Five Principles & Five Values
Servants adheres to five principles and five values. The principles are: Incarnation - LIVING WITH THE POOR We intentionally live with the urban poor, learning from them, building genuine relationships, participating in their lives and struggles, learning their language and their culture, and working out how Jesus’ love can best be shown in their context. Community - WORKING WITH PEOPLE, NOT JUST FOR THEM As well as a commitment to the communities we move into, we have a passion to work together in supportive teams that model the love, care and community that Jesus spoke of. We work with people, not just for them Wholism - SPEAKING GRACE & PROMOTING JUSTICE We want to see the good news of Jesus proclaimed in word, deed and power. We have a God who is working to renew all things and to restore wholeness of life to all creation. Our lives amongst the poor call us to care for individuals, families and communities, as well as for the structures and systems of human society and the environment on which we all depend. We work for justice, proclaim God’s grace, and lift all things to Him in prayer. Servanthood - EMPOWERING NOT OVERPOWERING Servants seek to follow Jesus who came in humility ‘not to be served but to serve'. We empower the poor by placing control in their hands and not overpowering them with outside resources or expertise. With courage, we embrace sacrifice and suffering, share faithfully in the life of Jesus and the poor. Simplicity - SETTING ASIDE AFFLUENCE AND COMFORT They commit themselves to lifestyles of inner and outward simplicity, in order to be free to love and serve the poor. They set aside their ‘right’ to affluence as they believe there are still those who live in abject poverty. They aim to be a relevant prophetic voice in a world which they believe is preoccupied with self. Servants are sustained by five values: Grace - CARRIED BY GOD'S EXTRAVAGANT LOVE "All that we do and are is rooted and sustained by God’s lavish, unearned love, favor and forgiveness towards us. This profound grace delivers us from unhealthy striving, competition and condemnation of ourselves or judgment of others." Celebration - PAUSING TO PARTY AND MARK MILESTONES "Directing our celebrations to God in worship, we look for excuses to throw parties, consciously marking every milestone and achievement – no matter how small! We want to be people of generosity, who refuse to take ourselves too seriously." Beauty - NOTICING GOD'S FINGERPRINTS "In our lives, in our homes, in our communities and in our world, we honor God and renew our souls by recognizing and creating beauty. In particular, we want to see and celebrate the beauty inherent in ourselves and in each other. We acknowledge the beauty of God’s creation and understand that God has entrusted us with the responsibility to work for its care and protection" Creativity - DANCING WITH THE CREATOR'S SPIRIT "By allowing our senses, our imaginations, our minds and bodies to fulfill their God-given potentials for creativity, we glorify God. We believe it does our souls good (and pleases God) when we create, through writing and storytelling, poetry, cooking, music, painting and other art forms." Rest - BEING STILL, BEING REFRESHED "God calls us to regular rhythms of work, rest and reflection – weekly Sabbaths and regular holy-days (holidays). We seek to obey God’s command to rest to be refreshed, to be still and to deepen our relationship with him and one another." == Similar Christian Movements ==