
  • That all people fall short of God’s perfect standard and can only find forgiveness through faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ;
  • That all people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will witness a transformation in their lives, exemplified by repentance and holiness of conduct;
  • In Christian Baptism, by full immersion in water, of those who have personally placed their faith in Jesus Christ;
  • In regularly celebrating the Lord’s Supper, remembering Jesus Christ’s saving work;
  • In the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, with the normal initial evidence of speaking in unknown languages;
  • In the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit;
  • That God heals the sick today through active faith in His grace;
  • In the power of prayer;
  • In God’s community of believers, the church and its responsibility to spread the message of the Gospel to all people and nations.

 

Foundations

Reality Christian Fellowship is a Pentecostal church, belonging to the Christian Revival Crusade (CRC). The church is a not-for-profit organization governed by an oversight team. 

RCF is situated on 23 acres at the west end of Traralgon. The church has a rich heritage, being planted in 1972 under the leadership of Pastors John & Jean Leak. 

The church soon grew to a sizeable Christian community, with significant children’s ministry, which saw up to 200 children being bussed to the Sunday School program each Sunday morning.

In recent years the main church building has been extended and the kitchen renovated. With 23 acres, there is plenty of space to grow and we are excited to dream about what God has in store for Reality Church.