Our Vision, Beliefs & Methods

What's At Our Core

SMUMC - Faith and Life Statement

Our Vision

Core Value: God’s World Is Built Through Christian Community

Core Purpose: To Inspire Relationships with Christ and Each Other

Simply Put…Build God’s World

Shepherd of the Hills is a practical church. We do not believe that it is our job to “hold up” here waiting for God to do something. We are a church that believes deeply that God IS doing something and that “something” happens through us when we come together. That something may be teaching our children about Jesus Christ, building homes in Mexico, leading in worship or volunteering at our local community service center.

This is a church of doing, not just believing. Our vision is all about connecting this world with the saving message of love in Jesus Christ and sending people out to change the world in Jesus’ Name.

Our Beliefs

Shepherd of the Hills is a United Methodist Church. Often we speak about the church as simply “Shepherd” or “Shepherd of the Hills”, but we honor our heritage as United Methodists. Methodists began somewhat as an accident. Our founder, John Wesley, who was an Anglican Priest (Church of England), sparked a movement over two hundred years ago. That movement quickly grew into its own “brand” of followers of Jesus.

Methodists, since the days of John Wesley, have been concerned with personal and social holiness. We believe in a God who speaks in scripture, tradition, experience and reason. We believe that living in a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ is the most effective way for us to connect God and experience salvation. We believe that all Christian faith has to be practiced. There can be no separation of what we believe (doctrine) from what we do (practice). We also believe that it is our mission to bring God’s grace into the broken systems of this world. Whether it be poverty, famine, violence or injustice, we have the responsibility as God’s people to combat that which ails the world with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Candle Station - United Methodist Church

Our Methods

Since we are called “Methodists”, there must be a method to how we do church. We do “church” in a very focused way which we believe leads people to a life-transforming experience with Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Gather – We hope to gather people at Shepherd of the Hills from a variety of backgrounds, ages, cultures and races. We do this because God’s world is filled with wonderfully diverse people. Our fellowship gatherings, worship and other activities are geared to invite and welcome people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.

Grow - The point of being a church is not realized by simply gathering people. We offer classes, groups, studies and experiences for ALL AGES to help EVERYONE grow their faith and depth of experiencing God. Everything must be growing! Part of our church's job is to help people grow into the person God is calling themto be.

Gifts – We know that people have skills and talents. People just like you use them everyday. But the work of Building God’s World will take more than skill and talent. It will take spiritual gifts from God. Every person in our church is invited to discover better, not just their skills and talents, but their gifts as well.

Give – Shepherd of the Hills is a practical church. That means we must make a practical difference in the world in which we live. Whether it be at school, work or play, we have a responsibility to give as God has given to us. Serving is not a choice. We serve through service projects, missions, outreach and other vital means of giving that witness to God’s great love.

Sunday Info

This Week at RSM Campus

  • On Sunday we continue our series on "Making All Things New." Last week we talked about the "What" of the Gospel - the very nature of the Gospel and how God wants to transform the world through it. This week we are going to talk about the "Who" of the Gospel. We are continuing to move through Colossians and as it progresses Paul begins to pray for the people of Colasse and does so because he knows that they will need great trust and knowledge of Who the gospel is about, and Who will cause life transformation. So this week we will gather together to talk about Who Jesus is when it comes to transformation newness. What we discover is that Jesus makes things new everyday if we simply allow those tiny transformations to lead to big ones..... See you Sunday as we talk about the image of the invisible!

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