The Basics

The reason Maple Ridge Community Church exists, and why this website is even here, is because of the difference God has made in the lives of those of us who call this community home, and the mission we feel called to in sharing God’s love with as many people as we can along the way, especially those within the communities where we live.

There is a whole lot of confusion in the world surrounding the question of who God is? Is He a statue? A rock? A tree? Are we all gods? Is He some impersonal deity floating out there in the atmosphere waiting for us to appease his anger?

The answer to all those questions is a resounding NO! God is eternal. That means He has always been and will always be (try getting your mind around that one!). He is the Author of all that is – Truth, Creation, Life. He knows all things because He wrote the book on knowledge. He is everywhere at the same time, because He created time, and is not bound up by it like we all are. He is constant and never changes, but He never ceases to be relevant to each person who calls out to him in whatever circumstance they are in, good, bad, or ugly.

And here is the best part: God created people to have a personal relationship with Him. All of us have been created in the very image of God – his divine design is stamped right into the core of who we are, our spirit. But way back, before the creation of this world as we know it, there was a rebellion in heaven led by one of the angels, Lucifer, who wanted to take over, basically a coup in heaven. Obviously, it failed and Satan was cast out of heaven and has been wreaking havoc in the lives of people on earth from that time until today. We see the evidence of that all around us. His goal is to do whatever it takes to keep people separated from God, and he is very effective at it.

God is an initiator. He has always made the first move; He created the world and everything in nature that we see. He created man – us – in His image. And even in the midst of man’s constant rebellion and indifference toward God, He sent Jesus, his only Son, back to earth to build the bridge back to Himself by the only way possible – by dying. That doesn’t sound like a happy ending to a story does it. It’s not. But it’s also not the end of the story. Satan actually thought he had scored the knockout blow when Jesus died (the Easter story), but Jesus didn’t stay dead. He had to die – a penalty had to be paid for the wrongdoings man had chosen to commit against God through willful disobedience. The blood that he shed paved the way on that bridge back to God. Jesus trumped Satan by beating death and coming alive after death and then returning to heaven where He is now sitting beside God interceding as an advocate for all those who choose to turn from living their own way and choosing God’s way.

I know it sounds simplistic, but this is just a cursory look at a real story that can and will change your life. If you are new to faith in Christ, or are still exploring a relationship with God, Alpha would be the place to start – check it out! Come and join with us on our mission to help see this world changed through the love of Jesus. Read the stories of people whose lives have been radically changed through their relationship with Jesus. Check out some of the things we have been led to do in our quest to follow God in our corner of the world, and beyond. We are just a group of ordinary folks who have been transformed by an extra-ordinary, super-natural God. Come on in and become a part of what God is doing. We look forward to connecting with you.