Summit Church

This week's SUYL at Kelly's Korner is on churches. Our family attends Summit Church in Naples, FL. We are one church with two locations. Our original campus is located in Estero, FL, right next door to a FL State University. The location we attend meets in a high school in Naples. I love many things about our church. Our mission statement is, "Summit Church exists to glorify God by presenting the Gospel to every man, woman, and child and connecting them into loving relationships with Jesus Christ and with others." I love this mission. I love that it begins with "exists to glorify God...." because I believe that the only reason we exist is to glorify God. There is no other reason for the existence of the human race. God did not need us when He created Adam and Eve - we need Him!

Our church believes that the Bible is the inherent Word of God. Every single syllable is true. If it is not all true, then there is no way you can figure out which part to believe and which part to throw out. It is all or nothing. Jesus is either exactly Who He says He is - the perfect Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer, the one and only way to Heaven - or He is a liar. He is not a "good" man, as many believe, if He said He was God and isn't.

Summit is a very outward focused church. We do not have a lot of "programs." I will admit that sometimes I miss the fact that my children don't have Children's Choir and we don't have Sunday School. However, I totally agree with the concept of Small Group Communities and the idea that too much time within the walls of the church only serves ourselves and not those in the community and the world who will never darken the doors of a church building. I believe that our church spends money wisely when it focuses on missions and outreaches to the community. We do have weekly men's and women's Bible Studies and we have a Youth and a College ministry that meets weekly in order to train and build up the saints. We also focus on community groups, church planting, and mission trips for the entire family. One thing about our church that has always stood out to me is that every single week at the beginning of the sermon, we pray for the other Bible believing churches in our area - by name. We believe that it takes the entire "church" (every believer in Jesus Christ) to reach every man, woman, and child. It is not about building up Summit, it is about building the body of Christ. I have been to a lot of churches, but I have never been to one that prays for the growth of other churches on a consistent basis. I love that!

I believe that faith without works is dead, but I also believe that all of our good deeds are as filthy rags before the throne of Christ. We can never earn our way to Heaven, but once we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus we can never be the same. Our love for others flows from our relationship with Christ and our desire to please Him above ALL else.

I am very thankful for a church with godly leadership. Men who are not perfect, but redeemed. Who strive daily to live lives that glorify Him. Men who are committed to their families and who do not hesitate to preach Truth, even if it is not a popular thing to do in our day and age.

If you live in or are ever near our area and do not already have a Bible believing church that you call home, then please don't hesitate to join us.