Loving People to Jesus
The Heart Behind our Motto
Jesus is the Answer
September 15, 2019 • Doug Oakes
We have a motto around here at Westside. It’s something that defines our understanding of who God wants us to be and what he wants us to do. Our motto is Loving People to Jesus. Loving People to Jesus starts with the kind of love that God has shown us: Real. Authentic. Sacrificial. Not loving with words alone, but loving with tangible actions as well. God is focus and the recipient of our worship, but people are our focus in ministry. Not just people that look and talk and vote and believe and worship just like us, but all people. Not an ideal version of people, not just people who have gotten their act together, not just people that we know have something to offer us, but all people. We want to be the best neighbors. We want the people in Bakersfield to know how much we care about them. And because we know that only Jesus can truly meet the the deep emotional, developmental and spiritual needs that we all feel, we don’t point people to ourselves. We don’t point people to a program or a building or a minister. We point people to Jesus. So Loving People to Jesus means showing real love and welcoming people just as they are... while pointing them to Jesus.
People, Not Programs
September 8, 2019
We have a motto around here at Westside. It’s something that defines our understanding of who God wants us to be and what he wants us to do. Our motto is Loving People to Jesus. Loving People to Jesus starts with the kind of love that God has shown us: Real. Authentic. Sacrificial. Not loving with words alone, but loving with tangible actions as well. God is focus and the recipient of our worship, but people are our focus in ministry. Not just people that look and talk and vote and believe and worship just like us, but all people. Not an ideal version of people, not just people who have gotten their act together, not just people that we know have something to offer us, but all people. We want to be the best neighbors. We want the people in Bakersfield to know how much we care about them. And because we know that only Jesus can truly meet the the deep emotional, developmental and spiritual needs that we all feel, we don’t point people to ourselves. We don’t point people to a program or a building or a minister. We point people to Jesus. So Loving People to Jesus means showing real love and welcoming people just as they are... while pointing them to Jesus.
Loving Like Jesus
September 1, 2019
We have a motto around here at Westside. It’s something that defines our understanding of who God wants us to be and what he wants us to do. Our motto is Loving People to Jesus. Loving People to Jesus starts with the kind of love that God has shown us: Real. Authentic. Sacrificial. Not loving with words alone, but loving with tangible actions as well. God is focus and the recipient of our worship, but people are our focus in ministry. Not just people that look and talk and vote and believe and worship just like us, but all people. Not an ideal version of people, not just people who have gotten their act together, not just people that we know have something to offer us, but all people. We want to be the best neighbors. We want the people in Bakersfield to know how much we care about them. And because we know that only Jesus can truly meet the the deep emotional, developmental and spiritual needs that we all feel, we don’t point people to ourselves. We don’t point people to a program or a building or a minister. We point people to Jesus. So Loving People to Jesus means showing real love and welcoming people just as they are... while pointing them to Jesus.