Update: Spirit Garage Core Values and Mission Statement

Spirit Garage Mission Statement

Here is one way to visualize the new Spirit Garage Mission Statement.

Find God.
Find your purpose.
Find your people.
Find your neighbor.

About fifteen years ago, Spirit Garage created its mission statement and identified its core values, with an update eight years ago. After everything our city and world have experienced since then, it was time to revisit them and ask if they still reflect who we are or who we are becoming.

In short, a mission is a compass: it describes what you are called to do or be*. The most effective mission statements follow these five guidelines:  

Clear: Is it easy enough for a 12 year old to understand?

Concise: Can you say it in one breath?

Catalytic: Does it elicit action?

Compelling: Does it resonate with hearers?

Contextual: Does it speak to your people? 

Our previous mission statement mostly restated our values. While it was thoughtful and fairly clear, it wasn’t very concise or motivating.

So we revisited not only the mission, but also our core values—the shared principles that shape behavior and culture. In doing this review, we realized some important aspects of our identity were missing. So we did some work on that, and here’s what we came up with for the core values:

Spirit Garage Core Values

All means all: We believe God created all things, and Jesus Christ came to this world for the sake of all people, and has grace for all people, no exceptions. 

Everyone has sacred worth: Because we believe God created all human beings, we know that everyone has purpose and value to share with the world. We make space for each person to offer their unique gifts in our community and neighborhood. 

Showing Up: We commit to being present—in church and in each other’s lives—because we know it matters to be connected in real life. In joy, grief, crisis, learning, and faith, we are better together.

Neighboring: We are committed to being part of the ecosystem of the neighborhood we live in, trusting that God is already at work here because God made it all (and all means all). We seek to join in that good work with no agenda beyond being good neighbors.

With these values clarified, our mission became simpler and more focused.

Why does Spirit Garage exist?

Spirit Garage: Find God. Find your purpose. Find your people. Find your neighbors.

It’s a mission that is easy to understand, easy to say, and inspiring to live out into the next phase of life at Spirit Garage. We hope you have it memorized already, and can say it in one breath!

Spirit Garage Staff: Pastor Holly, Music + Creative Director Andy, and Michelle

Spirit Garage Drive Train: Peter, Val, AJ, Rachel

*Special thanks to Kristin Weirsma, the consultant who helped the Spirit Garage Drive Train and staff understand what makes for a strong mission statement and clear values statements.